advice on large lumber purchase

[tmike14400]

Hi,
In about a month, I will be starting on a project that will use a large amount of lumber and buying quantities like this are new to me, so I'm seeking some advice on how to go about it.
Roughly, I'm going to need several hundred 2x4's, over 1000 2x2's, and around 1200 various 4x8 sheets of plywood, pegboard, etc.
I haven't made any calls yet, but in general, would the big box stores (Lowes, HD, Menards) be the place to buy or would a lumberyard be the best source and prices? Delivery would also be a factor.
Thanks in advance.
Mike

 

[Davefr]

Put together a bid list and submit it to all the suppliers contractor's desk.

The quality of the lumber will likely be better at a real lumber yard.

 

[Ruthless53]

I had a big order i put in recently for a pole barn I built my dad and I ordered through ProBuild. I believe you have to be a contractor but im sure you could set up an acct ahead of time. Luckily I had a friend that is a builder and I ordered through his acct. The quality some of the pieces wasn't great but with ProBuild you can call them and they will deliver replacement pieces to you at no charge even if its a 12 ft 1x4 nailer. Make sure they will replace warped, badly knotted or split pieces whoever you order from. I was happy with them overall and the best part is I put in my order and it was delivered and unloaded without me lifting a finger.

Built a smaller shed with about 1/5 of the lumber and went and picked it up at our lumber yard and unloading it was by far the hardest part of the build.

 

[G_P]

I would avoid the big box stores. The quality of lumber there is much lower than what you will find at a yard the contractors buy from.

With the quantity of lumber you are ordering you should easily be able to find a place that will give you quality lumber and throw in free delivery to the jobsite.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Put together a bid list and submit it to all the suppliers contractor's desk.

The quality of the lumber will likely be better at a real lumber yard.

Ask what their return policy is ! An in-law was building a large deck at his vacation home. The lumber was delivered before he got there for the weekend. The job could not be completed because so many of the 2x4 were warp, twisted or both. Sure some of that is to be expected but not a couple dozen !

2x2 are notoriously bad. Almost worth it to rip them your self.

 

[wnstwolf]

10x what wp stated. In building my house and barn we gave packages to big blue and orange as well as local lumber yard. Local folks beat the price, incredible service and delivery, and the quality was night and day. Good luck. If need be see what a line of credit will be. Helps with the bills and keeping track.

 

[jlckmj]

Maybe our local lumber yard is different than most, but their lumber isnot any better than the big box stores and they are more expensive.

Don't forget that Home Depot will beat any competitors price by 10%, shop Menards or local lumber yard and then go there to beat them all. I have never had an issue taking bad lumber back there either. I usually order a little extra figuring some bad pieces, then take the unused back.

Jim

Jim

 

[Rookie2]

You will have to handle and inspect every piece, if you don't store it properly it will warp as it dries . maybe set up a deal to pick up as you use it and make payments.

 

[tmike14400]

Thanks for the responses. I'll be preparing an itemized list and submitting it to various suppliers.
Thanks!
Mike

 

[crf731]

Thanks for the responses. I'll be preparing an itemized list and submitting it to various suppliers.
Thanks!
Mike

You're on the right track.

Make up a list and send it to all the local lumber yards and see who comes up with the best price.

I'd add 5% or so on the quantities to account for the twisted and warped stuff you can't use or talk to the supplier you choose to make sure you can return the **** lumber when you are done.

 

[mmhouse]

You will have to handle and inspect every piece, if you don't store it properly it will warp as it dries . maybe set up a deal to pick up as you use it and make payments.

Get it delivered and leave it bundled/strapped and covered until you use it and out of the sun if at all possible until you nail it in place. Ask the lumberyard to include a cover - they get them for free and throw lots of them away (except maybe the big-boxes that keep most of their material inside - in that case use a tarp, not clear plastic). I would also recommend a pro-yard rather than big box for best quality. After you break the bands to use the lumber keep it covered at all times, don't let the sun hit it until it's nailed in place. Some species are more prone to twisting and warping than others but all will do much better out of the sun and heat.

And yes, work up a complete materials list and submit to a few dealers. They should give you a better price when they know that you will be purchasing a large quantity in one shot which is more efficient for them. Ask them if they will give you contractor pricing - but be aware that there are different levels of contractor pricing based on the amount of business a contractor does with them. You may also ask to walk out into their yard and view the material they carry. Seeing how the yard is maintained and organized and how their materials are stored and cared for will give you a good idea of the quality of material you'll be receiving. If there's banding, stickers (short pieces of 2x4 that lumber bundles are set on) and twisted boards lying around and on top of bundles, that's a bad sign.

I worked in and around lumber yards most of my life.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

One other thing to remember, just because it isn't warped or twisted when buy it doesn't mean that it will stay that way. I bought a few 2 x 6's for a plumbing wall in the lower level at the "big box store". After they were in there for a year they were totally twisted. What I should have done was to go to the utility room side and install bracing. A lot of work for saving $10 on lumber.


PS future twisting means nail pops and other wallboard problems.

 

[fastcar1954]

really should support local small buissness. may pay a little more but the advice and helpfull info will make up for it. after you shop there a little they will get to know you and the prices drop. they are just as easy on returns . pays more for you in the end.
hd or lowes i never see the same guy twice ,know one knows me or cares.
i would much rather pay more to see my neighbor keep his house than a box store going up in my town.

and the lumber is usally better at the lumber yard.

 

[RStewart]

So nobody asks what ya building?

 

[_Dock_]

What in the world would you need almost 40,000 sqft of plywood for?! Please do tell I'm intrigued!

 

[Davefr]

What in the world would you need almost 40,000 sqft of plywood for?! Please do tell I'm intrigued!

That is an awful lot of plywood. 1200 sheets is probably one or two semi trailer loads.

I'd see if it were possible to order that quantity direct from a mill.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

An ark?

 

[mmhouse]

That is an awful lot of plywood. 1200 sheets is probably one or two semi trailer loads.

I'd see if it were possible to order that quantity direct from a mill.

That's very unlikely even if you did have a full truckload, especially since you need both plywood and pegboard which would come from different mills. A lumberyard should, however, give you a further discount for delivering full bundles since they then only need to handle it with a forklift.

 

[tmike14400]

What in the world would you need almost 40,000 sqft of plywood for?! Please do tell I'm intrigued!

Well, since you asked...
My wife and I are looking to open an antique mall and the pegboard would be used as wall dividers. The 2x4's and 2x2's would be the framing.
Mike

 

[mmhouse]

Since you will be looking for bids on a large quantity of similar items (lots of pegboard and lots of presumably similar length 2x4s) you should get good pricing, particularly if you can have it delivered in full bundles all at once. If you can't store it yourself the lumberyard may store it until you can take delivery (again in full units) but may ask you to pay for it all at once. If you get it bid in this manner, make sure you also get a price for less than bundle quantities should you need more in the future.

If full bundles doesn't work for you then the yard(s) should still bid on pricing for the full quantities over time as you need them (picked up or delivered although minimum quantities may be required for free delivery). Normally they will bid the full quantity, store that bid in their system, and then work off of it over time. There may be a time limit as their cost of the materials will vary over time.

 

[Zeke]

Bone up on lumber grading and order your lumber to spec. For any timber or large beams order them FOHC or 'free of heart center'. For general framing order 'B and Better'. And for any exposed lumber to be finished order it as such whether it is rough, resawn or S4S (surfaced 4 sides).

Check out the grading on some lumber as you travel around and you will see what "C and Better" will get you. IIRC, B is tight and small knots while A is almost free of knots. You will see common lumber graded by numbers as well like No 1 or No. 2 and Better. 3 and 4 are not good pieces but can be used for non structural parts like nailers.

Example:

 

[_Dock_]

I see now! Didn't make sense earlier! Like others have said, have it quoted by several suppliers. If it were me I wouldn't do any framing with 2x2, the headaches are not worth the extra cost of the 2x4.

 

[swgray]

Consider a 2x3. Especially if it wont be very structural. It doesn't sound like you're going to create a second floor, just dividers. The ones I gotten in the past are a lot better quality than 2x4's. At least a dollar less, too.

 

[mmhouse]

Here's a good overview of lumber grades and uses if you're interested....

http://forest.mtu.edu/classes/fw1035/2011/Lecture 13 - Lumber Grading.pdf

 

[gahrajmahal]

I hired a contractor to build a deck for me in 2005. He used a local lumber yard, McCabes lumber here in Loveland Ohio. The deck had bad rot in it and to make a long story short, they warranted and replaced all the lumber. I don't think the big box stores would stand by their product like that.
Since you are building lots of the same type thing you should also get some quotes for completed panels saving you a heck of a lot of work. Opening a business is plenty of work itself. Good luck, where are you located?

 

[slickgt1]

Here is the thing. I do this a lot. Not even quantities that you need. One, that is a **** load, and you should get good pricing, from almost anywhere, even big box. Two, big box not the worst in the world. Their lumber is usually indoors. That means dry. They also have some sort of climate control. They will take back all your lumber you didnt use, and all the bad lumber. They won't come and get it, but most lumber yards wont either. I use a decent amount of lumber from HD, but just because of convenience. We have a lot of them around here. Just go to the contractor desk and ask them to put a bid on it. Startup builds, I like the lumber yard, but again, even though I have a good relationship with them, I can't always use them.

 

[noslin]

i have a buddy works for a lumber company headquartered in Portland, OR that can quote you to your yard. you have to have a way to get the units off the truck though. if you would like his email, reply to the PM i sent you. anyone else wants a quote from him PM me please.

i talked to him about getting me units in oklahoma and its not a problem.