Lumber Price Relief

[stanj]

I need a couple of treated 2x’s for a project I will need next spring. I have been watching lumber prices for the last few months. It looks like prices are starting to drop at least locally. 2x8-10’s treated are down from $18 to $14 (Menards). Lowe’s is still $18 but I expect they will follow suit. Anybody else notice a price drop?


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[yatg]

OSB 7/16 4x8 down to 20.55 near me.
Still too much but cautiously optimistic.

 

[Sweetcorn]

I haven't been doing any price comparisons, but I do see the supply levels going up.

 

[u2slow]

I got some sticker shock when a builder/colleague told me 1/2" plywood sheathing had gone to $46/sheet

Turns out it was actually $38/sheet - and get this - sanded-finish 1/2" is cheaper at $34. I know what I'll use inside my shop... maybe the 'exterior' stamp is what costs the $$.

 

[justanengineer]

Some of the pricing I’ve heard on here is nuts. Here in MI we didn’t really see any price gouging or shortages this summer. I rebuilt 150’ of decorative faux midget-horsey fence earlier this fall. PT 2x6x10s from Menards were ~$6 per.


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[Innovate1]

It seems to me that Menards prices haven't gone up as bad as other suppliers. I see the OP is in Missouri. Is there a Menards near you that you could check? You can see their inventory on line although it often isn't completely accurate. I was lucky to buy most of my material before the covid price increases.

 

[bradpac]

That's good news, but metal is playing catch up. Late last month and into this month we have finally heard sheet metal steel pricing is going up. It was ~5%, now more like 10% for thin stuff, with heavier framing up more than that. Although from another source I'm hearing it will go back down after the first of the year so....

 

[tab2]

We're all over the map here. 2"x4" x 8'

HD is $4.##
One lumber yard is $6.##
The closest one to me is $9.##

 

[reader2580]

It seems to me that Menards prices haven't gone up as bad as other suppliers. I see the OP is in Missouri. Is there a Menards near you that you could check? You can see their inventory on line although it often isn't completely accurate. I was lucky to buy most of my material before the covid price increases.

Menards pricing still went up pretty good on framing lumber and sheet goods. I never checked treated prices, but the shelves at Menards were pretty empty of treated lumber.

 

[bbxlr8]

Prices were shocking here in E. PA this summer-fall.

I did a large 16' x 16' shed dormer into the back of my hip-roofed detached garage to get at the upper area for storage (traditional framing & already decked inside). I tried to salvage as much as possible when demo'ing

 

[nadogail]

Lumber is traded as a commodity, just like oil and Pork Bellies. IMHO, trying to watch the prices can reduce your costs if you have a place to store it when you get a good buy.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I pulled 11 "pre-owned" 2x4 studs out of a dumpster at a commercial renovation site near me a few weeks ago. Seven of them were 12 footers; the rest were 6 footers.
I was so proud.
(In case you are wondering: My wife disapproves and was embarrassed. Which made me double-extra proud!! )
Very straight and clean with only a couple of broken screws.
The super on the job apparently got some even nicer pieces from what I saw in a truck there.

 

[rayra]

I seem to have had my comment deleted without a trace or a PM describing my error.

I mentioned the relief from wildfires obstructing supply and the decrease in seasonal demand both leading to price decreases.
Then I mentioned the impending imposition of the Green New Deal will produce a large increase in prices for lumber products (among many other things).
So there'd be a short interval to buy goods before prices go back up.

And then I asked if the per piece price for the couple of pieces the OP mentions needing was enough to even matter, whatever the current price is.

 

[nadogail]

I pulled 11 "pre-owned" 2x4 studs out of a dumpster at a commercial renovation site near me a few weeks ago. Seven of them were 12 footers; the rest were 6 footers.
I was so proud.
(In case you are wondering: My wife disapproves and was embarrassed. Which made me double-extra proud!! )
Very straight and clean with only a couple of broken screws.
The super on the job apparently got some even nicer pieces from what I saw in a truck there.

Congratulations on finding an alternative source of acceptable materials. The low price is also a good thing.

 

[Flail]

I see our local HD dropped osb fro $24 to $20 a sheet. Seems like 18 months ago it was under $10.

 

[MushCreek]

I was at Lowe's 2 weeks ago, and OSB was $28- the highest I've ever seen. Framing materials were coming down though, and they had good stock. I need some exterior plywood for a project, but I can wait until it gets a little cheaper. It's probably going to be too cold for the next 3-4 months anyhow.

 

[acer66]

I pulled 11 "pre-owned" 2x4 studs out of a dumpster at a commercial renovation site near me a few weeks ago. Seven of them were 12 footers; the rest were 6 footers.
I was so proud.
(In case you are wondering: My wife disapproves and was embarrassed. Which made me double-extra proud!! )
Very straight and clean with only a couple of broken screws.
The super on the job apparently got some even nicer pieces from what I saw in a truck there.

Cool, I myself am a certified dumpster diver a trade which I learned from my mother.

 

[MushCreek]

They're starting to build two new houses on our road. Maybe I should friendly up with the framing crew to see what I can scrounge!

 

[yeldogt]

The biggest hit was with common building products. I use 5/8 rock on my houses -- builder said .. no issue. 1/2 -- they had word to pre-order so as to not cause delays. When building -- the higher cost of materials is painful ... not much you can do.

The only good thing is the common stuff has high refresh rates .... My local premium cedar yard has another problem. The 25% tariff on Cedar from Canada caused him to change the way he held some stock. Although now he is getting some refresh from USA mills

 

[Ryan]

I seem to have had my comment deleted without a trace or a PM describing my error.

I mentioned the relief from wildfires obstructing supply and the decrease in seasonal demand both leading to price decreases.
Then I mentioned the impending imposition of the Green New Deal will produce a large increase in prices for lumber products (among many other things).
So there'd be a short interval to buy goods before prices go back up.

And then I asked if the per piece price for the couple of pieces the OP mentions needing was enough to even matter, whatever the current price is.

Please read the rules... We don't allow any comments that are political or will strike up combating political opinions. There's enough of that **** in the world right now.

Thanks.

 

[Homebody]

It seems to me that Menards prices haven't gone up as bad as other suppliers. .

Not true here. 2x10x16's that I needed went from 18.98 to 42.98 - and they still couldn't keep em in stock.

 

[Lessons]

We're all over the map here. 2"x4" x 8'

HD is $4.##
One lumber yard is $6.##
The closest one to me is $9.##

I hope the price decline continues, HD here was over $6 or $7, just remember it was more than double from the norm.

 

[Tbender78]

I just bought some 2”x8”x8’ PT at Lowe’s for $10 and change. I thought that wasn’t too bad.

 

[yeldogt]

Not true here. 2x10x16's that I needed went from 18.98 to 42.98 - and they still couldn't keep em in stock.

That's a big increase ..... was that for PT.

Everybody on the east coast is building a deck ...


I stopped by my project yesterday -- the guys are in the old stone part of the building fixing and adding proper nailers for the coming insulation, Sheetrock .. and other structure.

Mentioned how nice the lumber looked ... it was -- really nice. I'm thinking it had no time to get wet after being dried and shipped. It was all premium 2x framing lumber -- 4/6/8. They did say it was still expensive .. not as bad as a month ago

 

[acer66]

deleted

 

[dogdog]

2x4x10 is down a bit here but still too dam high... was %9.60 or $10 something, last I check few days ago is $7.60 still.... too dam high 50% more still...

 

[Homebody]

That's a big increase ..... was that for PT.

Everybody on the east coast is building a deck ...


I stopped by my project yesterday -- the guys are in the old stone part of the building fixing and adding proper nailers for the coming insulation, Sheetrock .. and other structure.

Mentioned how nice the lumber looked ... it was -- really nice. I'm thinking it had no time to get wet after being dried and shipped. It was all premium 2x framing lumber -- 4/6/8. They did say it was still expensive .. not as bad as a month ago

Yes, PT. Decks are the hot item here also. Stimulus money at work.

 

[Ghost Rider]

My contractor friends are telling me that they have been getting PT lumber for way less than the non-PT so have been saving a lot of money by buying PT lumber for framing jobs that don't require PT.

 

[acer66]

My contractor friends are telling me that they have been getting PT lumber for way less than the non-PT so have been saving a lot of money by buying PT lumber for framing jobs that don't require PT.

Interesting, I thought you are not allowed to use pt in framing because its weaker.

 

[paredown]

Interesting, I thought you are not allowed to use pt in framing because its weaker.

Pretty sure code here allows PT only for concrete/foundation contact or exterior use, and not interior walls at all. It's less about strength and more about the fact that it is treated with poisonous/hazardous chemicals.

We've started a new Habitat build--and it has been shocking to me the cost of 2x lumber. We are being very careful, and reusing what we can from the demo of the inside. And although I hate using USB instead of plywood sheathing, that's where we are out of necessity.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Any new PT you can get your hand on will be ACQ, not the CCA stuff so it's not dangerous, but it's not resistant to carpenter bees either and it's highly corrosive to any fasteners not coated to combat it's corrosive properties. Regular dimensional lumber is ****, PT is typically much worse, you have a window of about 28 minutes after you leave the lumberyard to have it installed and completely restrained from twisting, cupping, bowing and warping if you're not planning on building a skate board ramp.

 

[yeldogt]

Any new PT you can get your hand on will be ACQ, not the CCA stuff so it's not dangerous, but it's not resistant to carpenter bees either and it's highly corrosive to any fasteners not coated to combat it's corrosive properties. Regular dimensional lumber is ****, PT is typically much worse, you have a window of about 28 minutes after you leave the lumberyard to have it installed and completely restrained from twisting, cupping, bowing and warping if you're not planning on building a skate board ramp.

That's why you just have to **** it up and buy the better grade product from a real yard ..... Good product is out there.

I enjoy having a project. My idea of a project is not picking through stacks of lumber and dealing with the big box stores. I go ....or even call --- my local yard and magically a truck comes with nice lumber and no stress. Same with plywood.

I'm ready for my project with lumber that's not fighting me --- I'm not a framer ... I don't know all the tricks working with junk. Try building with the engineered studs when things need to be really accurate and straight .... it's a joy. How much more $$ .. I can't really say ... I'm still way way ahead of having it done.

I'm building a new house and when I spoke to my builder about lumber. He comment was. "It is what it is" .... buying anything but the best is a false economy and will bite you in labor and call backs

 

[Bigblockyeti]

That's why you just have to **** it up and buy the better grade product from a real yard ..... Good product is out there.

I enjoy having a project. My idea of a project is not picking through stacks of lumber and dealing with the big box stores. I go ....or even call --- my local yard and magically a truck comes with nice lumber and no stress. Same with plywood.

I'm ready for my project with lumber that's not fighting me --- I'm not a framer ... I don't know all the tricks working with junk. Try building with the engineered studs when things need to be really accurate and straight .... it's a joy. How much more $$ .. I can't really say ... I'm still way way ahead of having it done.

I'm building a new house and when I spoke to my builder about lumber. He comment was. "It is what it is" .... buying anything but the best is a false economy and will bite you in labor and call backs

I worked on and off at a lumber yard until '08 when they finally shut the doors, I know good lumber and I know in some areas it's hard to find. The big box stores have lower the quailty standards that were once in place by an order of magnitude.

 

[yeldogt]

I worked on and off at a lumber yard until '08 when they finally shut the doors, I know good lumber and I know in some areas it's hard to find. The big box stores have lower the quailty standards that were once in place by an order of magnitude.

That's the larger problem ... so many yards have closed.

Too many people just think -- big box store. They never experience the joy of a good yard and good lumber. It's so much easier doing a job with nice lumber ....

This includes better plywood .... you end up with a better job that was easier to accomplish. Cheap plywood fights you at every cut

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I was just at Lowe's an hour ago, 2x8x8' dimension (non-treated) are about $0.20 more expensive than 2x8x10' and I need 14 for a mezzanine project not too far off, I need to decide if it's worth making the mezzanine ~5" deeper for less money.

 

[acer66]

Regular dimensional lumber is ****, PT is typically much worse, you have a window of about 28 minutes after you leave the lumberyard to have it installed and completely restrained from twisting, cupping, bowing and warping if you're not planning on building a skate board ramp.

 

[reader2580]

That's the larger problem ... so many yards have closed.

Too many people just think -- big box store. They never experience the joy of a good yard and good lumber. It's so much easier doing a job with nice lumber

We don't experience the joys of a lumberyard because in large metro areas a retail lumberyard is next to impossible to find. There is a full service retail lumberyard in the city of Minneapolis, but it is an hour round trip to shop there. For small quantities they stand the lumber up on end so it is probably as warped as anything you get at a big box.

One other lumberyard will sell to DIY, but that is not at all their focus. You have to call their sales line, order your material, and then they put it at will call. The location is terrible as the DOT closed the turn lanes so you have to go way out of your way to get there. They are also open during the week only and only and until 4 pm.

There is a good reason people shop at HD and Menards because of longer hours and many more locations. Gee, do I want to drive 25 miles each way to a lumberyard for a couple of 2x4s or eight miles each way to HD/Menards?

 

[rburke65]

Maybe 6 weeks ago, I went to buy 2 ..4”x4”x8’ treated pine posts. ...they were $18.47 each! I voted NO!

 

[acer66]

Pretty sure code here allows PT only for concrete/foundation contact or exterior use, and not interior walls at all. It's less about strength and more about the fact that it is treated with poisonous/hazardous chemicals.

We've started a new Habitat build--and it has been shocking to me the cost of 2x lumber. We are being very careful, and reusing what we can from the demo of the inside. And although I hate using USB instead of plywood sheathing, that's where we are out of necessity.

I just read that they also do not allow PT in Framing because it is considered wet and shrinks while drying out which and therefor could compromise the structural integrity.

 

[rburke65]

Local Home Depot was OSB 4’x8’ was..?.. $12 a sheet