Starting a garage soon, waiting on weather to swing around. Can't get rock until road restrictions lifted, so visited lumber yard yesterday asking when lumber prices would reflect what you see on the open markets and left more confused than informed? Also adding to the length of the garage to 52' and estimater because of cost is suggesting instead of 20' top and bottom plates to use 14' stock instead and I'm thinking there goes any chance of straight walls, not to mention integrity. Fourteen foot long walls would be a lot more manageable, just not sure it would be worth the trouble? What's your guy's thoughts. Thanks
Lumber prices
- Thread starter Sturgeon
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mwalsh9152
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- May 14, 2016
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Lumber prices at local yards will drop much slower than HD, Lowes etc. They put their orders in at the higher price, so they have to burn through that lumber first. When prices start dropping I will wait a while before my local yards prices are in line with the box stores before buying from them. I want to give them my business, but I'm not willing to wait for my profit margin to improve on their behalf.
rancherbill
Well-known member
Wow 20' lumber, I don't think I've ever seen it that long. Sixteen is common and 14' will work and you will get straight walls. It is done EVERY DAY.
I believe the pricing is just gouging right now and who knows when it will stop.
I believe the pricing is just gouging right now and who knows when it will stop.
reader2580
Well-known member
A 2x6 20 foot costs about $10 more than a 2x6 16 foot after accounting for the extra four feet. I agree with the post about being able to get straight walls with 14 foot lumber, but the cost isn't horrible if you want to use 20 foot lumber.
reader2580
Well-known member
Lumbers futures are at $883 which is around a 25% drop from recent highs.
jack stand
Well-known member
How did the guy skip 16’s when he rejected your 20's for the plates?
no reason to not use 14'ers . infact I would say the opposite, less chance of straight walls with longer lumber .
nadogail
Well-known member
You can sister shorter lengths to make longer stock.
CraigStu
Well-known member
Do double top plates and stagger the joints.
If you want really straight and tall walls, Google VersaStud, LVL at standard framing lumber sizes designed for direct replacement of 2x4, 2x6 etc. Especially nice for tall walls and the roughly 70% improvement in resistance to bending may allow to reduce some framing to help offset the higher cost
Bretny
Well-known member
Big box stores even sell 20' and I bet can get 24' if you ask. Local smaller lumber yards would stock upto 24'.
Just because you dont see it on the shelf dosnt mean it's not at the store.
rancherbill
Well-known member
Here, wall segments are built on the ground, sheeted and covered with Tyvek than then stood up. Then the wall get the top plate. The walls end up straight.
In the lumber yard the rate of sale 24' would be slow and they would end up like pretzels, especially if you were at Home Depot. With high run rate products like 16' they probably would be straight.
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reader2580
Well-known member
I have used these for a few small walls where I needed less than a dozen studs, but the cost is about double of regular framing lumber. Back when a premium 2x4 at Menards cost about $3 the LSL 2x4s cost $7 or $8 each.
Great to work with, but a large cost premium. They are usually used for tall walls where standard framing lumber isn't strong enough for the application. My brother's new house has a lot of LSL lumber in 2x8 sizes because regular lumber was not strong enough.
Agree. For standard construction or normal walls the cost premium is steep. I have talked to a couple smaller, premium home builders who exclusively use them on walls at 10' or taller as they said the savings in time to drywall makes up for the cost due to how much less mudding and sanding it takes due to things being straight.
Thanks everyone, great imformation. I'm not a framer but have been around some great old framers and twenty foot plates will be the ones I go with. Not knocking lumber estimater guy but I was just trying to see how there prices work and everything went side ways and the two things I got were 1. don't stock 20' and to much $$$. Thanks
rancherbill
Well-known member
I's spend more time finding carpenters that can build a straight wall, rather than spending carpenters that have to have 20' lumber. Thousands and thousands of buildings are done without 20" lumber.
pfmg
Well-known member
In the process of an addition on top of my garage now, greatroom for the family, and a high ceiling bay with storage for me. Builder is doing the outside, ill finish the inside. Almost died when i went to get some strapping, $11 a piece for 16 footers, use to buy a bundle of 10 for that price. Builder say his lumber cost went up $6500 from the time he did the quote to when we started.
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Innovate1
Well-known member
As some others have said there is no real reason to go with 20' lumber. If I understood what you said there was a premium for that length that was more than just accounting for the additional length. 16' is usually more common. The top plate joints should be staggered so you have lots of overlap.
73fxe
Well-known member
At the lumber yard yesterday no shortage of wood, just stupid prices.
My barometer for lumber prices is the standard 2x4x8 lowes item #6005. I don't believe all regions use that sku but I'm most concerned about the cost at store level. I've watched it go from $3.48 up to $8.48 and is currently at $6.98. I have a few projects that are not a necessity and when the price is where I want it I will do them.
I feel real bad for people that don't have a choice. My neighbors got quoted $2.25 sq' to build a house on the lot they already own so they is waiting.
I feel real bad for people that don't have a choice. My neighbors got quoted $2.25 sq' to build a house on the lot they already own so they is waiting.
bigdav160
Well-known member
That's not a stocked sku in our area. SYP is the standard and studs went from $1.56 all the way to $10.50 and now at $5
They are a dream to build with IMO. Stable and uniform ... straight and stay straight. My current project is tight and I have a lot of pocket doors -- no room for twisting. They make it easy. They also match up to the I beams perfectly -- nice and smooth. I always use 5/8 rock ... but with the quality of the drywall guys today -- these small things are becoming more important
It's not just the cost premium of buying 20' sticks, but what if you go with 20s and they themselves are not perfectly straight? Personally, I use 16' sticks for top plates. The cost vs benefit is appropriate. Plus you'll be stringing the top plates straight with bracing as you build. If you were ordering engineered lumber for plates, then sure, go as long as you want, as they will be straight.
I paid 8 dollars and change for KD 2 by 4 by 8 ft studs the other day, in Maine where the state is 95% forest. Sawmillis are shut down all over the place here and prices are thru the roof. Makes no sense. 1/2 cdx plywood is 62.50 a sht
reader2580
Well-known member
You would think sawmills would be pumping out every bit they can to take advantage of high prices. On the other hand, more supply should make prices drop so opening a closed sawmill may not make sense. You also have to be able to hire to open a sawmill.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Theres no shortage of actual lumber when the box stores have 1000’s sheets and 1000’s of “sticks” in stock.
Then there’s $5 a gallon diesel to:
1.Run the harvester
2.Run the skidder
3.Run the truck to the mill
4.Fuel to run the drier
5.Run the truck/train to the distribution
6. Run the truck the BIG BOX store
7. Run the loaders, fork lifts etc
Pay the wages/benefits for all the people actually working in 1-7.
So lumber is NOT a going down in price for awhile other than a large drop in demand. Even if the stop (cancelled) half of the planned new builds the demand will still be high.
Don’t forget the original owner of the trees and land.
Theres no shortage of actual lumber when the box stores have 1000’s sheets and 1000’s of “sticks” in stock.
Then there’s $5 a gallon diesel to:
1.Run the harvester
2.Run the skidder
3.Run the truck to the mill
4.Fuel to run the drier
5.Run the truck/train to the distribution
6. Run the truck the BIG BOX store
7. Run the loaders, fork lifts etc
Pay the wages/benefits for all the people actually working in 1-7.
So lumber is NOT a going down in price for awhile other than a large drop in demand. Even if the stop (cancelled) half of the planned new builds the demand will still be high.
Don’t forget the original owner of the trees and land.
duneslider
Well-known member
It has come down a little bit, that $6.98 is a good drop from less than a month ago. I think it could drop a little more but given the current world circumstances I suspect we won't see below $5 for a long time (maybe never). Hopefully, I am wrong!
tjansson
Well-known member
Prices have definitely drifted down a bit in the past month. I'm watching 2x4x8, 2x6x8, and zip sheathing, as I'll need some in the next 6 weeks. My question is, when do I pull the trigger? Once I see the price go up again?
Within a 2 hours drive I have non-insignificant difference in price at the box stores, but it gets complicated with gas price, ferry tickets, state sales tax or lack there off, value of my time...
Within a 2 hours drive I have non-insignificant difference in price at the box stores, but it gets complicated with gas price, ferry tickets, state sales tax or lack there off, value of my time...
MushCreek
Well-known member
I just ordered some 1/4" marine plywood for $60 a sheet, and feel like I stole it. I don't need it right away, but the supplier said that the price has been changing (up) with every delivery they get. Really small local sawmills are selling rough-sawn hardwoods for less than you can buy garbage lumber at the big box stores. I just got some nice white oak for $1 a board foot.
tjansson
Well-known member
Local rough cut, green hemlock or pine is an cheaper option for me too, but for my construction I need dry, nominal sized lumber. At $5 per actual 2x4x8 it's a good value. Might be using some for concrete forms.
Harvester would usually work with a forwarder.
Feller buncher with a skidder.
Some outfits use a harvester on the landing to delimb and CTL.
sleek98
Well-known member
Depends on how much stock they have from Dec through Feb still on the shelves. I work for a lumber company and we stacked our stores to the rafters this winter worried we might not be able to get product in the spring. Our lumber is high priced and until we blow through it all I don't see them lowering it.
I am needing to build our lake house so I am hoping the futures stay low and the prices drop this fall when we go to frame.
I am needing to build our lake house so I am hoping the futures stay low and the prices drop this fall when we go to frame.
MushCreek
Well-known member
Just got home from Big Blue, and prices are kind of all over the map. I need some 10' 2X8's, and they went from $18 a few weeks ago to $12 now. But a 16' 2X6 is $30! Oddly enough, a 16' 2X8 is only $22, much cheaper than the 2X6. 2X4's are still $8 for the cheapest ones. Sheet goods are still way out of line.
jack stand
Well-known member
No crazy prices or supply chain ******** here.
They were logs earlier in the day
They were logs earlier in the day
johnharris
Well-known member
The owner of a local lumber yard said prices temporarily dropped early last fall cause people held off buying lumber at that ripoff rate. The big box stores shelves where overstocked so they had to get it cleared.
Zebedeewesty
Well-known member
Prices are still going up in the UK. Just over $11 for 8ft 2x4 studwork. $45 for a 8x4ft sheet of 1/2"ply.
danfromsyr
Well-known member
and I see $75k+ in equipment, add in the land to harvest..No crazy prices or supply chain ******** here.
They were logs earlier in the day
far from the average guy.. enjoy it you've earned it already.
but it's not everyone's reality.