What's the consensus on using Menards for garage construction materials?

[dosstx]

Today I priced a 24x30 garage with attic loft for $19k at Menards (includes 2k rebate). I would be able to put that on a credit card and earn 5% cash back and earn some additional points, as well. Sounds enticing, but I have no experience with using Menards for this (and I have not heard of anyone doing so, either).

Just wondering if there's any consensus here whether using Menards is OK in your book. Thanks!

 

[benjamintmiller]

AFAIK, all their system does is print out a list of the materials to buy from their store. I've more-or-less built a house and outbuilding using their materials and find that these are generally high quality, standard commodity items:
- Lumber
- Roofing supplies
- Cement block and bricks
- Siding materials
- Nails
- Plumbing and electrical supplies
- Drywall
- Exterior insulated doors and higher-end windows, such as the Jeld-Wen Insulated Low-E ones they carry here

I would pay extra for higher quality versions of these items (often from Menards too):
- Construction screws (get GRK or Spax if you can)
- Light fixtures
- Outlets and switches
- Tar paper (they carry synthetic roofing underlayment)

If you're buying right now, I'd also skip the 7/16 OSB sheathing and buy 7/16 GP Force Field. It's $4 cheaper per sheet right now due to OSB insanity, and you don't need house wrap, only their special tape for the seams.

 

[driftpin]

It seems with material shortages people are complaining-of, anyone who can supply the quality of goods you expect to-use is a 'good-choice.'

 

[dosstx]

Thanks! I am clueless on some of the supplies for the materials list. Maybe I should walk into a Menards and get some of the staff to walk me along on the configuration.

 

[kbs2244]

I used them
They are big enough that suppliers cannot afford to upset them with bad stuff

get experienced help

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296292

 

[nmk_61802]

Have a detailed list printed out at the building materials desk, if you haven't done so. Last time I had it done, Menards liked to include a few specialty tools in the materials list. They also shorted me on nails and the like. Finally they supply all of the fasteners in the material list, without taking into account what type of fastener you may prefer (pneumatic, screw or hand drive).

 

[iamrfixit]

I've built several garages that Menards has supplied materials for. They're lumber and materials are as good as anyone else these days. It's mostly all name brand stuff, same as anyone else sells.

Look under the link "project center" on their main page. They have a really cool design-it calculator where you can customize garage or other packages any way you choose, right from your chair at home. You can change the building sizes, height, roof structure, choose each material and even customize doors and windows. When you're done designing your garage you can print a full materials list or save the custom package you designed to purchase later. They have other sections where you can customize garage doors, entry doors, decks, pole buildings and other packages. Really handy when you're planning or even just dreaming.

I usually delete a lot of the nails and such when I place the order. I use pneumatic nailers and either already have a supply or purchase them separately.

 

[reader2580]

I would only use the Menards material list as a guide. You may not need every single item on the list, and you'll probably need stuff not on the list too

 

[jsbowen]

I just want to know what credit card you have which is giving 5% cash back....

 

[reader2580]

I just want to know what credit card you have which is giving 5% cash back....

Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom cards are giving 5% at home improvement stores through June 30th. However, you can only get a maximum of $75 back, or $1500 in purchases. $1,500 won't take you far on a garage project.

I don't know if the OP has a different card or not.

 

[Dagny]

I always walk out to the yard and look at things before I order.

 

[charbar]

Personally always though Menards was mediocre at best when it came to lumber quality.
Around my area the stuff from the local guys always seemed to be better, and sometimes price was the same. Just my experience though.

However, with the way things are, Menards might be about the only choice. A lot of the local lumber stores around here are still having a hard time getting material.

Having said that, there are a sh!tload of buildings built with Menards material and they are standing just as tall and proud as any other building.

 

[nadogail]

Where are the stores you write about? I have not seen a store by that name in my area.

 

[charbar]

Where are the stores you write about? I have not seen a store by that name in my area.

I think they are midwest only thing. Based out of Wisconsin if I remember correctly.

www.menards.com

 

[redrunner]

I used menards for my first shed. Second one I use wood from Lowes. It was better wood all the way around. Menards standard trusses were 2x3 the Lowes orders were 2x4. All things being the same I would go to Lowes before menards.

 

[toyotadriver]

Menards lumber prices are mostly comparable to the other stores in my area but IMO the quality is better.

Their truss prices are outrageous....I was able to get trusses made at a local Mennonite truss place for over $100 less per truss than Menards wanted.

 

[Viper98912]

The regular lumber I got from Menards mostly seemed to be better quality than the other two home improvement stores, and they had a little more variety as well on oddball items (such as 2x3 PT).

Eeeeeexxxcceept for some pre-cut PT stringers I bought. Man, were those a warped joke. I bought them hopefully to save a bunch of time on 100+ cuts, and it ended up being a nightmare costing me about 2 days of squaring and re-cutting everything anyway.

If you can save a bunch of money by using their credit card combined with any special deals they might have, it absolutely sounds like a good plan. Just make sure you spend a lot of time criticizing every line item on the list and make sure you know exactly where/how it's being used. It will probably take you a long time to picture it, but it's definitely worthwhile and you'll learn a bunch too.

 

[firebirdparts]

Mediocre quality sounds pretty good to me.

If you can get it at mediocre prices, I say you better hurry.

 

[p00p]

Today I priced a 24x30 garage with attic loft for $19k at Menards (includes 2k rebate). I would be able to put that on a credit card and earn 5% cash back and earn some additional points, as well. Sounds enticing, but I have no experience with using Menards for this (and I have not heard of anyone doing so, either).

Just wondering if there's any consensus here whether using Menards is OK in your book. Thanks!

I've reviewed some of those kits they offer & wondered how those kits hold up to obtaining a permit to build.

 

[spudley]

It'll be very basic material.

Low grade vinyl siding, uninsulated ohd(s), cheap service door, probably a slider window, no foundation, no electric.

But last weekend I saw 1/2" OSB at Menards for $38 and 2x4x8 at $7.50 so maybe it's a deal.

I'd still ask a local lumber yard for a bid on the same size garage.

 

[PoorUB]

I am not impressed with lumber from any of the popular chain big box home centers. If you have a "real" lumber yard go price lumber there. I got lumber quotes for a deck a few years back, checked Menards, Lowes, Home Depot and a local lumber yard. The lumber yard was 2nd lowest price and close to the cheapest buy a very few dollars. Another plus is most lumber yards will deliver. When they dropped off the lumber right to my back yard I was shocked to see the quality! 2x12x16 foot long perfectly clear lumber, not one knot, same with the 2x10x12 footers, maybe one of two knots in the whole bunch. Go to any of the chain home centers and dig through their lumber. I doubt you will find any construction lumber that is knot free and most of it is full of knots. Terrible quality.

 

[Showkey]

All lumber is sold by grade........grade follows the price, not the location of the purchase point.

So some big box stores specialize in price or only stock one grade. The stores that have an indoor “yard” have very limited choices.

Even at the premium yard I would inspect very carefully before delivery.........some full service yards have no return policy..........same full service yards have NO PICKING. Ran into “no picking” on cedar siding even at the premium price, one look and I walked.

 

[impalatom]

About 5 years ago I purchased all materials from Menard's for a 24 x 36 garage build. This included all materials including Jeldwyn windows and insulated Clopay garage doors, trusses, etc. I spec'd all 1/2" plywood for sidewalls and roof, no OSB. I contracted with an Amish crew to build it for me. They were a little skeptical about sourcing the material from Menard's since they always liked to use a local (higher priced) lumber yard.

The foreman of the Amish crew complemented the quality and completeness of the "kit" from Menard's. Also a nice benefit after buying from Menard's they refunded at 100% any excess material not needed in the build. Things may have changed in the last 5 years but my experience with Menard' back then was very positive.

 

[Glemon]

I built my garage addition with materials mostly from Menards, a few things from Home Depot. Lumber was fine. Also sourced garage doors, tracks, springs, hardware. They have a nice online configurator for getting what you want, style, color, windows, R-value, etc.

 

[reader2580]

It'll be very basic material.

Low grade vinyl siding, uninsulated ohd(s), cheap service door, probably a slider window, no foundation, no electric.

The design software they use can change most of that stuff to better products.

There is too much variation in electrical to be able to price that.

 

[Doug]

I just thought I'd throw this in.....in the '80's I bought a garage package from Grossmans that supposedly included everything necessary to build a 24x28 garage. There was very little excess material. All went well until I was finishing the roofing and a ran out of shingles. I called the store to tell them I was short and they told me they had provided the correct square footage of shingles to cover the roof. What they didn't give me was enough shingles to center the end tabs on the building. The shingles I was missing were the tabs I had cut off to center the job. I told the person on the phone that they had given me enough shingles to do a half-assed job, but they wouldn't budge and I wound up buying shingles to finish the job. I can still remember how pissed i was driving to the store to get the shingles.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I am not impressed with lumber from any of the popular chain big box home centers. If you have a "real" lumber yard go price lumber there. I got lumber quotes for a deck a few years back, checked Menards, Lowes, Home Depot and a local lumber yard. The lumber yard was 2nd lowest price and close to the cheapest buy a very few dollars. Another plus is most lumber yards will deliver. When they dropped off the lumber right to my back yard I was shocked to see the quality! 2x12x16 foot long perfectly clear lumber, not one knot, same with the 2x10x12 footers, maybe one of two knots in the whole bunch. Go to any of the chain home centers and dig through their lumber. I doubt you will find any construction lumber that is knot free and most of it is full of knots. Terrible quality.

A couple years ago is NOT the current lumber market at all. Our local all purpose yard, whatever I ask for, whether it’s 2x4x116-5/8, 5/4 white oak treads, or 200’ of poplar, it’s always ‘let me check with the supplier and see when I can get it in....’ because they don’t buy enough to be a priority client.

Menards, Home Depot and Lowe’s buy millions and millions of dollars of wood a month and year. While there is a supposed ‘lumber shortage’ causing the current crazy prices, my Home Depot and Menards are still fully stocked on osb, 2x and 4x lumber. All the upper bunks are full, and the back lots are stacked with pallets. So it’s not a procurement issue if you buy enough.

I tried to buy 1/2” osb last week at our biggest, locally owned yard. Which, btw, is $37 a sheet now. Not $7-8 a sheet like a couple years ago. They said they had a 10 sheet limit due to low stock. I went to, you guessed it, Menards, and bought the 200 sheets I needed for $34/sheet. So the big box actually had it on hand, didn’t limit me, and it was cheaper. Plus one for the big box.

 

[WisJim]

My garage material came from Menards last summer. Luckily we had made the decision and got a firm price on my materials before things went totally nuts. They sent the wrong trusses and took months to get the proper ones, and windows that were a normal stock item were on backorder by the time we needed them in late summer. A major thing to consider is that their delivery is just dumping the load off the end of the truck onto the driveway and everything needs to be moved or otherwise dealt with if not used right away. I got drywall from a different supplier and it was slightly more than Menards, but they put it in the rooms where we wanted it. Menards quality was pretty good but dealing with them was sometimes difficult.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

My garage material came from Menards last summer. Luckily we had made the decision and got a firm price on my materials before things went totally nuts. They sent the wrong trusses and took months to get the proper ones, and windows that were a normal stock item were on backorder by the time we needed them in late summer. A major thing to consider is that their delivery is just dumping the load off the end of the truck onto the driveway and everything needs to be moved or otherwise dealt with if not used right away. I got drywall from a different supplier and it was slightly more than Menards, but they put it in the rooms where we wanted it. Menards quality was pretty good but dealing with them was sometimes difficult.

Yep, most big box store is end of driveway, or driveway delivery. If you have a paved driveway and street big enough for the truck to make the turn, they’ll drop it outside the garage. The rest is up to you.

If your driveway is gravel, or the streets too small, they’ll drop it at the end of the driveway. Then it’s on you to get it out of the street ASAP

A local shingle supplier will bring a knuckle crane and load them on the roof. Or a truss company can send a crane truck and lift them in place for a day rate. Or a drywall company will load whatever sheets you request directly into the room you want them.

I once had a steel company say they couldn’t deliver the steel beams to a house, because the street was a 28’ wide private gravel road and they’re truck required 30’ to support the outriggers properly. AS IM TALKING WITH MY GUYS ON SITE, the office calls to tell me this. The driver couldn’t be bothered to ask any of us. So after bitching out the driver, and having him show me which steel was ours, I proceeded to used the 60x72 sky track(6,000lbs lift anywhere in a 72’ reach arc) we had on site to reach out over the tool trailer, the ditch, and one lane of road to where he was parked, and pick the 4500lbs of steel up and over , boom it up and in and set it next to the foundation. But noooo it was too much work to even talk to us before calling the office to say it couldn’t be done

 

[nikerret]

Some friends bought their shop, at Menards. They didn’t buy the doors, windows, or some if the other stuff, at first. They bought it when Menards was having their 11% rebate on purchases. After they turned in the rebate and got the gift card, they went back and got the rest of what they needed.

 

[rawen2]

Anyone know how far Menards will deliver one of their kits? The closest one I can find is about 175 miles away.

Love shopping at Menards when visiting family and wish we had one close by.

 

[PoorUB]

All lumber is sold by grade........grade follows the price, not the location of the purchase point.

Yes, but the big home stores will "regrade" lumber to their standards. What might be NO.2 at Menards might be NO.3 everywhere else.