Lumber - Home Store or Lumber Yard?

[Lzen]

Bought a house last year and we knew there were some things that the previous owners had neglected. And now it is time to give the deck some attention. The deck was painted but it is peeling. So, I tried to power wash but that only worked somewhat. Some of the loose stuff came off while some of it is still stuck on there. Plus, some of the wood is not in the greatest shape. So, we decided to just replace the decking planks.

In the past, I have bought pressure treated wood from Home Depot and Lowes for various projects such as privacy fencing, but it is not always the greatest quality and you have to go through it to find decent boards. Since these deck planks will be 16' X 2" X 6", I am going to see about having them delivered. And that means that I won't be picking out my wood. Does anyone have recommendations for where to buy the lumber? In Topeka, we have Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, Sutherlands, ABC, and a place called McCray Lumber and Millwork.

[tatorhog]

I built my deck using Topeka Home Depot lumber. After 3 years it seems to be ok. Built the kid's tree house as well.

I haven't been in there for a few months, but the last time I was, they had about 4 warped boards of each variety in the treated section. I don't think I had seen that little selection ever.

Are you using 2x6 for your planks, or are you using the 5/4 stuff? Also, if they don't have any, you could always look at the composite planks, they seemed to always have that in stock regardless of lumber selection. I couldn't speak to the quality though, I don't know much about that stuff.

[Bugeater]

I didn't know Sutherlands still existed. I'd probably lean towards them. Menards will send you garbage if it's delivered, definitely can't trust them.

[FAX]

The beautiful and witty Mrs. FAX and I recently completed construction of a huge deck, so I have recent experience in this field of endeavor, Mr. Lzen.

The difference in material quality between Home Depot/Lowes lumber and our local lumber yard was dramatic.

For me, it's lumber yard or nothing.

FAX THE BUILDER

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I didn't know Sutherlands still existed. I'd probably lean towards them. Menards will send you garbage if it's delivered, definitely can't trust them.

This.

Never have them pick out your lumber. There is a ton of trash mixed in.

It sucks, but go in and pick out the good boards yourself. You will regret it if you don't.

[oldman]

How long are you going to stay in the house? If you're in for 10+ years, buy the good stuff at a lumber yard. If you're looking to stay 3-4 years and trade up, hit the box stores.

[RockChalk]

This is a bad time to do it, as the price of lumber is absurd at the moment. If you wait about 6 months (or even longer), it will come back to more normal prices.

But I echo what others have said, lumber yard is going to get you the best quality, which I expect you would want for a deck.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

This is a bad time to do it, as the price of lumber is absurd at the moment. If you wait about 6 months (or even longer), it will come back to more normal prices.

But I echo what others have said, lumber yard is going to get you the best quality, which I expect you would want for a deck.

That thought did cross my mind. We are just getting tired of paint chipping all over the place. And it is hard to know when/if the prices will come back down.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by notorious

This.

Never have them pick out your lumber. There is a ton of trash mixed in.

It sucks, but go in and pick out the good boards yourself. You will regret it if you don't.

I will need approximately 65 planks.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by oldman

How long are you going to stay in the house? If you're in for 10+ years, buy the good stuff at a lumber yard. If you're looking to stay 3-4 years and trade up, hit the box stores.

We plan to stay here for the rest of our lives. We looked at the composite stuff. It was more expensive but it wasn't a lot more expensive. But....and there's always a but...you have to add joists as it is not a strong as wood. Joists would have to be 16" apart rather than the 24" that they are now. I would like to do this and have it last 10-15 years at a minimum. And then perhaps we would have a professional company replace it with composite decking.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by tatorhog

I built my deck using Topeka Home Depot lumber. After 3 years it seems to be ok. Built the kid's tree house as well.

I haven't been in there for a few months, but the last time I was, they had about 4 warped boards of each variety in the treated section. I don't think I had seen that little selection ever.

Are you using 2x6 for your planks, or are you using the 5/4 stuff? Also, if they don't have any, you could always look at the composite planks, they seemed to always have that in stock regardless of lumber selection. I couldn't speak to the quality though, I don't know much about that stuff.

We're just replacing it with exactly what is already there, 2" X 6".

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by Lzen

That thought did cross my mind. We are just getting tired of paint chipping all over the place. And it is hard to know when/if the prices will come back down.

True...my wife and I have been doing some home projects. I've spoken with a couple of contractor friends, and independently, they both have made comments that they believe prices will come down after the first of the year. Not sure what fuels those beliefs, but that seems to be the consensus.

Now, to be completely fair, I have no idea what difference you're looking at cost wise right now based on 65 boards as "normal" prices versus what they are today.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

True...my wife and I have been doing some home projects. I've spoken with a couple of contractor friends, and independently, they both have made comments that they believe prices will come down after the first of the year. Not sure what fuels those beliefs, but that seems to be the consensus.

Now, to be completely fair, I have no idea what difference you're looking at cost wise right now based on 65 boards as "normal" prices versus what they are today.

I have never bought planks this size but they are running about $22 each. I bought a couple of pressure treated 2" X 4" X 8' at Lowes when I was there the other day and they were $7 and something each. If memory serves, they were $4-$5 last time I bought them. So that means the prices are at least 1.5 or so times what they were a year ago.