Y'all Been Checkin' Lumber Prices?

[jyoutz]

Redwood is cost prohibitive for most...

60 years ago grandfather built a redwood planter with untreated heart redwood and remains 100% solid...

Yes, but redwood heartwood isn’t really available today. And the lighter sapwood isn’t really rot resistant.

 

[Frankenkubota]

I’m a forester. I’ll take your tree farm off your hands.

funny how the "value" of my trees has not increased as material prices have.......

 

[Frankenkubota]

The prices of lumber is delaying my house build on my newly purchased 22 acres. I am looking to start building maybe June 22.

good luck. i allowed about a 30% fudge factor.

all gone with a few plans never to be.

you can try to get quotes that are good for a few months but everyone around here is quoting 1 week with a provision to raise quoted prices to reflect material costs.

it's not just wood, it's everything.

a small bucket of drywall mud.......$17.00

One thing about a crisis......everyone pulls together, to get the most they can for themselves, businesses, individuals...everyone.

Think of the gas shortages and the best one...toilet paper.

 

[jyoutz]

funny how the "value" of my trees has not increased as material prices have.......

I know. It’s discouraging to us Forest managers that stumpage prices are still low despite the high value of finished lumber.

 

[JethroB]

There were a lot of incentives by USDA to plant pines in the 80’s and 90’s. Those trees are now ready for harvesting. So no shortage of trees for milling now. The mills are often large pine plantation owners so they can somewhat regulate the stump price by cutting their own trees if needed.

 

[jyoutz]

There were a lot of incentives by USDA to plant pines in the 80’s and 90’s. Those trees are now ready for harvesting. So no shortage of trees for milling now. The mills are often large pine plantation owners so they can somewhat regulate the stump price by cutting their own trees if needed.

True, and federal lands in the west have a huge glut of timber to be harvested to restore ecosystems and reduce fire hazards. There is abundant stumpage for harvest. The supply restrictions are due to insufficient processing facilities (sawmills, OSB plants, etc…).

 

[dfkrug]

Yes, but redwood heartwood isn’t really available today. And the lighter sapwood isn’t really rot resistant.

Hunh?

The volume of standing live S. Sempervirens (coastal redwood) has never been higher in recorded history. As for the other Sequoia (giganteum, giant redwood), that is not what you are buying at the lumberyard.

I think that BOYLER above is referring to a recent news report that the NPS will be removing 1000s of trees in Sequoia Natl Park to reduce the fire danger after last season's fire endangered the iconic giant RWs. I suspect most of those trees to be removed are other species.

The Big Problem is that natural fires, and seasonal burns set by natives have been disallowed here for 230 years. The coastal rainforest where I live, and where coastal RWs come from has become overgrown and poorly managed.

You are right that the sapwood of a RW tree will get powder-post beetles in it within 2 years after it is cut, in my area.

 

[jyoutz]

Hunh?

The volume of standing live S. Sempervirens (coastal redwood) has never been higher in recorded history. As for the other Sequoia (giganteum, giant redwood), that is not what you are buying at the lumberyard.

I think that BOYLER above is referring to a recent news report that the NPS will be removing 1000s of trees in Sequoia Natl Park to reduce the fire danger after last season's fire endangered the iconic giant RWs. I suspect most of those trees to be removed are other species.

The Big Problem is that natural fires, and seasonal burns set by natives have been disallowed here for 230 years. The coastal rainforest where I live, and where coastal RWs come from has become overgrown and poorly managed.

You are right that the sapwood of a RW tree will get powder-post beetles in it within 2 years after it is cut, in my area.

Yes, most trees to be removed in Sequoia NP are firs and other species. The interior SNP forests have been unnaturally dense due to fire suppression, not coastal forests that don’t typically support surface fires.

 

[dfkrug]

The interior SNP forests have been unnaturally dense due to fire suppression, not coastal forests that don’t typically support surface fires.

Last summer, Santa Cruz County suffered a fire that consumed 85,000 acres and destroyed 1500 buildings. It came as close as 6 miles from where we live. That zone of the coastal rainforest is an Extreme Hazard fire zone, exacerbated by poor forest and vegetation management.

As for redwood lumber, the sole remaining commercial sawmill in the area (Davenport, CA) is extremely backlogged with logs, and there is plenty of con-heart or better RW lumber available at the yards.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Big Creek???

 

[jyoutz]

Last summer, Santa Cruz County suffered a fire that consumed 85,000 acres and destroyed 1500 buildings. It came as close as 6 miles from where we live. That zone of the coastal rainforest is an Extreme Hazard fire zone, exacerbated by poor forest and vegetation management.

As for redwood lumber, the sole remaining commercial sawmill in the area (Davenport, CA) is extremely backlogged with logs, and there is plenty of con-heart or better RW lumber available at the yards.

It is nearly impossible to find heart wood redwood in the lumber yards. They are selling sapwood for premium prices. May as well buy treated pine lumber. It lasts longer than sapwood redwood.

 

[Jstpssng]

 

[Citydude]

View attachment 719021

Alrighty then! Your patience paid off.

 

[ericm979]

Is that the mill you have been waiting for? I'm guessing you have a stack of logs ready to go.

 

[Jstpssng]

Is that the mill you have been waiting for? I'm guessing you have a stack of logs ready to go.

Yes, and two days ago i had minor surgery so won't be able to use it for a while... probably next spring.

 

[dfkrug]

It is nearly impossible to find heart wood redwood in the lumber yards.

Sounds like a regional thing. I just checked with a fence/deck contractor I know in my area, and still no problem getting con-heart RW. Prices still high, however.

I remember when I lived in AZ 40y ago that cedar was the preferred species for fences, at least. Dunno about decks. or what is preferred in NM or other parts of the US.

 

[jyoutz]

Sounds like a regional thing. I just checked with a fence/deck contractor I know in my area, and still no problem getting con-heart RW. Prices still high, however.

I remember when I lived in AZ 40y ago that cedar was the preferred species for fences, at least. Dunno about decks. or what is preferred in NM or other parts of the US.

Seems like pressure treated wood has become the wood choice for decks nowadays because redwood heartwood is either not available or too costly.

 

[ultrarunner]

Don't forget composite decking and now aluminum forever decking...

Wood decks are the bane of my existence... especially in the Pacific Northwest.

 

[JethroB]

Don't forget composite decking and now aluminum forever decking...

Wood decks are the bane of my existence... especially in the Pacific Northwest.

I went with composite deck boards on a recent porch addition (Trex brand). I am quite pleased so far. Only downside, other than the higher cost over wood, is how hot they can get in direct sunlight.

 

[ultrarunner]

Apparently the aluminum is in between wood and composite for temp.

Although too hot is seldom a problem in the Pacific Northwest but who knows with climate change?

The summers are longer and drier...