OSB OMG $$

[BigE_]

Yep, OSB and CDX were within $1 of each other yesterday at the local Home Depot. I was shocked. 2x4s were $2.69, but 2x6s were only $3.76. Back when KD 2x4s were $1.53, I bought 30 of them just because they were so cheap. I didn't need them, just bought them. I picked up a few of the 2x6s yesterday (didn't need them, either). I was going to get more, but these had been pretty well picked through, and I didn't want to mess with it. I've got 20 or so sitting at home still.

Lowes and HD sit side by side in Hillsboro. I was in Lowes, was going to get some asphalt patch. $13.74 a bag! And that's a 50lb bag. The last time I bought some, it was less than $7 for a 60lb bag. (4 yrs ago).

Went next door to HD and it was $8.28 for a 50lb bag. I only needed 10 bags, but bought 20 just in case. I would've bought more, but I have a pullout pickup bed, and I didn't know if it would hold more than 1000 lbs easily.

-Steve

 

[gtrippleb]

I was in lowes today and the price for 7/16 4x8 osb was $9.77. I almost cringe when I know I need to buy lumber in the summer as it seems to always be higher than other times of the yr.

 

[Mousefield]

Just got 40 sheets of OSB 7/16" 4 X 8. Cost $14.00 plus 12% tax. They gave me almost a dollar off a sheet for getting 40.

 

[Pops15]

The banks are still losing money on the loans they made to builders. That doesn't put the banks in a frame of mind to loan new money.

Banks are advertising low interest loans for new homes. With 16% local unemployment they're not getting many takers.
I even heard a commercial on the radio for a bank that was offering refi loans for more than 100% of the value of a home. must be some slow learners out there. Or maybe they just figure the government will bail them out again.

 

[deepNdirt]

Wow. I went to Home Depot here and . ouch $12.73 a sheet for the 1/2 inch . I Read that luber is down dues to low use. And I assume that OSB is higher becasue ther eis less scrapes for them to make it?
I rememebr $4.76 a sheet. LOL What a swing on this stuff. Not sure what a sheet of 1/2 inc plywood is . HMM

Its called falling short in the 1st quarter.... it was just after march when the prices of not just OSB but everything in their store's went up, I happen to be in one of their locations on the 3rd week of March and it was swarming with the people who take inventory, and than the next time I was in their the same things I had purchase before had went up 12% + I had been told it was due to the mishap over in Chilly and that they are the largest supplier of our Plywoods and was the reason for increase cost of Plywoods etc, to have gone up, But I also know that when large Inc. start loosing money there is only 1 way for them to make it up.....( to Charge more ) lot of folks are not spending due to these poor economics but their are a some folks who are still spending and they are the ones that H.D. & L's know will be in to make their purchases and will pay what ever the price is..... Just as I have to do... either that or sit home and do nothing and go broke..... a 10 cent profit on each dollar I have to spend is better then making Zip
Just yesterday I was in HD and their must have been an employ at the end of every Isle welcoming me as i walked by, at least 10 employs working the Garden center, I didn't bother to count them all but if were to guess i'de say 60-70 employs at that 1 location, Now in My thinking ... sure is a lot of employs here doing much of nothing? and their wages are probably around 8.00 hr. each lots of wasted money.... and at the same token then Home D goes up on their prices....Hmmmmmm!

 

[Pops15]

We don't have a HD here but there are several a little farther north. I was working up there a couple years ago and bought my supplies at HD. I was favorably impressed with the employees at HD. Couldn't go down an aisle without someone asking if I needed help finding something. Pretty much the opposite of the Lowes store here in town where the employees avoid talking to customers. Those low wages don't have much effect on material prices. The cost of building and maintaining the store, utilities, real estate taxes, insurance, etc, are the big costs for the store.

 

[Pops15]

And I remember when gas was $0.19 per gallon.

We are just living too long, I guess.

We can keep taxing our industries like we do, and they will continue to just pass that tax along to the consumer. So it is a never ending upward spiral. Buy it at the price they say, or do without. Buy it at the price they say, or they will close the factory. Then the employees go on un-employment and/or welfare.

To me, boils down to taxing the industry (and that includes the insane regulations that really do nothing but raise the price). My take on the problem.

You'll be hearing more about insane regulations. The US EPA now requires ALL contractors.....general, HVAC, electrical, painting, flooring, plumbing......basically EVERYONE that works on pre 1978 houses ANYWHERE in the ENTIRE COUNTRY to become trained in "lead safe" work practices and licensed to work on homes that test positive for lead paint. The EPA mandates specific work practices. The people that wrote the regs clearly have no practical experience. The rules took effect April 22 but many if not most contractors still don't know about it.