Y'all Been Checkin' Lumber Prices?
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mwemaxxowner
Platinum Member
I work for a large lumber manufacturing, treating, and shipping facility that supplies most of the Lowe's stores along this coast.
The demand has been insane this year. We're up something like 20 percent over last year, and some individual items are up as much as 50%.
A couple months back one of my bosses stated that a truck load of white 5/4 standard grade decking boards (at that time, not sure where it stands now) cost us $30,000 MORE than it did at the he begining of the year. Just one single truck load.
I think a treated 4x4x8 at one time was $5 and now is around $15 or something like that.
When covid struck and people started being off work and quarantined at home demand skyrocketed.
The demand has been insane this year. We're up something like 20 percent over last year, and some individual items are up as much as 50%.
A couple months back one of my bosses stated that a truck load of white 5/4 standard grade decking boards (at that time, not sure where it stands now) cost us $30,000 MORE than it did at the he begining of the year. Just one single truck load.
I think a treated 4x4x8 at one time was $5 and now is around $15 or something like that.
When covid struck and people started being off work and quarantined at home demand skyrocketed.
crazyal
Super Member
One of the places I buy hardwood has told me that white oak is in high demand. Apparently the Japanese are really into whiskey now. So they have been buying up white oak at premium prices to make Bourbon barrels. Not sure how true it is but I know that white oak was once cheap enough so we used it for trailer planking. Now it's right up there with cherry.
bmaverick
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For rural living, a bunch of us have actually harvested our own trees and offered to clear areas for other people. Sure, it's a core, but the lumber is FREE then.
Not only did lumber jump 245% in 5 months, has anyone priced paint gallons !!!!
It's so bad now, that other materials that were thought of being high are now CHEAPER.
2 years ago, one could buy at the tractor store the $99 chicken coop. Sure it was flimsy as all get out. Now that junk costs $300 and it's even SMALLER yet and it's not even painted !!! The old style was at least painted red.
And the shortage of T-paper is an odd one. Like paper or plastic at checkout, T-paper is not real paper, but silage leftovers mixed in with old paper or cardboard. With the season late start of getting crops in this year, that raw material is not plentiful, so we have LIMITS on the number of rolls a person can buy.
Likewise, laminated or OSB wood sheets require LOTS of grain glue (gluten). Well, look at the crop harvest of 2020 for wheat and barley, then be a bit stunned. Beer is going up in prices too as barley and hops are low harvests.
Don't get me going on the coffee either. That's a real stupid one.
This C19 era has the worse shortages compared to any other non-war time. It will not be any better for at least 5 to 10 years out.
My son married into a family. His mother-in-law is a classic hoarder who lives alone. Each Tuesday, they go over there to help clear out stuff. Well, as this short of supply era has kicked in, they are not quickly tossing things anymore. Go figure.
Not only did lumber jump 245% in 5 months, has anyone priced paint gallons !!!!
It's so bad now, that other materials that were thought of being high are now CHEAPER.
2 years ago, one could buy at the tractor store the $99 chicken coop. Sure it was flimsy as all get out. Now that junk costs $300 and it's even SMALLER yet and it's not even painted !!! The old style was at least painted red.
And the shortage of T-paper is an odd one. Like paper or plastic at checkout, T-paper is not real paper, but silage leftovers mixed in with old paper or cardboard. With the season late start of getting crops in this year, that raw material is not plentiful, so we have LIMITS on the number of rolls a person can buy.
Likewise, laminated or OSB wood sheets require LOTS of grain glue (gluten). Well, look at the crop harvest of 2020 for wheat and barley, then be a bit stunned. Beer is going up in prices too as barley and hops are low harvests.
Don't get me going on the coffee either. That's a real stupid one.
This C19 era has the worse shortages compared to any other non-war time. It will not be any better for at least 5 to 10 years out.
My son married into a family. His mother-in-law is a classic hoarder who lives alone. Each Tuesday, they go over there to help clear out stuff. Well, as this short of supply era has kicked in, they are not quickly tossing things anymore. Go figure.
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My grandmother always kept a neat well stocked pantry and a closet with random gifts...
She lived through hard times with the garden often making the difference plus good for barter...
The gift closet was amazing... She had a closet of new boxed items and when I needed something for a teachers birthday or coach or similar she always had something at bargain prices.
It's not hoarding if you know what you have and properly stored...
I don't like shopping but each year Costco had a paper goods sale on paper towels, toilet paper, etc and I would stock up for both mom's house and mine...
It turned out to be fortuitous in 2020.
She lived through hard times with the garden often making the difference plus good for barter...
The gift closet was amazing... She had a closet of new boxed items and when I needed something for a teachers birthday or coach or similar she always had something at bargain prices.
It's not hoarding if you know what you have and properly stored...
I don't like shopping but each year Costco had a paper goods sale on paper towels, toilet paper, etc and I would stock up for both mom's house and mine...
It turned out to be fortuitous in 2020.
MossRoad
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I tried telling that to my wife as we were moving my two hundred + Rubbermaid 20 gallon totes (all numbered and inventoried in a spread sheet) out of our basement to the new garage addition last week.... she wasn't buying it. :laughing:
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Glad the new garage is being put to use...
Never know when hard times come around and I witnessed too many people in panic mode this last go around... literally nothing in the house and we live in Earthquake country...
For decades I had the only generator in the neighborhood and I like to keep a case of canned goods, sack of rice, first aid, batteries, lanterns, candles, coleman gasoline stove, BBQ, cleaning supplies, paper products, fuel transfer pump, 10 and 12 ga extension cords, etc.
The other thing noticed is the bout of recent price inflation... sobering in the big picture but still glad to be able to purchase even at inflated price if needed.
Maybe this would be a good time to part with my -85 Cryo Chest Freezer? Tried to sell it a few years back with some other lab equipment and only the tabletop sterizers sold and to a Tattoo Artist.
Never know when hard times come around and I witnessed too many people in panic mode this last go around... literally nothing in the house and we live in Earthquake country...
For decades I had the only generator in the neighborhood and I like to keep a case of canned goods, sack of rice, first aid, batteries, lanterns, candles, coleman gasoline stove, BBQ, cleaning supplies, paper products, fuel transfer pump, 10 and 12 ga extension cords, etc.
The other thing noticed is the bout of recent price inflation... sobering in the big picture but still glad to be able to purchase even at inflated price if needed.
Maybe this would be a good time to part with my -85 Cryo Chest Freezer? Tried to sell it a few years back with some other lab equipment and only the tabletop sterizers sold and to a Tattoo Artist.
MossRoad
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Wife and I have never worried about ourselves (knock on wood) but we do worry about some friends and family. Kinda like the ant and the grasshopper VS my brother's keeper. 
Now I need about 10 2x6x10's to make more shelving in the new addition. I don't want to buy them now, but if I do, it'll be done inside, and I can get the rest of the tubs out of the basement. Then I have the soffits to do, and a small section of siding on top where the new 9' high addition meets the old 10' high original garage. Then I call the inspector and I should be all buttoned up for the winter.
Now I need about 10 2x6x10's to make more shelving in the new addition. I don't want to buy them now, but if I do, it'll be done inside, and I can get the rest of the tubs out of the basement. Then I have the soffits to do, and a small section of siding on top where the new 9' high addition meets the old 10' high original garage. Then I call the inspector and I should be all buttoned up for the winter.
MossRoad
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An old joke I tell every time there is a new national crisis is "Dang, I just finished off the last of my Y2K bean stash." :laughing:
