Y'all Been Checkin' Lumber Prices?

[JethroB]

I have a friend in sales at one of the large international wood products companies. He reminds me that nothing goes to waste. Odd size boards from milling or other product production gets package as all those odd size boards or cuts we might see in stores. Sawdust is sometimes sold for boiler fuel or cogeneration.

In the commercial chicken industry we said we sold everything but the ’cluck’. Chicken feet followed by wings were our most profitable items. Heads, blood, and feathers bring 6-8 cents a pound.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

My point was, at let's say 6 dollars an 8 footer, why charge 36 for 3 4 footers?

 

[MossRoad]

...Gone are the good old days.

My father said that. So did his father. Except for the great depression. Neither had anything good to say about that.

 

[LD1]

My father said that. So did his father. Except for the great depression. Neither had anything good to say about that.

IMO, its just 20 years of inflation all trying to happen in 2 years.

Really.....since ~2000....prices for just about everything were stagnant. Now its catching up.

I helped dad build his shop in ~2000-2001. 2x4x8's were ~$2.00-$2.50/board. And osb was ~$4.50/sheet
I built my first shop in 2007. 2x4x8 was $2.39 and OSB was $4.76
I built my current shop in 2015. 2x4x8 was $2.48 and osb was $5.49/sheet

 

[Diggin It]

Yeah, it's really like the economy is finally taking hold, unemployment is near record lows, more people have more money, though a lot of us don't.

I just don't understand why the stock market isn't taking note.

 

[KubotainNH]

Weird, i just went to hd and lowes ….needed a dozen 2x4 8 footers. Lowes had them for $14.99 each and had several hundred in stock. H depot wanted $5.89 but had none left in stock. Im not willing to pay $15 for a stinking 2x4….so i guess ill wait.

Will they not price match on lumber? Maybe different grade? Seems to be a huge difference in price.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

HD has 2x4x8 at $5.39 and 7/16 OSB for $27.38 out here today. Still way too high.

 

[Jstpssng]

If it makes you happy, futures are almost down to pre covid prices.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Prices aren’t… yet

 

[lman]

I'll be happy when I see a 2x4x8 for $2.50, like it was a few years ago.

 

[ultrarunner]

We had a Homebase back in the early 80’s where I shopped a lot.

It took out several neighborhood hardware stores.

Studs 49 cents, bag steer manure 49 cents, 30 gallon gas water heater $88, drywall 2.69 a sheet, etc.

Everything I built is still in service except the water heater but the dust in 2015 and the low nox model cost $650.00

The dog ear redwood fence and 40 year posts also in service…

 

[deezler]

2x4 studs down to $4.73 at home depot now. OSB stuck at 22.65, hoping for a few bucks cheaper yet before I need to buy my stack soon.

 

[jyoutz]

My point was, at let's say 6 dollars an 8 footer, why charge 36 for 3 4 footers?

Because people are too lazy to cut studs and will pay ridiculous prices for the store to cut them.

 

[jyoutz]

I'll be happy when I see a 2x4x8 for $2.50, like it was a few years ago.

Timber stumpage rates are now the same as a few years ago (very cheap), but logging and milling costs (plus retail sales) will not likely return to the same costs as a few years ago. But as interest rates climb, the housing market will decline and force prices down.

 

[rbstern]

2x4 studs down to $4.73 at home depot now. OSB stuck at 22.65, hoping for a few bucks cheaper yet before I need to buy my stack soon.

Hang in there a bit longer, if you can. I think you will be rewarded. The recent, precipitous drop of lumber futures is not fully factored into the price yet.

 

[deezler]

Agreed, will try to. I have a small stack of used OSB sheets I will use up first before buying new ones.

Lumber manager at home depot hooked me up just now. Was heading in to buy a pile of 2x6x92-5/8 studs for $5.98 each as shown in inventory on their site. But apparently carpenter ants got into the stack and chewed it all up, so he let me have full 8's for the same price instead ($2 off per board).

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Glad you got a deal, but still too high if projevts can wait...

 

[deezler]

I dunno. A perfectly dimensioned, zero-knots, clear grain 2x6x8’ with no warp or cup (yet) is well worth 6 bucks to me. If you think of all the steps that piece of wood went through before getting sold to me at home depot, mannn…. I’d charge 20 if i was making them.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I'm not sure HD sells those kind of 2x4s. I dig and dig just to get a straight one.

But I agree, a prime 2x4 is definitely worth more than $4

 

[deezler]

My home depot has been turning over lumber pretty quick this summer. When they open up a new bunk of moist lumber... it's all nice and straight. Sometimes just the drive home is enough for the warp to set in, GRRRrrr