First time at the lumber yard

[mackmack]

In the past I have usually gotten my wood from HD. They are really close to my house so I just naturally went there.

I'd like to buy in greater bulk now though and I have found some lumber yards in the area. I was wondering if you guys could give me a general Idea as to what I can expect to pay for some Laminated Pine?

Is there an avg. price that I should be looking for on this stuff? I'd just like to go in their as informed as possible.

I think I got 3/4" 3X6 foot sheet of laminated pine at HD for like $15-18.

Thanks.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I can't imagine it would be cheaper at a lumber store. There are somethings that HD or Lowes have better prices. This is likely one of them.

Now if you want to buy hardwood, then a lumber yard is the way to go.

[Tom Miller]

I can't imagine it would be cheaper at a lumber store.

Actually, that hasn't been my (limited) experience. I've found the hardwood and sheetgoods at my lumberyard are no more expensive, and usually better quality. I expect this would vary greatly depending on location, though, so mine is just one more datapoint.

The maple at my HD, BTW, is soft maple, and if anything it's more expensive than the soft maple at my lumberyard. Of course, after you see the hard maple, even at 2x the price, you don't buy the soft maple.

Not exactly sure what laminated pine is, though. Do you mean a panel made of narrower pine boards edge-glued to each other? Or is there a surface lamination involved, like with plywood? I'm not sure you'd necessarily find the same thing at just any lumberyard.

Regards,
Tom

[mackmack]

That's interesting. I will check it out.

[mackmack]

Tom,

Yeah, it's edge glued. Do you think if I bought like 30-40 sheets of the stuff at HD they would give me a discount? I will ask them but I was just wondering if anyone had any experience buying bulk with HD. Thanks.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Actually, that hasn't been my (limited) experience. I've found the hardwood and sheetgoods at my lumberyard are no more expensive, and usually better quality. I expect this would vary greatly depending on location, though, so mine is just one more datapoint.

The maple at my HD, BTW, is soft maple, and if anything it's more expensive than the soft maple at my lumberyard. Of course, after you see the hard maple, even at 2x the price, you don't buy the soft maple.

Not exactly sure what laminated pine is, though. Do you mean a panel made of narrower pine boards edge-glued to each other? Or is there a surface lamination involved, like with plywood? I'm not sure you'd necessarily find the same thing at just any lumberyard.

Regards,
Tom

The plywood quality is better at the lumber yard without question. Also the selection is much bigger. I picked up $139 4 x 8 sheet of Walnut 3/4 ply last night. Beautiful. Certainly less voids, etc as well. However, certain things like pressure treated, framing lumber, MDF, and 4S4 pine products seem to be cheaper at HD or Lowes. My local Lowes sells 4 x 8 Red Oak sheets for $45, whereas my local lumber store is $89. Certainly the lumber store is better, but looking through the racks at HD I can usually find ok Red Oak. We don't have Hard or Soft Maple at local HD or Lowes.

I believe what the OP is talking about is 1-2" wide laminated boards made from pine, rather than 3/4 ply with pine face (could it be economically feasible to make such a product?). Like yourself, I doubt that the local lumber yard will carry such a product and even if they do it will likely be higher (and higher quality but when we are talking about pine strip laminates . . . . . ).