Mg Lumber Yard (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to buy wood from a lumber yard? ›

Wood that is kept at lumber yards is stored properly and is much better cared for than it is at big box retail stores. Lumber yards understand the environmental conditions that impact wood – for better and worse!

Principia's findings show the average lumberyard has margins of 23% and specialty one-step dealers carry gross margins of 22%, both are lower than the big box gross margin of 28%.

It varies: 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 SPF and fir 8-20' is usually 20%. 2x10 2x12 SYP- 20-25%. Studs - big quantity items the builders usually focus on and shop hard -10%. Plywood/OSB - 15%.

Weyerhaeuser tops the list at 4.4 billion board feet of capacity, followed by West Fraser at 3.7 billion board feet. Biewer Lumber is new to the top 10 list and comes in at #10 with the opening of the Winona, MS sawmill in 2022.

Defects can include warping, bowing, checking, cracking, waning, and more. In short, take a close look at the grain of the wood to make sure it looks clean and free of cracks or knots. You can also look down a piece of lumber from one end to the other. Make sure the board is straight, both side-to-side and lengthwise.

Fall is a time of transition. Lumber companies may be clearing out their yards after a busy summer building season where lumber was in high demand. Due to this, fall can be an excellent time to purchase lumber.

Prices for pear wood dimensional lumber, particularly in long lengths is among some of the highest paid for any type of wood in the industry, including prices paid for tropical hardwoods. Fruitwood, also called Swiss Pear or European Pear is rarely found growing wild in nature where it can grow to 100 feet or more.

Selling standing timber can be a long-term profitable investment, as it may take several years for the trees to mature and be ready for harvesting. For the highest long-term profit, work with a timber management company to develop a harvest schedule and maximize the profitability of your timber sales.

For example: if you want to know how many BF are in a 4 x 6 x 10 you multiple that together: 4 x 6 x 10 = 240 and then divide that by 12, 240 / 12 = 20 BF. To determine the price, you multiple the BF by the price/BF, so in this case a 4 x 6 x 10 is $. 80/BF, so the price per piece is $16.00.

Conclusion: What to Expect in 2024

Demand for lumber products remains robust, driven by ongoing construction activities and home improvement projects. However, with supply chain issues easing and production levels stabilizing, prices are expected to see modest appreciation rather than drastic fluctuations.

Why is OSB so expensive in 2024? ›

Plywood Market Update:

The plywood market is strengthening and prices are on the rise. Spring Demand: Increasing demand driven by spring season is contributing to the uptick in prices. Order File Extensions: Producers are extending order files, with some reaching as far as mid April.

In short, lumber prices are below peak pandemic levels, and they'll likely stay that way. They will, however, continue to be higher than pre-pandemic levels. At the beginning of December, lumber prices were just a little more than $500 per thousand board feet. That's about ⅓ of the peak during the pandemic.

According to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, Oregon is the top producer of softwood lumber, producing more than 16% of the nation's softwood. Other top-lumber producing states include: Washington. Georgia.

Did you know that Tinsman Bros., Inc. is the oldest lumberyard still in operation in the USA? Founded in 1785, the historic Lumberville landmark has weathered floods, hurricanes, wars and economic crises. Bill and Tom Tinsman are 5th generation to carry on the family business.

Cost Efficiency / Lower Price Point: Rough-sawn lumber is typically less expensive than its surfaced or pre-dimensioned counterparts. Since it hasn't undergone the additional processing steps that finished lumber has, you're not paying for the labor or machine time required to plane or square the wood.

Purchasing your lumber from a sawmill may sound intimidating, but there are many benefits to buying your wood directly from the source. Not only does purchasing directly from the mill help keep prices low, but it can also be a more sustainable option than when you buy material from a big box store.

Double-check that the math works on the day you're in the store, but typically buying longer or wider lumber will be cheaper overall. You should also ask one of the lumber associates if they have a cast-offs pile. This is wood that's cracked, damaged, or bowed in some way—enough that they can't sell it at full price.

The good news, however, is that you can keep your lumber costs down by buying in larger bulk than what you have previously. Most suppliers provide discounts when purchasing in bulk as opposed to placing several small orders and only purchasing on an “as needed” basis.