I love lumberyards
As a little girl, I used to go with my dad to the community lumberyard in SW Pennsylvania.
I loved it.
I loved the smell of wood. I loved hardware and doors and windows and trim. I loved the enormous cavern of a room where the wood was stacked.
So, when Aaron asked me to go on an errand with him this morning to Lee Lumber, I jumped at the chance.
Not all lumberyards are created equally. There are still lumberyards which prefer to deal with contractors. And some lumberyards may know how to sell wood, but they don't know how to ask the right questions that help to guide your buying decisions.
I researched three or four of them when I moved into the area by calling each one with a problem that I had and listening to their solution. Only one company gave me consistently correct answers and addressed all of my needs.
Lee Lumber.
So I popped by Lee Lumber in early November to talk to them about a new front door. Wayne (of Lee Lumber) asked me great questions about the problems with our current door (it is an INTERIOR door...it doesn't fit in the jamb correctly because it was not original, etc.) He also gave me a little more measurement homework and sent me on my way.
Today, we went back. Two months later. Two months of holidays and busy-ness and distraction.
Aaron and I walked up to the counter and Wayne remembered me. Remembered I had inquired about a door. I was so surprised! In a city this large, I have trouble remembering all of my new neighbors. So I was also more than a little impressed.
This time, we had all of the measurements and we were able to make our door decisions pretty quickly. Aaron will talk about this in another post.
If you do any kind of work that requires building materials, you may hear the same arguments again and again (I do!) Lumberyards? Or Big Box Retailers, like Home Depot?
Personally, I think that the right lumberyard can provide me with materials and KNOWLEDGE that big box retailers can rarely match on many products. The variety of wood available lets you do comparisons before you buy and the quality of the wood (the way is cut and stored, the absence of blemishes or knots) seems to be higher than Big Box Retailers.
(NOTE: As always, your mileage may vary. We write about our own opinions on this blog, unencumbered by advertising or sponsors. However, our opinions are limited to our own experiences with this specific house. We are open to the options of others in the Comments section.)
You may pay more for some items from a lumberyard, but in their areas of specialty, this premium can be worth it in quality material and the assistance in selecting it. There are also types of wood and trim already in stock at the lumberyard so you don't have to wait for an order (which can also mean that you take what you get when it comes in at the Big Box Retailer).
One of the most awkward things about lumberyards are the hours of service. If a homeowner works 9 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday, frequently you can only visit the lumberyard between 9 am - 2 pm on Saturday. Because many DIY'ers work during weekdays, limited hours are one of the main things keeping lumberyards from expanding their current client base. I would vote for at least one or two evenings a week for a lumberyard to be open so that homeowners can pick up materials for weekend projects.
But oh! That wood smell! That selection! Enormous rooms filled with wonderful house things. Doors, trim, kitchen cabinets. All sorts of wood and wood finishing materials. Mmmmm. Sawdust.
If you can, make FRIENDS with a local lumberyard. They can provide valuable help to guide you in the right direction when you are struggling to solve a problem. (And they can also be darn nice.)
p.s. If you are fom the Chicago area and talk to Wayne at Lee Lumber on Kedize, tell him that houseinprogress says "hello."
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Comments
I live in Minneapolis, just south of downtown in an older neighborhood. We're lucky to still have a real, honest-to-goodness old time lumber yard in the neighborhood, and when I say old time, I mean they've been here since 1889. The big box home improvement stores out in the 'burbs may have a bigger selection in stock, but they can't touch the local yard on quality or expertise. I don't know where they find their lumber, but it's beautiful stuff, unlike the recycled kindling the big stores carry. They are actually pretty competitive on price as well, especially when I factor in the convenience (they're literally within walking distance.)
We also have a great local hardware store, one of those little old mom and pop places that's been around forever. It's in a little brick building with creaky, worn wood floors, and all the nuts and bolts and nails and screws are stored loose in bins instead of hanging on a rack in blister packs. They still carry the kinds of things old house people need, like sash weight cord or radiator keys or plaster washers, and they still repair wood screen doors and storm windows, or sharpen your push mower blades.
I love these kinds of places.
Posted by: Stuart | January 16, 2005 11:19 AM
I believe you about Lee Lumber. I dealt with them many years ago & was very pleased...POPS"30"
Posted by: POPS | January 16, 2005 11:50 AM
if you decide to buy lumber at big boxes here is how.
do not buy wood on monday or tuesday all the wood on top is returned from others in remodels. the best time to buy is during church because all of the returned wood is gone; friday & saturday sales are high and fresh bundles are open. after church alot of people come in so there is plenty of staff to help during church. leave by 11 am. whenever you can buy "full lifts" and return the leftovers. have no respect for the facility as they have none for you.
Posted by: Brian | January 16, 2005 12:15 PM
heres an idea i always do.
whenever Im involved with a full scale remodel I install a 2" conduit from the lowerlevel mech. room to the atic. this will allow future tech to be dropped into the second floor from the attic.
I just read about you installing cat5 wich will be obsolete in 3 2 1
purhaps you could run this along side your laundry chute before its to late?
Posted by: Brian | January 16, 2005 12:41 PM
Brian--Regarding the wiring--we did run 2" PVC from the basement to tha attic (described here), which is where the current wiring is. We supplimented the Cat5 and coax with fiber optic, too. No use for it now but the installation now was easier than waiting...given that, I doubt our wiring will be obsolete any time soon. :-)
Posted by: Aaron | January 16, 2005 1:11 PM
I too always loved lumber yards as a child. I haven't been to one in many years, but this summer we'll be needing to head out to one. Some evening hours would be lovely, because although as a stay-at-home-mom, I could theoretically go any time, going to a lumber or stone yard by myself with three little children in tow is not my idea of a good time.
Posted by: Jordana | January 17, 2005 10:05 AM
We have a cute little hardware store in our small town with a small lumberyard out back. We haven't bought lumber from them - haven't had the need yet. I love the place and am always encouraging my DH to buy from there instead of the big-box places, but then every time he goes they don't have what he needs. Oh well, it makes up with charm for the lack of selection.
Posted by: Kristin | January 17, 2005 10:39 AM