On Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:10:09 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote:

On Oct 19, 6:18*am, George wrote:
aemeijers wrote:
Aaron Fude wrote:
Hi,

I'm not an expert carpenter by any means, but sometimes it seems to me
that lumber one finds at home depot is to bowed and twisty for most
things such as building a wall. Yesterday I went to hd to by some
2x10's to replace a few joists in kitchen floor and once again, the
lumber is a little bowed a litte twisted a little chipped and a little
banged. But for joists (with plywood and hardwood to go on top), does
it really matter? Should I stick with HD or go to a lumber yard and
pay double or triple? How about lowe's?

Many thanks in advance,

Aaron
Have you actually called your local lumber yards and gotten a price? In
my experience, the price isn't usually much higher, and the quality is
better. They deal with working carpenters, and a working carpenter
doesn't have time to pick through the pile looking for stuff that MAY
work. Don't expect much hand-holding from the clerk, though. If it is
more than a pickup load, most real lumberyards will deliver as part of
the price, though.

And they are often cooperative on small loads if you work with them such
as waiting a day or two until they are making a delivery in your area.
As you said the nice part about real lumber yards is that there is no
picking etc because they buy better quality wood so even if you have
them deliver it sight unseen you get good stuff.



Not at my local lumberyard. They are very cooperative and will let
you pick and choose but if you take it 'run of the stack' you will get
bowed, cupped, waned, etc. I have seen them unband a lift of just
delivered 2x4 and watched it expand by a good 10 percent. The quality
may be better but if you expect perfect, flat, etc., lumber it ain't
gonna happen unless you hand pick.

Harry K


I like to pick the piece I want. There was a local lumber supply that
would not allow customer selection--eventually it went out of
business.