a 8' 2x4 is over 10 bucks now :o

[Muse]

We have an old cast iron garden bench with rotten wood seat. I want to replace the wood with resin planks but they aren’t available at any price.

Here's what I did with the table that was in my yard. That table was clearly a DIY job somebody made and it got left in my yard by somebody, probably one of my roommates with whom I shared the house. I'd repaired it several times but it would always deteriorate into an unsightly unusable mess. I got an idea over 15 years ago how to make it virtually impervious to bad weather. It's not as shiny and new looking as it was after my renovation, but it's structurally and fundamentally quite sound. I might put another coat of finish resin on it someday, but it's really just fine. I clean the top occasionally when I want to use it. Today, for instance, I'll fold my laundry on it (I dry my laundry outside).

I cut off the bottom and attached it to horizontal boards fastened to vertical 2x4s, put stout casters on them, so it rolls around the patio with a shove. I fiber-glassed the top, put on a couple tinted finish resin coats, painted all the wood below the top.

Before:

After:

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

We have an old cast iron garden bench with rotten wood seat. I want to replace the wood with resin planks but they aren’t available at any price.

Not sure what you mean by 'resin planks', but if you mean composite deck boards, Big Box stores have them on the shelves here. Not something I would want on a bench seat I don't think. Maybe.

 

[BoomerD]

We have an old cast iron garden bench with rotten wood seat. I want to replace the wood with resin planks but they aren’t available at any price.

Trex/composite decking should be available at any lumber yard/home improvement store, but they're generally a bit wider than what would be ideal for a bench seat. They CAN be cur down, but the appearance isn't ideal...and they won't last as long. (Basically foam core)

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah, seems like the new tariffs on Canadian lumber are affection lumber prices before they even go into effect. Southern mills were getting cheezed off over cheaper Canadian lumber (and since the Federal government encouraged them to plant more pine on fallow land, I suppose they had a good argument to make). Still, this may kill, once again, my plans to replace asphalt parking space with a two car garage .

Which is ridiculous because the tariffs should not even apply to us, but companies do weird things when it comes to trade. I think the lumber still ends up going to the states then comes back. We are terrible at being self sufficient here in Canada even when it comes to using our own resources.

An Alaskan mill would get you going quick, but it's hard on both your body and equipment, and kind of expensive with fuel.

Yeah been looking at those too as it would get me started to at least do square timbers at very least. I'd want to try to see if I can use a 120v electric chainsaw so I'm not going through so much fuel, but it would be a lot more work.

 

[lxskllr]

Yeah been looking at those too as it would get me started to at least do square timbers at very least. I'd want to try to see if I can use a 120v electric chainsaw so I'm not going through so much fuel, but it would be a lot more work.

You'd probably burn it up. The bigger the saw the better for milling, but I'd consider 60cc the bare minimum for small wood. If you want to consider a custom build, you could probably use an unrelated electric motor fitted to chainsaw parts. Of course, by the time you're done monkeying around with all that, you only have a half assed chainsaw mill that doesn't have the advantage of a gas unit(can use anywhere), or the advantage of a purpose built band mill(precision and ease of use). It would be the worst of both worlds.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have seen some people do that too, fit an induction motor straight to a chainsaw bar. But yeah chances are I will just go straight to bandaw mill at that point.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Lumber went slightly down for a while and is creeping back up now. I have a feeling this summer will be very bad because of the gas prices.

$9.98 for a 2x4x8, just shy of 10 bucks: Over 10 bucks after taxes.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2-inch-x-4-inch-x-8-ft-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000112108

$68.98 for a 4x8 1/2" sheet of plywood:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/west-fraser-1-2-inch-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-standard-spruce-plywood-board/1000173236

$75.35 for pressure treated:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/micropro-sienna-1-2-4-x-8-pressure-treated-plywood/1000794018

Been checking out FB Marketplace for people who have sawmills that sell lumber and even they are over charging. The going rate really seems to be around $1-$1.50 per board feet.

I'm definitely going to look at buying a saw mill myself in the near future. Woodland ones come up to under $5,000 with tax, spare blades, accessories etc. I'd be ready to pull the trigger but realistically I need to clear an area so I can set it up properly, and also figure out how I'm going to move logs. Once I have that all in place or at least I am close, I will go ahead and order it. At very least need a good solid platform for it and a shelter.

 

[brianmanahan]

i know a guy who was planning to add onto his house this summer

but has now postponed it until lumber prices go down

 

[deadlyapp]

With the fed raising rates, I assume that building will come back down and supply will improve. As long as the russia/ukraine conflict doesn't keep going for another few months (I doubt it will, either Russia will finally put the full power of their military into ukraine or they'll back off due to sanctions) I can't imagine fuel prices getting any higher than they were or are, otherwise there will be demand collapse.

 

[Ajay]

Lumber went slightly down for a while and is creeping back up now. I have a feeling this summer will be very bad because of the gas prices.

$9.98 for a 2x4x8, just shy of 10 bucks: Over 10 bucks after taxes.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2-inch-x-4-inch-x-8-ft-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000112108

$68.98 for a 4x8 1/2" sheet of plywood:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/west-fraser-1-2-inch-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-standard-spruce-plywood-board/1000173236

$75.35 for pressure treated:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/micropro-sienna-1-2-4-x-8-pressure-treated-plywood/1000794018

Been checking out FB Marketplace for people who have sawmills that sell lumber and even they are over charging. The going rate really seems to be around $1-$1.50 per board feet.

I'm definitely going to look at buying a saw mill myself in the near future. Woodland ones come up to under $5,000 with tax, spare blades, accessories etc. I'd be ready to pull the trigger but realistically I need to clear an area so I can set it up properly, and also figure out how I'm going to move logs. Once I have that all in place or at least I am close, I will go ahead and order it. At very least need a good solid platform for it and a shelter.

I assume this are all CAD prices?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I assume this are all CAD prices?

Yeah it is.

 

[ultimatebob]

I assume this are all CAD prices?

The "check Facebook Marketplace for folks who have their own sawmills" part didn't scream "Canadian!" to ya?

I don't know about where you live, but having your own freaking sawmill is a rarity in suburban Connecticut.

 

[Ajay]

The "check Facebook Marketplace for folks who have their own sawmills" part didn't scream "Canadian!" to ya?

I don't know about where you live, but having your own freaking sawmill is a rarity in suburban Connecticut.

Ah! I go blind I soon as I see the word 'Facebook'

 

[Red Squirrel]

Prices seem to be coming down a bit but it's kind of a mix bag depending on what piece you look at.

$3.98 for a 2x4x8, I think that might be close to what normal is? I don't remember what it used to be but that seems close. May have been like 2 something before.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2-inch-x-4-inch-x-8-ft-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000112108

$43.98 for a 4x8 1/2" sheet of plywood, a bit cheaper:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/west-fraser-1-2-inch-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-standard-spruce-plywood-board/1000173236

$71.98 for pressure treated - not much cheaper than my last post for PT:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/micropro-sienna-1-2-4-x-8-pressure-treated-plywood/1000794018


I was also looking at different dimensions like 2x2 and it seems some are still way more expensive than they should be, I think as far as dimensional goes 2x4s are the cheapest right now.

$4.98 for 2x2 which is actually more than 2x4!

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2x2x8-spruce-pine-framing-lumber/1000173732

If you need 2x2s you are better off ripping 2x4's in half. They won't quite be square but depending what you're doing with them it should be fine.

The larger dimensions like 2x6 do seem to be more than they should be. A 8' 2x6 for example is $7.68 which is quite the jump from 2x4.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2x6x8-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000117995

I probably should have kept track of each individual dimension but was mostly just using 2x4 as a gauge as it's probably one of the more common pieces.


OSB seems to be the best bang for the buck right now for sheet goods.

$17.48 for 7/16 4x8

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/7-16-4x8-oriented-strand-board/1000108771

I'm almost debating on buying some now as it might go up in summer. That seems to be the trend, the prices come down a bit in winter but go back up again in summer. Don't really have room to store it though.

 

[MrSquished]

Prices seem to be coming down a bit but it's kind of a mix bag depending on what piece you look at.

$3.98 for a 2x4x8, I think that might be close to what normal is? I don't remember what it used to be but that seems close. May have been like 2 something before.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2-inch-x-4-inch-x-8-ft-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000112108

$43.98 for a 4x8 1/2" sheet of plywood, a bit cheaper:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/west-fraser-1-2-inch-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-standard-spruce-plywood-board/1000173236

$71.98 for pressure treated - not much cheaper than my last post for PT:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/micropro-sienna-1-2-4-x-8-pressure-treated-plywood/1000794018


I was also looking at different dimensions like 2x2 and it seems some are still way more expensive than they should be, I think as far as dimensional goes 2x4s are the cheapest right now.

$4.98 for 2x2 which is actually more than 2x4!

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2x2x8-spruce-pine-framing-lumber/1000173732

If you need 2x2s you are better off ripping 2x4's in half. They won't quite be square but depending what you're doing with them it should be fine.

The larger dimensions like 2x6 do seem to be more than they should be. A 8' 2x6 for example is $7.68 which is quite the jump from 2x4.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/2x6x8-spf-dimensional-lumber/1000117995

I probably should have kept track of each individual dimension but was mostly just using 2x4 as a gauge as it's probably one of the more common pieces.


OSB seems to be the best bang for the buck right now for sheet goods.

$17.48 for 7/16 4x8

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/7-16-4x8-oriented-strand-board/1000108771

I'm almost debating on buying some now as it might go up in summer. That seems to be the trend, the prices come down a bit in winter but go back up again in summer. Don't really have room to store it though.

This could all be part of a big conspiracy. They just want you to THINK that prices are coming down, but meanwhile your memory of past prices has been manipulated in various ways, including the vaccine, and 5G!

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Meanwhile, in civilization ....





Conduit is still insane though.

3/4 x 10' PVC is $12 instead of the $4 it used to be.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's insane cheap. I don't think it was ever that cheap here even pre hyper inflation.

 

[Paperdoc]

For people in the USA, that price of C$ 10.55 is equivalent to about US$ 8.10.

Regarding sales taxes, here's a brief summary of the Canadian situation. Both the federal government and each Province (you have states) can and do collect taxes on sales of most (but not all) items. Those by the Province always must be added at the time of purchase - they cannot be hidden in the list price. The Federal governmemt sales taxes WERE hidden in the advertised list price until a few decades ago, and that is a COMMON practise in may nations. You don't know it is there! In Canada, what USED to happen was that the MANUFACTURER was assessed a production tax of 12% at the time they sold it to a distributor, and that became part of the entire mark-up and profit margin calculations through the system to final sale. A few decades ago a Conservative federal government decided to change that so that the sales tax was fully visible at the point of sale and NOT hidden in the price, hoping that people would object and demand less taxes. About the only time that came close was nearly two decades later when another Conservative government cut the rate from 8% to 5%. That tax, by the way, is a VALUE ADDED TAX - that is, the tax is effectively paid in TOTAL ONLY by the final purchaser / user. How? At each stage of the distribution chain (say, the final retailer), the buyer pays the 5% rate on the purchase price, then collects the 5% rate on the FINAL retail price when it sells. That store operator then files a tax form showing what they collected, and DEDUCTING what the store paid on the wholesale price before sending the difference to the government. So at each stage of the distribution chain, the tax actually collected by the buyer / seller and sent to the federal government is the tax on the INCREASE in price. And all of that is paid ONLY by the final buyer.

Sales taxes by a PROVINCE are always shown as an added cost at the point of sale, too. The system tends to work like a Value Added Tax, too. Each province sets its own rate and its own rules for exempted items. In Ontario where I live, the Provincial rate is 8%, so the combined rate for two levels of government is 13%. At that rate, the total Sales Tax on that 2x4 at C$ 10.55 would add C$ 1.37 to the sale, making the total C$ 11.92, or in US$ 9.17.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I was buying OSB in the $8-9 range in '19 and early '20.

 

[BoomerD]

At my local Home Depot, a standard 4x8 sheet of 7/17" OSB is $10.90 (plus 9.1% sales tax) unless you buy 68 sheets or more...then it drops to $9.81/sheet.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Cheap Boards Return

Lumber futures are down to $320 or so. They were up over $1,600 during the Silliness.


OSB is $10.20 which is about what I paid in 2019.
2 x 6 x 8 is under $6 which may be lower than what I paid back then.

 

[Meghan54]

Cheap Boards Return

Lumber futures are down to $320 or so. They were up over $1,600 during the Silliness.


OSB is $10.20 which is about what I paid in 2019.
2 x 6 x 8 is under $6 which may be lower than what I paid back then.

“The Silliness” is an odd way to describe a worldwide pandemic that killed millions. But you do you. 🤪

 

[Pohemi]

“The Silliness” is an odd way to describe a worldwide pandemic that killed millions. But you do you. 🤪

I think he just meant the hyper-inflation on certain goods such as building materials, lol.

 

[Red Squirrel]

2x4x8 down to $3.98 now. That seems to be the one that's the cheapest. Even 2x2 are $4.98. 2x4x10 is also $6.91 so quite a jump for only 2 feet longer.

Tempted to buy a full skid of 2x4's and OSB while it's this cheap. I presume it will go back up in spring or summer. I plan to mill my own lumber but for the initial buildings it's going to be easier to buy as it will be a while before I have a proper setup for milling.

Don't want to be putting stuff in the garage but if I move stuff around I can make room. Probably be a while before I continue working on it anyway as my priority shifted towards the wood stove, and once spring comes, I'll move towards working on the off grid land. At that point I'll move all the lumber there.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

What I don't get is that a 2 x 4 x 10 is about the same price as a 2 x 4 x 12.

2 x 6s are similar, not much jump in price for 2' extra.