does lowe's lumberyard suck? I couldn't find any quality STRAIGHT 2x4's

[phatj]

i'm building a desk for a friend... as simple as it gets -- more like a table actually (legs + table top + sheet of plywood + maybe a little cubby for his computer tower).

went to lowe's to buy some 2x4's... couldn't find 5 straight and quality 2x4's.

This is the first time I've been to Lowe's lumberyard I usually go to a "mom and pop" lumberyard near my home but I've recently moved.

Is Home Depot any better?

 

[Queasy]

Home Depot and Lowes don't necessarily get the highest quality of wood. Just the cheapest.

When I worked at Lowes in college a customer wanted to write me up simply because we couldn't find flawlessly straight 2x4s for her. Had several people complain about how warped the wood was.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I was at HD last night and couldn't find any decent PRIME grade treated 2x4s. The state of modern lumber is sad. Lumber is sent through the mills so fast it is still very wet when it reaches the market. Since the lumber isn't dried under controlled conditions, it warps badly.

 

[lokiju]

Well you should be able to just go across the street to Home Depot and see what they got at least.

Where theres one, theres the other.

 

[j00fek]

just go to HD then

 

[Electric Amish]

I've had better luck at HD than Lowes.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Around here Lowes has better lumber than HD, but usually decks are built with 2x6 not 2x4.

 

[BigJ]

If you want good lumber, you HAVE to go right when the stores open up. The contractors are generally there right when the doors open up and take all of the good wood.

 

[sohcrates]

yeah, if you dont get there early the wood is usually completely picked through

i was there late one night when they were delivering a new load of wood (pressure treated) and it was literally sopping wet. kinda sad. they sell the stuff so quick that it is always way too fresh. i'd say 1/4 of the wood i used for stairs out back is now slightly warped. my neighbor bought a bunch of 12 foot long 2x6's for a trellace and over 50% of them bowed so much that they make like a half circle.

i just dont know of too many other options. we really dont have any local wood supply places around here

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Around here Lowes has better lumber than HD, but usually decks are built with 2x6 not 2x4.

desk != deck

In my area HD definitely has the better quality 2x4s but they are quite a bit more expensive.

 

[6StringSamurai]

I built my desk with HD wood. See Ok, so its not great, but it is 6ft long and 30in deep...Functional FTW!!!

 

[mugs]

I think the reason you see that is because unlike at many lumber yards, at Lowes you can pick your own lumber. So everyone picks the straight boards. Which leaves a huge pile of imperfect lumber. At a lumber yard the crap wood gets distributed evenly to customers, so it isn't noticeable.