Material Availability for DIY/Home Improvement Projects?

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harringtondav

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I'm getting into the short rows in my river house basement finish project. I went to Menard's today to pick up some stuff including a three gang electrical box. I grabbed the last one in the store. The j box shelves were almost empty. ....been watching them wither over the last several months.
I'll need a few more boards for buck frames for the replacement windows. Probably enough available, put pricey.
....anyone else seeing sparse materials?
 

GA_Boater

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I'm getting into the short rows in my river house basement finish project. I went to Menard's today to pick up some stuff including a three gang electrical box. I grabbed the last one in the store. The j box shelves were almost empty. ....been watching them wither over the last several months.
I'll need a few more boards for buck frames for the replacement windows. Probably enough available, put pricey.
....anyone else seeing sparse materials?
From Chik Fil A sauce packets, computer chips and lumber - It's across the board.
 

BWR1953

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I'm seeing high lumber prices for sure.

I saw a news report this week that the underlying reason is due to insufficient staff at the sawmills. They're not running at full capacity but demand is crazy high.
 

matt167

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Where I am, it's there if you can afford it/ want to pay the price.

$75 sheets of CDX plywood. I have a roof to do, but it's going to be expensive
 

harringtondav

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I'm seeing high lumber prices for sure.

I saw a news report this week that the underlying reason is due to insufficient staff at the sawmills. They're not running at full capacity but demand is crazy high.
I see 'Hiring Now' signs regularly. ...I don't understand the hold up.
 

tpenfield

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I was doing a bunch of home improvement projects last year and now into this year. Landscaping supplies, lumber, you name it . . . in short supply and has been for the past year. Seems nuts. :unsure:

Thank goodness I stopped eating computer chips, since I'm on a diet. I hear that is in short supply, so your ECM better hold out. 🤪
 

briangcc

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My local Homely Despots was well stocked with almost everything. That includes very wet pressure treated (ground contact rated) lumber. The treatment oozed as I drove screws into it - flower boxes for the wife.

That being said, I'm waiting on laptops for work (delayed till mid-June...probably will be again).

Car/Truck inventory is almost non-existent due to chip shortages. Went to go plunk down some $$$ on a new GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Crew Cab V8 4x4 to take advantage of the lease deal this month. None on the lot. None in the supply chain. No idea IF they will even get them. And that's all dealers in my area. Got something you're looking to offload you're in good shape but be prepared to be paying absolutely silly prices on new...if they have them.

**A dealer employee was paying over $500/mo (lease no less) on a GMC Sierra 1500 SLE double cab - salesperson showed me the invoice he worked up for it as I asked if we could work the deal on one of those!
 

sphelps

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Drove around the backside of the big blue store today ... They had lumber stacked to the roof all the way around the building .. Inside the racks were pretty much filled .. Walked out with 4 sheets of 1/2" 4 ply sheathing and 300 bucks lighter in my back pocket ..This is ridiculous .....
I picked the wrong time to fix my moms back porch roof . LOL!
 

BWR1953

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I'm in the middle of a major home improvement/construction project. I need to replace both outside stairs and their landings as part of the overall project. And the lumber cost has really skyrocketed way above the original budget. Ugh! :cautious:

I have a friend who works in construction and he told me the other day that he's had customers tell him that they changed their decking plans and have decided against using wood and will now use concrete instead, because it's cheaper than wood! o_O
 

Scott Danforth

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a pressure treated 2x4 is currently $15. used to be $4
 

harringtondav

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Drove around the backside of the big blue store today ... They had lumber stacked to the roof all the way around the building .. Inside the racks were pretty much filled .. Walked out with 4 sheets of 1/2" 4 ply sheathing and 300 bucks lighter in my back pocket ..This is ridiculous .....
I picked the wrong time to fix my moms back porch roof . LOL!
Same. I just came back from Menard's. I drove into the warehouse to pick up eight 2x4 studs. These, plywood, everything else wood was stacked 20' high or more.
The studs were $12.59 ea. Two months ago they were $7.40 which was painful enough.
No supply shortage at Menard's. The prices won't drop until demand does.
 

hugh g

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Next will be shipping costs going thru the roof in response to the high fuel prices. I'm retired but if I was looking for work I bet I could land a job with FedEx or UPS tomorrow. They can't find drivers.
 

aspeck

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Next will be shipping costs going thru the roof in response to the high fuel prices. I'm retired but if I was looking for work I bet I could land a job with FedEx or UPS tomorrow. They can't find drivers.
Spent time with a FedEx regional manager yesterday. They can’t get enough trucks for their routes! They need trucks and drivers and handlers and …
 
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