About Lumber Yards

Lumber yards are retail or wholesale locations where people can buy lumber and other home improvement and construction-related products. Lumber yards are the most common suppliers when contractors and homeowners need construction material. Some lumber yards also lease equipment, such as planers. Usually customers can pick up products at the yard or request a delivery.

Significance

Lumber yards may sell many other types of construction material or supplies besides lumber. They commonly sell roofing materials, doors, windows, siding, paneling and paint. Some lumber yards sell general hardware items. Lumber yards may sell mostly for wholesale or more to individual customers. Home improvement stores, such as Home Depot, Menard's and Lowe's usually have large lumber sections, but they are not called lumber yards because this is not their primary focus.

History

Early in United States history, small town centers often consisted solely of a grain elevator, a lumber yard and a general store. The grain mill and lumber yard commonly were owned by the same family, such as the case with Wolohan Lumber. This company began with a granary in the early 1900s and then later added lumber as a side business, and by the 1990s operated more than 60 stores throughout the Midwest. Antique photos of lumber yards are common, since this was one of the earliest industries in the country.

Features

Small local operations may take up less than an acre and be rather rustic in appearance, while others are enormous modern facilities set up on several acres of land. All types of lumber yards typically have a large warehouse for inventory, a display area and an office. Increasingly, local operations have either merged with larger companies such as Weyerhaeuser, or sold the business to them completely. These large corporations might open more than 100 lumber yards across many states. Very large lumber yards might locate on a rail spur. Typically they are open Monday through Friday or Monday through Saturday.

Considerations

Lumber yards rely on new construction for profitability, which can cause difficulties during economic downturns that adversely affect contracting. The construction business can be cyclical, and lumber yard owners must have enough capital to get through the slow periods and take advantage of the next building boom.

Benefits

Lumber yards can offer significant benefits over big box retailers. They generally provide more personal service and are more knowledgeable about product lines. Construction material at lumber yards often is less expensive, unless they specialize in higher priced items. such as custom cabinetry.