Buying Lumber From Mills

Lumber can be expensive, and the larger your project is then the more lumber you're going to need in order to finish it. Buying discount lumber can often be difficult, since many of the discounted pieces that you find will be warped or have some other irregularity to account for the reduced price. There is another option, however. Instead of buying warped or shoddy discount lumber, you can choose to purchase your lumber directly from the mill where it is produced. This can save you a significant amount of money, but there are some things that you should keep in mind when buying lumber from a mill.

Instructions

1. Contact one or more lumber mills in your area, informing them of exactly how much lumber you are wanting to purchase and the sizes of the pieces that you need. You may also wish to discuss the possibility of buying custom sizes if the mill or mills that you contact offer that option.

2. Think in terms of "board feet," which is usually simply called "feet" by lumber mill workers. Board feet is a term that is used to refer to a specific volume of wood, with one board being a piece of wood that is 12 inches wide by 12 inches long by 1 inch thick. To determine the board feet of wood that you will need, multiply the length that you need for a single piece by the needed width. You then multiply that number by the desired thickness and divide the total by 12. Knowing how many board feet of lumber you will need can speed things up when talking to the mills and will also help to ensure that you're getting enough lumber for your construction project.

3. Ask for lumber price quotes from each mill that you contact. When you find the one that offers the amount and type of lumber that you want for the best price, go ahead and place your order. Make sure that you find out before placing the order whether they will deliver the lumber for you or if you will need to pick it up yourself if you think that this might be an issue.

4. Dry your lumber before using it, as lumber fresh from a lumber mill may contain up to 30 percent water. If you have access to a lumber kiln then you can use that to dry the lumber that you've purchased, but you can also air dry it by placing it outside in stacks. Make sure that you have all of your lumber in each level running in the same direction, with 2 to 3 pieces in between each level of the stack that run perpendicular to allow airflow to enter the stack. Make sure that you order your lumber early enough that it can dry in this manner for four to six weeks before you use it.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when stacking lumber, as a stack that is too high can fall more easily and cause serious injuries