Vent: I spent 3 years pushing clients toward the cheapest lumber yard before I realized I was costing them thousands in future repairs

I used to always tell my clients to go with Economy Lumber down on Route 22 because their prices beat everyone by 10-15%. Thought I was doing them a favor saving money. Then last spring I walked a house I built 2 years ago and saw the studs had twisted so bad the drywall was cracking. Economy Lumber buys green wood and kiln dries it too fast so it warps after installation. Now I only use Harriman Brothers even though they charge more. Has anyone else had a bad experience pushing budget materials that ended up hurting your reputation?

2 comments

2 Comments

alex52418d ago

Had a buddy who used cheap treated lumber for a deck. Year later it was twisting like a pretzel. Cost him double to rip it out and redo.

gavincampbell18d agoMost Upvoted

Bet your buddy didn't check what treatment was used either. Some of that cheaper stuff is just surface sprayed not pressure treated all the way through, so moisture gets in and the wood moves however it wants.