Can we talk about the cost of lumber right now?

I was pricing out a simple garden shed kit at Lowe's in Atlanta last week and almost fell over. A 2x4x8 that was $3.50 in 2020 is now $8.29. Has anyone else just stopped a project because the materials cost more than the finished thing is worth?

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jake_wilson123mo ago

Yeah but nobody's talking about how this is hitting the people who fix up older homes the hardest. My buddy flips houses in a 1920s neighborhood and the lumber prices literally killed his last project because you can't just use cheaper alternatives when you're matching existing framing or trim. It's not just new builds getting wrecked, it's the whole chain of people trying to keep old houses standing. And don't get me started on the supply game - I saw guys hoarding lumber like it was toilet paper in 2020, driving prices up even more for everyone else. Have any of your local lumber yards started limiting how much you can buy at once?

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the_eva3mo ago

Paid $11 for a single sheet of 3/4 plywood last week. Was gonna build some shelves but now I'm just looking at the wood leaning against the wall. Thinking about raising chickens instead.

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