Lumber

I remember the first time I drove past a really old, sprawling lumber mill. It looked like a relic, all big metal buildings and stacks of wood that seemed to go on forever. I figured, with all the talk of environmental concerns and big box stores, surely places like that must be relics of the … Read more

I remember back in 2021, trying to get lumber for a simple deck build felt like a treasure hunt. Prices were insane, and lead times were longer than my patience. Everyone was asking: are lumber mills increasing production? It felt like a big, slow-moving industry was completely caught off guard. We’re past the peak panic … Read more

I remember the first time I saw one of those sleek, ultra-light furniture pieces. It looked impossibly modern, almost floating. The salesperson gushed about its strength-to-weight ratio, mentioning something about honeycomb construction. My mind immediately went to my woodworking shop, picturing exotic woods and heavy joinery. Then I wondered, are laminated honeycomb panels sold in … Read more

I remember the first time a client asked me about using lumber from a tree that looked like it was on its last legs. Beetles, some fungus, the works. My immediate gut reaction was, ‘Absolutely not.’ It seemed like a recipe for disaster, a project doomed from the start. But then I thought back to … Read more

You know, the sheer amount of paperwork and tax forms can make anyone’s head spin. I remember staring at my first business tax return, feeling like I needed a degree in accounting just to figure out if I could deduct my rolling pin. It got me thinking about bigger operations, especially those dealing with raw … Read more

I nearly lost my paddle board, and my dignity, on a particularly breezy afternoon last summer. I’d been paddling for about an hour, feeling pretty smug, when a rogue gust decided to redecorate the entire lake with my belongings. My board spun like a ballerina gone rogue, and I ended up doing an unplanned somersault … Read more

I remember the first time I went into a lumber yard looking for joists. It was overwhelming. All these planks of wood, some looking suspiciously green, others just… wood. I’d heard whispers about ‘treated lumber’ and how it was supposed to last forever, but also that it was pricey and maybe even dodgy. My buddy … Read more

I nearly choked on my coffee the other day when I saw the price tag on a simple 2×4 at the lumber yard. Seriously, what gives? It feels like just yesterday I was building that deck without taking out a second mortgage. Now, I’m hearing whispers about ‘wildfires’ being the culprit. Let’s cut through the … Read more

I remember back in 2021, staring at the lumber aisle at the hardware store, my jaw practically hitting the dusty concrete. A 2×4 that used to cost pocket change was now an indulgence. It felt like a kick in the teeth, especially when you’re trying to fix up your own place or build something for … Read more

Look, I’ve been staring at bare walls and eyeing up baseboards for longer than I care to admit. You’re probably doing the same, wondering if that local lumber yard down the street actually beats the big orange box store on price for something as seemingly simple as baseboards. It’s a fair question, and one I’ve … Read more

I remember the first deck I ever built. A rickety thing, really, cobbled together with what I thought were clever joinery techniques learned from a dusty old book. It looked okay for a while, but then the warping started. The railings sagged. People kept asking if it was safe. That’s when I started asking myself: … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to haul a decent stack of 2x10s by myself. Thought I was pretty strong, hit the gym regularly, you know the drill. Took about three steps from the lumber rack before my arms felt like they were going to rip off. Yeah, so are lumber loads heavy? Let … Read more

I remember staring at a pile of old pilings down by the marina, slick with algae and barnacles, and wondering. These things had been sitting in brackish water for decades. Were they completely useless, or could there be some hidden value in them? It’s a question that pops up if you’ve ever seen timber pulled … Read more

I remember staring at the lumber aisle at the big box store a few years back, thinking, ‘This can’t be right.’ The stack of 2x4s I’d bought for a simple deck project the year before had somehow doubled in price. It felt like highway robbery. So, are lumber costs going up, or was that just … Read more

I remember staring at a stack of 2x4s, a knot in my stomach that had nothing to do with a poorly driven nail. It was 2021, and the price had shot up so fast it felt like I was buying gold bars, not wood. I’d planned a simple deck extension, a weekend project that suddenly … Read more

I saw a guy at the county fair once, swinging an axe like it was a feather duster. My first thought, like probably yours, was: are lumber jacks strong? It’s a question that pops into your head when you see that kind of raw power. You picture them, flannel shirts, beards, muscles bulging as they … Read more

I remember the first time I saw a satellite image of the Tongass. It looked like a vast, untouched green carpet. Then I started digging into whether lumber companies are cutting down the Tongass National Forest, and the picture got a lot messier than a simple green smudge. It’s not as straightforward as you might … Read more

I remember the first time I dropped a solid chunk of cash on a fancy keyboard, thinking it was going to magically transform my typing experience. It was a Logitech, mind you, one of their ‘ergonomic’ models that promised the world. After a week of wrist pain that felt like I’d been wrestling a badger, … Read more

I remember my first breaking board. It was a flimsy piece of pine, probably bought from a discount store. I’d seen the pros on TV snapping them with what looked like effortless grace. My attempt? A pathetic thud, a bruised ego, and a board that looked more embarrassed than broken. It made me wonder: are … Read more

I remember staring at my old kitchen countertops, a sickly beige laminate that had seen better days. Scratched, stained, and generally depressing. I’d spent a weekend agonizing over samples, trying to find something that looked remotely like real stone without breaking the bank. I ended up with… well, more beige laminate. It made me wonder … Read more