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The shift in fence board quality from my local yard

Two years ago, the pressure-treated pine I got was mostly clear and straight. Now, about a third of each bundle has noticeable warping or large knots, even though the price went up. Has your lumber supplier changed for the worse too?
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3 Comments
robertcarr
robertcarr2mo ago
@james_bell but is it REALLY that big a deal?
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james_bell
james_bell2mo ago
Tell me about it. I bought some cedar last month for a garden bed, and half the boards were so twisted they looked like bananas. It's frustrating to sort through a whole stack just to find a few decent pieces, especially when you're paying more than you did a year ago. Makes a simple project take twice as long.
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rowan_wells30
Heard a contractor on a podcast say mills are pushing out wood faster and skipping proper drying time to meet demand. They called it "green lumber" even when it's treated, which explains the warping. So we're basically paying more for wood that hasn't been finished right. Makes the whole hunt for straight boards feel even more pointless.
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