You don’t need to be a seasoned contractor to be welcomed at your local lumber yard. At J&W Lumber, our extensive inventory of building supplies is open to everyone and our team is ready to help out, no matter what your level of experience is.
Here are some useful tips pulled from what the pros know before, during, and after their shopping trips. Use these tricks yourself to take full advantage of your experience at your local J&W Lumber.
Before You Arrive
For the pros, time means money, so they want to make their trip as efficient as possible. That means gathering information and getting organized before they show up. Before your visit, prepare basic information about your project like measurements, photo inspiration, and rough budget. You can also call, text, or email our team and we can talk you through what items you may need to bring.
Shop Like a Pro: Educate Yourself
Pros usually have a good idea of the products they want before heading down to the yard. They work on several projects a year so are very familiar with the latest trends. Homeowners may not have that luxury, so check out our website and compare product descriptions before you come. You can also read our blogs or review our project gallery for ideas and inspiration.
At the Lumber Store
Once you’re at J&W Lumber, there’s a lot to see, touch, and talk about. Professional contractors visit quite often, so they’re aware of all their options before they make a purchase. As a homeowner, make sure you take the time to walk through the entire lumber yard to see all the wood or manufactured material options, then spend time in the retail store exploring stain, hardware, and ornamental hardware options.
Shop Like a Pro: Ask About New Products
Pros are always looking for new products to make their jobs more efficient or provide a better-looking project to their clients. We get lots of new products in stock regularly and we’re happy to show them off. Don’t be afraid to ask what’s new. You might find inspiration for a new project or a better way to tackle an existing build.
Shop Like a Pro: Load Straight from the Racks
Unlike big box stores, J&W Lumber encourages you to pull your vehicle straight up to our open lumber racks. No matter what quantity of wood you’re buying, there’s no need to hassle with steering your cart around a warehouse or hauling everything out to the parking lot. We’ll even help you load your vehicle.
Shop Like a Pro: Spend Time at the Lumber Yard
Contractors are at our stores daily – and we want you to feel welcome, too. Even if you’re not ready to buy or aren’t sure what you’re looking for, come down to the stores, examine products, touch and feel samples, check out our displays, and take some brochures home with you. You can get plenty of ideas and inspiration from just browsing the yard.
Shop Like a Pro: Ask for Samples
It’s a lot easier to make a decision when you can actually touch the products you’re considering. Pros often send their clients down to our lumber stores to examine wood or other products before building. In addition to lumber, we can show you samples of decking boards, stain colors, different types of corbel cuts, fencing materials, patio covers, siding, and more. Our stores are packed with displays.
Shop Like a Pro: Get an Opinion from the Lumber Store Team
Even though professional contractors work with wood every day, they’re always open to learning more. They love to talk about wood as much as we do, so they love to trade ideas. The same advantage is open to you. Ask questions and get advice from the team at J&W Lumber, or visit our social media pages to see some of the recent projects that have been built using our materials. We’re happy to share our knowledge.
Shop Like a Pro: Keep an Eye on Fluctuating Prices
Lumber prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, and we pass these savings onto our customers. Therefore, it pays to ask what’s on sale. It may make it easier to decide between lumber types and can save you some serious cash.
Shop Like a Pro: Buy a Bit Extra for Downfall
Wood is a natural, renewable resource produced by nature. Therefore, when buying large quantities of lumber, it is possible to run across a few planks that are knotty, split, or warped, rendering them unusable or only partially usable. Pros often buy extra lumber to account for this waste, or “downfall.” Buying downfall upfront will ensure you have enough wood to complete your job.
Back at Home
Pro Tip: Protect Your Lumber
If your material is going to sit at your job site for a few days or weeks before you begin work, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected. Ideally, keep your lumber in your garage until it’s time to start the project. If you do store it outdoors, elevate raw lumber so it’s not sitting directly on the ground, keep it in the shade, and use tarps to protect it from sun, wind, and rain.
Read More: Signs You Need to Replace or Repair Lumber.
Shop Like a Pro: Keep Your Receipt
Many products from J&W Lumber have warranties, such as composite materials like Trex decking and FLEX-Fence louvre systems. Keep your proof of purchase in a safe place in your home, in case you ever need it.
Lumber yards aren’t just for professional contractors. They’re open to anyone who has an interest in taking on a project for their home. Now that you know how the pros shop our stores, we hope to see you soon!
Ready to get started on a new home improvement project? Visit any of our Southern California J&W Lumber locations and let’s get to work.
Thanks for the tip about how I should be aware of fluctuating prices when it comes to buying supplies from a lumber yard. I’m thinking about buying wood supplies soon because I’m thinking about building a large doghouse soon. That way, my dog can have a place to stay whenever he gets tired when I let him outside to play on his own.