Whats with the wood prices ?

[TBark]

Same sheet of 3/8" OSB that was $16 last year is $6 now.
Not complaining as we have a few projects to build this summer.
Must be a lot of lumber in inventory this year.
Are these prices due to the harvesting of the pine beetle forests in BC ?

TBark

[prospector]

I think it has alot to do with the slow down in US housing market?

[Kev]

Realated to the US housing, lumber prices have been at a dismal low for a couple years. Many mills across Alberta and Canada have shut down, curtailed shifts, etc.

[Grizzly Adams]

Lumber is traded as a Commodity, just like oil. American demand is the primary driver and with the collapse of the market, Lumber prices have fallen. Just like Oil, good in one respect, but not for producers. Your local lumberyard buys from a broker and I always get a chuckle, when I buy in Sundre. The yard is located right beside the West Fraser Mill, but it has dimensional lumber from all over Alberta and BC. Must be hell on transportation costs.
Grizz

[Unregistered user]

Thanx for the heads-up.

[Redfrog]

Unfortunately living in the boonies does have some disadvantages, expecially witht he cost of fuel.
I picked up some lumber[ I use the term loosely] at UFA yesterday. I have to build a few lattice fence panels and a arbor/gate.

On the coast all would have been built with cedar, here I had ended up with a mix of spruce and pt whatever. Size was .."Take what you get" 1X2 was an imaginary thing. 8' 2X4 same thing, but they could cut soem 16's to 8's for a small surcharge

My point is the lumber was junk, and expensive. At least in the big silly I could maybe have some selection. It breaks my heart to think of all the cedar I burned on the coast as scrap.









This is part of a landscape project I did on the coast. I wouldn't want to price material for this one in Alberta. The top lumber and corbles are 3X10 or 3X12 old growth fir..

[heavy chevy]

Originally Posted by TBark

Same sheet of 3/8" OSB that was $16 last year is $6 now.
Not complaining as we have a few projects to build this summer.
Must be a lot of lumber in inventory this year.
Are these prices due to the harvesting of the pine beetle forests in BC ?

TBark

Hurricane Katrina(sp?) played a big part in commodities prices. Look at diesel last year after. As well Florida and other Gulf states approved OSB for ext. grade sheething last year. Supply and demand.

[bearbait]

ufa sucks!!!i bought a deck package from them...never again..waste of cash..

[Chung66]

I think all but 1 out of 7 of the OSB mills in Alberta have shut down or will be by the end of their log inventory (this summer). Same goes for some lumber mills. The cause is the exchange rate, US housing market, and the 17% lumber tarrif (for lumber).
Looking to maybe pick up in 2009 or 2010.