A lumber yard is a dedicated space where various types of lumber and wood-related products are stored and processed. But these yards offer much more than just wood. They also provide wood-plastic composites like Trex, other construction materials, general hardware items, and woodworking services. Customers have the option to either pick up raw materials and products directly from the yard or place custom orders that are prepared for pickup or delivery. While many are connected to lumber mills, they don’t necessarily have to be, as is the case with Marling.
Choosing to shop at a lumber yard can provide benefits that lumber sections in big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s simply can’t match. However, there still persists many assumptions that contradict this. Throughout the rest of this post, we will present these assumptions and disprove each one in turn.
Many see lumber yards as places only for commercial sales for customers who already know what they need and hardware stores as places to actually get expert advice from helpful and friendly staff. This is not necessarily true. Big box stores exist to serve a wide variety of products beyond lumber such as light bulbs, lawnmowers, etc. Often, this causes a big box store to be more of a jack of all trades but a master of none. The staff at lumber yards, however, have specific specialized knowledge on lumber, wood-related products, and design services. Additionally, the service you get is much more personalized and active, often willing to help you transport materials and provide expert advice on your exact project.
Following the previous assumption, many think that hardware stores offer a greater variety of products. This is sort of true in the sense that they sell many different types of products. However, lumber yards typically offer a larger selection of wood products than any other store can. Additionally, lumber yards have the space and dedication to provide materials and products that can’t be found in traditional stores such as rare wood types and custom woodworking. Finally, quality is a top priority at lumber yards. By sourcing building supplies from trusted, reputable sources, these yards ensure that each piece of lumber meets high standards. This commitment to quality means you save time and avoid frustration, as you won’t need to sift through piles of wood to find suitable pieces—every board is guaranteed to be high-quality.
While it might seem that larger stores offer better prices, lumber yards often leverage their specialized focus to purchase wood at competitive rates. By buying in bulk and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, lumber yards can offer lower prices to customers, making your project more affordable without compromising on quality.
When planning your next construction or home improvement project, consider the advantages of opting for a lumber yard over a big box hardware store. Marling Lumber and HomeWorks offers not only lumber materials but we also provide a unique combination of expert service, a wide selection, high quality products, and reasonable prices. Feel free to contact us by phone, visiting our Janesville, Madison, or Waukesha location, or via our contact form.