Decent dimensional lumber in Charlotte?

Exile_D

Exile_D

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Where can you find dimensional lumber that is actually straight/squared, or close to it, in Charlotte?

I spent about an hour in Lowe's the other day trying to find some for a simple home project and I failed miserably. I was looking for 2x4, 1x2, 1x3 and 1x4. Just bad luck or am I being too picky?

Maybe if I had more time I could have found some that were actually straight, but I heard someone coughing in the next aisle. ;)
 
Usually if you can find a more true contractor house you can find better stuff than hd or lowes but some is still not great
 
Most dimensional structural lumber (2x4, 2x6, etc) is only kiln dried to 18% moisture content or so. Inside a modern climate controlled home, it will eventually equalize to around 6% - 8% MC. As it acclimated and dries in it’s new environment, the wood will move (cup, warp, twist, shrink, etc). So it’s best to let it acclimate for a few weeks in your home or humidity controlled shop before working it all the way.

The trim lumber (1X dimensional) is usually dried down to 12% or so, thus it wont' move as much.

There is a great supplier of hardwood lumber north of Charlotte called The Woodworkers Source. They probably won't have 2x4's, but they can sell you rough sawn hardwood and also dimension it for you.

The Hardwood Store in Graham is about a 2 hour drive, but well worth it for their great inventory.
 
Not sure about Charlotte, but up where I live, the idea of straight lumber at a big box store is completely alien.

For good treated, I go to a building supply and even then pick through to get what I want. The big boxes sell to Harvey Homeowner who is often quite price sensitive to the detriment of quality.
 
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