Hey everyone! I'm new to woodworking and wondering if anyone has experience with getting lumber delivered from Home Depot. Unfortunately, there's no lumber yard nearby, just a Menards. I need several sheets of plywood and a lot of 2x4s. I know I can rent a small truck from Home Depot for around $30, but I'd be loading and unloading it all by myself, which seems like a hassle. Their delivery fee is about $80, but I'm worried about the quality of the lumber since they might not pick the best pieces like I would. Has anyone been in this situation? Should I take the chance on delivery or just rent the truck and do it myself? Thanks!
3 Answers
Renting the truck can be a good move if you want to pick out your own materials. I had a delivery once and ended up with warped boards that I had to return. I now rent a truck or use my SUV for smaller loads. It makes a huge difference when you can select the wood yourself. Also, don’t forget to check the weather—delivered lumber can get wet and really ruin your projects!
And always double-check the order before they leave! You might find they messed it up anyway.
I’ve gone through this a few times. When you have lumber delivered, you’re basically getting whatever's on the stack—it's definitely a roll of the dice. Home Depot's staff typically won’t go out of their way to pick the straightest or best-looking boards for you. I've had my fair share of twisty 2x4s that I had to return. I’d recommend renting the truck and going to pick your lumber yourself if you're particular about quality.
Exactly! I once ended up with a 2x4 that can't even be used for framing because it had a twist in it. If you can, go check the wood yourself—it'll save you a lot of headaches later.
For sure! It's also a lot quicker, especially if you know what to look for. If you do rent a truck, you can ask an employee for help loading it too.
Delivery can be convenient since you avoid the hassle of hauling it yourself, but the big downside is that you lose control over the quality of the lumber you receive. I've had wrong items delivered before, too. Just be prepared—you might need to return pieces or find alternatives if they send you damaged plywood or bad boards. If you have no other option, maybe call around to see if any local lumber yards deliver.
Totally agree! It’s worth checking local spots. I’ve had better luck with quality from smaller suppliers than big box stores.
Plus, you could always save some money by just doing the heavy lifting yourself. It might be worth a little extra effort.
Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Make sure you have some material to protect it when it arrives if it’s raining.