Rant: I've noticed a huge drop in finish quality since lumberyards switched to fast-growth pine

I've been framing and trimming houses around Portland for about 12 years now. The big box stores and even some local yards are pushing this plantation-grown pine that comes out of the southeast. I swear five years ago you could get a 2x4 with maybe 8 or 10 tight rings per inch. Now I'm seeing 3 or 4 rings at most and the wood feels like balsa. It dents if you look at it wrong and cups like crazy within a week. I framed a closet last month and had to shim every single stud because they twisted in the rack. Has anyone else had to adjust their nailing schedule or switch to engineered lumber just to get a straight wall?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy_murphy1526d ago

Heard a guy at the lumberyard complaining the other day that even the southern yellow pine is getting worse. @oscarmurray's tip about dropping nail gun pressure makes sense though, been having to dial mine back too just to keep from splitting the studs. This fast-growth stuff really is a pain, makes you wonder what they'll be selling us in another five years.

oscarmurray26d ago

Switched to grabbing kiln-dried Douglas fir from a small mill out past Hillsboro for my trim work. Yeah it's more money but the grain is tight and it stays put after milling. For framing, started ordering TJI joists for floors and using LVL studs in the high traffic areas where drywall cracking would drive me nuts. Had to change my nail gun pressure too, dropped it way down so I don't blow out the soft stuff.