When I tell people who I work for - they get this kinda funny look on their face and say "So you sell wood?" I just want to yell " Well, yeah, we do sell wood. But we also sell so many other things too! Come in and you'll see!"
I really had no idea that the Lumber and Building Materials Industry was so gigantic. I thought Mid-Cape Home Centers was just this little local, yokel kinda place where you know, they sold wood. Who knew wood was traded as a commodity? Who knew there were all these cool new things you could do with your kitchen design. Who knew about the battles that take place amongst competition.... I certainly didn't. My dads a lawyer and handy as a sloth. (love ya dad!)
So, back to "The Anatomy of a Lumberyard". I will admit, our locations can be a little intimidating ... with big trucks driving through, professional contractors yanking stuff around like it's their job, forklifts beeping. But upon closer inspection, there is rhyme and reason to our madness and they are easier to navigate than one would think (unless you're a sloth).
Materials are seperated into categories:
- Millwork - Doors & Windows
- Wood - Spruce Framing, Pressure Treated, Decking, Engineered Products
- Inside - Pine, Plywood, Mouldings, Finished Trim, Insulation
- Also Inside - Shingles are kept together
So you drive through the yard, pick out your stuff, put it into your car. I recommend NOT driving a Prius if you can help it when you visit us…there’s a reason why contractors drive pick-ups. Borrow a truck if you can – ‘cause you’ll scratch your car trying to tie the 2 x 4 to the roof. Really, you will.
Once you’re stuff has been put in your truck, park in the center lane and head inside. From there, you tell the nice people at the Customer Service desk what you have put in your car, we ring it up and give you a slip. You head back to your car, drive to the gate where you’ll give your slip to our friendly “gate guard”. If you're honest – we’ll let you out. If you’re not – well, best not to find out that part.
Beats the heck out of trying to carry lumber through a store doesn’t it!
Oh - and I just learned a cool fact - most lumberyards are located next to railroad lines because there used to be no way to get building materials to locations other than by railroad..kinda cool.
When the weather gets warmer – I’m gonna drive through the yard and do some video…we’re expecting 2’ of snow tomorrow, so I’m thinking June would be a great time of year to do this. Next I'll give you a little tour of the inside and all the really cool stuff we sell.
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