Replies

1. 
   jayzog | May 21, 2009 05:13am | #1

   Nope. I have priced online dealers a few times, none have been even close to competitive with my local full service lumberyards.

2. 
   Piffin | May 21, 2009 01:53pm | #2

   don't you have local lumberyards?

    

    

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1. 
   rpholland | May 21, 2009 03:58pm | #3

          I am getting quotes from my local lumber yards, and I prefer to purchase locally, but many only stock the "deck" material and not the t&g profile.  I will be spending around $2000 for the material so I am trying to find the best deal. 

   Robert

1. 
   john7g | May 21, 2009 04:06pm | #4

   they don't have any interest in special ordering it for you?

2. 
   webted | May 21, 2009 07:15pm | #5

   A local lumberyard out here on the best coast quoted me prices (last month) for 1 X 4 or 1 X 6 Ipe, either milled with a square edge, T&G, or grooved on both edges for a hidden fastener. They needed a longer lead time on T&G because they didn't normally stock that way. The surprising thing was no change in l.f. price based on the edge treatment.Obviously, you get less surface coverage (so you need to buy more) with the T&G, but the lumberyard figured it's the same amount of wood going into the mill. That said, they were asking just shy of $3 lf for 1 X 4 and ~$4.5 for 1 X 6, much higher than another local supplier.In the end, I'll be using a different tropical hardwood using 1 X 4 decking w/ hidden fasteners. Probably won't finish in time for the "deck contest!"-t

3. 
   Piffin | May 21, 2009 11:47pm | #7

   mine don't stock T&G either, but can have it here in 3-7 days 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   AitchKay | May 22, 2009 12:23am | #8

   Don't rule out using the slotted-for-hidden-fastener deck products, and milling your own Ipe splines. Buy a couple of sample boards, and butt them together to see if their milling is clean enough for the T&G look.AitchKay

3. 
   Mulch | May 21, 2009 07:58pm | #6

   Robert,

   I placed an order last fall with Advantage Trim and Lumber (Ipedepot.com) and was really pleased with the turnaround, price and quality of the wood.

   This was after buying most of the wood from my local guy.  I've been using this yard for years for all sorts of hardwood and felt some loyalty, even though they were about 20% more expensive.  Also in large part because I was concerned buying about $15,000 worth of lumber site unseen.

   In the end, I'm sorry I didn't use Advantage for the whole project.

   As I said, their prices were better, they delivered within five days of my order, and except for one piece of decking with about 4 feet of really squirrelly grain, the wood was perfect.

   At the time I also got a quote from East Teak (which, from the research I did is the other really big online Ipe supplier).  I wasn't impressed with their responsiveness, and their prices were also about 15% higher than Advantage.

    

   Matt

1. 
   rpholland | May 22, 2009 04:02am | #9

   I have looked at that site, have you used any of the T & G product. I would like to know how much it expands with seasonal humidity changes. Some of the sites recommend only using a kiln dried t&g for porch applications 12%. Another that I spoke with said that their air dried, 16 - 19% was ok for t&g. I only have about 200 sq. ft. area. I have attached a photo of progress so far.

   
2. 
   pixburd | May 23, 2009 12:16am | #10

   Here's a second vote for Advantage Lumber for Ipe. For me the closest "local lumber yard" was 40 miles away and more expensive.