They’re not talking specifically about the lumber being bad, they’re talking about companies building new developments cutting corners to save on cost. While they still use lumber, they are choosing cheaper lumber and their workmanship suffers as a result of the corners being cut.
Also, older homes were built with natural old growth lumber, which is denser and more rot resistant. They also used larger dimensions for extra support.
My house was built in 1942 as temporary worker housing. I tore down and rebuilt one of the walls and the original studs were just astonishing: perfectly straight and not a single knot in them anywhere. Compare and contrast with modern studs from Home Despot: split, shaped more or less like a pretzel, and 50% knots.
Interestingly, these old studs were 1.75" x 3.75". I never knew there was an intermediate stage between the old-time true 2x4s and the modern 1.5" x 3.5" 2x4s.
it’s not Home Depot’s fault we cut down all the old growth wood by the 1950s. Builders should be sorting the lumber and returning bad pieces…but nothing a sheet of drywall can’t hide.
But Home Depot wood in Canada is the best quality, kiln dried. With softwood tariffs, US yards are scraping the bottom of the barrel and shipping crap that would have been shredded.
They’re not talking specifically about the lumber being bad, they’re talking about companies building new developments cutting corners to save on cost. While they still use lumber, they are choosing cheaper lumber and their workmanship suffers as a result of the corners being cut.
Thus, a pile of lumber and tape.
Also, older homes were built with natural old growth lumber, which is denser and more rot resistant. They also used larger dimensions for extra support.
My house was built in 1942 as temporary worker housing. I tore down and rebuilt one of the walls and the original studs were just astonishing: perfectly straight and not a single knot in them anywhere. Compare and contrast with modern studs from Home Despot: split, shaped more or less like a pretzel, and 50% knots.
Interestingly, these old studs were 1.75" x 3.75". I never knew there was an intermediate stage between the old-time true 2x4s and the modern 1.5" x 3.5" 2x4s.
it’s not Home Depot’s fault we cut down all the old growth wood by the 1950s. Builders should be sorting the lumber and returning bad pieces…but nothing a sheet of drywall can’t hide.
But Home Depot wood in Canada is the best quality, kiln dried. With softwood tariffs, US yards are scraping the bottom of the barrel and shipping crap that would have been shredded.