Framing Lumber Prices Are Climbing — Here’s Your Game Plan
If you’ve got a build on the calendar for Spokane, Airway Heights, Colville, or Kettle Falls, here’s a heads-up worth acting on: framing lumber has been creeping up in price for several weeks straight, while sheet goods like plywood and OSB have held steady or even softened a bit. That’s an unusual split, and it opens up a real opportunity for anyone with a framing project on the books — if you know how to work it.
We’ve been a family-owned lumberyard serving Eastern Washington since 1979, and part of that job is keeping a close eye on regional pricing so our customers don’t have to guess or scroll through national averages that don’t reflect what’s happening at the yard down the street. Below is our honest, no-fluff take on what to buy now, what can wait, and how to build a smarter purchasing plan for the next month or two.
Why Dimensional Lumber Costs Are Trending Up
A few things are converging right now: mills across the region have adjusted production, and summer building demand has stayed strong throughout Stevens County and the greater Spokane area. The result is steady, week-over-week price increases on studs, 2x4s, 2x6s, and other dimensional framing lumber. Nothing we’re seeing suggests that trend is about to reverse anytime soon.
What does that mean in practical terms? If you’re framing a garage, shop, addition, or even a fence this season, waiting a few extra weeks to buy your studs will likely cost you more per board foot than buying today. For anyone with framing lumber sitting on an active material list, locking in current pricing now is simply the smarter money move.
Actionable step: If you have a project starting in the next 30 to 60 days, get your framing lumber order in now rather than waiting for “closer to start date.” Even pre-purchasing and storing materials at one of our yards can save you real dollars compared to buying at the last minute.
The Good News: Sheet Goods Aren’t Following the Same Curve
Here’s where you catch a break. While 2x4s and 2x6s climb, 3/4″ plywood and 7/16″ OSB have stayed flat to slightly softer across Eastern Washington. That means there’s far less urgency to rush out and buy your sheathing, subfloor, or general sheet good needs right now.
This gives you a practical way to manage cash flow on a bigger project: front-load your framing lumber purchases while prices are still reasonable, then phase in your plywood and OSB purchases over the coming weeks as your project actually needs them. You get the benefit of locking in the volatile stuff early without tying up extra cash in materials that aren’t moving in price yet.
A Simple Buy-Now vs. Wait Strategy
If you want a quick gut-check before your next materials run, here’s how we’d break it down:
Buy now: Framing studs, 2×6 and 2×8 dimensional lumber, pressure-treated posts, and sill plate material for any active deck, fence, or framing project. If your project breaks ground within the next 30-60 days, treat this as a priority purchase.
Can wait: 3/4″ plywood, 7/16″ OSB, and other sheet goods, since pricing has held comparatively stable. Non-urgent finish materials tied to later project phases can also wait without much risk.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule — every job site is different — but it’s a solid starting point for anyone trying to stretch a materials budget further this season.
How Builders Supply Helps You Time It Right
We track framing lumber prices across Eastern Washington on a weekly basis, and we translate that into real, practical guidance — not a generic national number that has nothing to do with what’s happening at our counter. Whether you’re building in Airway Heights, running a crew in Colville, or picking up materials in Kettle Falls, our staff can walk you through current per-board-foot costs and help you put together a purchasing plan that gets ahead of the trend instead of chasing it.
We keep dimensional framing lumber, PT lumber, plywood, and OSB in stock across all three of our Eastern Washington locations, so you’re not waiting on a delayed truck while prices keep ticking upward. That local inventory is something we take seriously, and it’s a genuine advantage when timing matters.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Buy
Before your next materials run, run through these with our team:
What’s my actual project timeline, and does it make sense to buy framing lumber now instead of later? Am I better off phasing my sheet goods purchases over the next month? Would a full framing package quote lock in today’s pricing for my whole job? And which Builders Supply location has the inventory on hand to cover my project size without delay?
If you’ve got a framing project on the horizon this summer or fall, don’t wait for prices to move further against you. Stop by our Spokane-area, Airway Heights, Colville, or Kettle Falls location this week for current pricing, honest advice, and in-stock framing lumber, PT lumber, plywood, and OSB. Prefer to shop from home? Browse our inventory and place an order anytime at bldrsupply.epicor-inet.com. We’ve served Eastern Washington builders since 1979, and we’re glad to help you time this next purchase right.