An LBM Travel Blog – Part Two

This is the second update from Austin as he’s cleared the Utah National Parks and hits California.  But first, here’s Matt Meyers:

California has always been a unique lumber market. I spent years studying this market for both product development and sales. There were a couple big questions I used to ask and I have heard many answers. Austin doesn’t ask these questions or answer them. Maybe he already knows the answers! So I’ll ask them here to tap into the expertise of our audience and maybe we can all learn something, or maybe teach something to Austin. Take a shot and send your response to [email protected]. If you have a great answer, we’ll blog about it and give you credit for the response! 

1. 1.  Why is a green PET stud shorter than a dry stud? (¼” vs ⅝” trim)
   2.  Why do framers buy the lumber packs in CA and a few other markets, while the builders and GCs do in others?

Here’s Austin!

Hey everyone, I am back, this time checking in from sunny San Diego. The week was rather low key. My wife and I spent a few nights at her grandmother’s house until we started our six-hour drive out west—through the hot dry desert and eventually ending up at the beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

It’s crazy how it felt like one minute we were in triple digit temperatures and the next we could smell the salt water and were surrounded by palm trees. I am really enjoying exploring this humongous country and seeing and experiencing so many new things! My wife and I spent some time at the famous San Diego Zoo, checking out the animals and enjoying the warm weather before it was time to head to our next meeting.

Our next stop took us to Fresno. We were meeting with Holt Lumber, and I was hoping to learn a little bit about their business and how they use—or don’t use—technology in their day-to-day work. Jack, and everyone, from Holt Lumber were really nice and welcoming. While we didn’t get to visit the lumber yard itself, we drove by, and it looked massive. We spoke to Jack for some time, and he gave me a complete look into their business and their products. They offer plywood, different types of lumber and special woods. They also work with fiberglass, gypsum, and different stucco.

I found it interesting and impressive how comprehensive their products and materials were, and how they seem to be able to handle everything efficiently and with the customer in mind. It’s fun to brainstorm about where and how technology could play a role in all these companies in the future—because there is no doubt that it can and eventually will.

See you next time!