Why Choose Us

Not All Lumber Yards Are Built the Same

We are a local, sustainability-driven lumber company that combines the quality and service of a specialty dealer with the pricing and inventory depth of a full-service yard. Here is what that means for you.

Get a Free Quote

Tell us what you need — we respond within 24 hours.

The Boise Lumber Advantage

Six Reasons Builders Trust Us

Local Expertise Since 2011

We have been operating in Boise for over fourteen years. Our team knows Idaho lumber — the species that thrive here, the building codes that apply, and the suppliers and contractors who make up the local construction ecosystem. When you work with us, you get advice rooted in firsthand regional knowledge, not a script from a corporate training manual.

Verified Quality on Every Board

Every piece of lumber that leaves our yard has been hand-inspected, de-nailed, and graded. We check for structural integrity, moisture content, insect damage, and dimensional accuracy. Reclaimed boards are processed through our planer and kiln as needed to meet the same standards you would expect from new stock. We do not sell material we would not use ourselves.

Transparent, Competitive Pricing

Our reclaimed lumber is typically 20 to 40 percent less expensive than equivalent new lumber from big-box retailers, and our new lumber lines are priced to match or beat the competition. We publish our pricing openly, offer volume discounts for contractors, and never charge hidden fees for quotes, estimates, or yard visits.

Genuine Environmental Impact

Sustainability is not a tagline for us — it is the reason the business exists. We have diverted over three million board feet from Idaho landfills, achieved carbon-neutral operations, and maintain FSC Chain of Custody certification on our new lumber lines. When you buy from Boise Lumber, the environmental benefit is real and measurable.

Full-Service Processing

We do not just sell lumber. We mill it, kiln-dry it, plane it, and cut it to your specifications. Need a custom dimension? A specific moisture content? Tongue-and-groove milling for a wall installation? We handle it in-house with turnaround times measured in days, not weeks.

Reliable Delivery Across Idaho

Our delivery fleet covers the entire Treasure Valley with same-week service, and we run scheduled routes throughout southwestern Idaho. Job-site delivery, residential drop-offs, and commercial loading dock service are all available. We show up on time, every time.

Head-to-Head

How We Compare

An honest comparison across the three most common lumber sources available to Idaho builders and homeowners.

Product Selection

Boise Lumber

Curated inventory of reclaimed and new lumber. Multiple species, grades, and dimensions available. Specialty and hard-to-find species sourced on request.

Big-Box Stores

Mass-produced dimensional lumber from a few species (SPF, treated pine). Limited to standard sizes. No reclaimed options. No specialty sourcing.

Other Salvage Yards

Unpredictable inventory dependent on demolition schedules. Limited species variety. What is available changes week to week with no consistency.

Quality Assurance

Boise Lumber

Every board inspected, de-nailed, and graded. Moisture content verified. Kiln drying available. Dimensional accuracy guaranteed after processing.

Big-Box Stores

Machine-graded at the mill, not at the store. Warped, split, and checked boards common in-store. No individual inspection before purchase.

Other Salvage Yards

Quality varies widely. Many salvage operations sell lumber as-is without de-nailing, grading, or moisture testing. Buyer assumes all risk.

Pricing

Boise Lumber

Reclaimed lumber at 20-40% below new retail. New lumber competitively priced. Volume discounts for contractors. No hidden fees.

Big-Box Stores

Standard retail markup. Volume discounts require commercial accounts. Prices fluctuate with commodity markets. Frequent price increases.

Other Salvage Yards

Low sticker prices but material often requires additional processing (de-nailing, planing, drying) at the buyer's expense, raising total cost.

Custom Processing

Boise Lumber

In-house milling, planing, resawing, and kiln drying. Custom dimensions, profiles, and finishes available with days-not-weeks turnaround.

Big-Box Stores

No custom processing. What is on the shelf is what you get. Custom orders require third-party fulfillment with long lead times.

Other Salvage Yards

Most salvage yards have no processing equipment. Lumber sold rough and unprocessed. Customer must arrange their own milling.

Environmental Credentials

Boise Lumber

Carbon-neutral operations. FSC-certified new stock. LEED-eligible reclaimed material. 95% material recovery rate. Verified landfill diversion data.

Big-Box Stores

Some FSC-certified products available but not standard. No reclaimed options. Supply chains involve long-distance transport with significant carbon footprint.

Other Salvage Yards

Inherently eco-friendly through salvage, but most operations lack formal certifications, carbon accounting, or documented environmental practices.

Customer Service

Boise Lumber

Direct email access to knowledgeable staff. Species selection advice. Project consultation. Flexible scheduling. Relationships, not transactions.

Big-Box Stores

Self-service model. Staff knowledge varies widely. High employee turnover. Slow response times for support inquiries. No project consultation.

Other Salvage Yards

Often owner-operated with limited hours and availability. Service quality depends entirely on the individual. No formal support structure.

Delivery

Boise Lumber

Own fleet. Treasure Valley same-week delivery. Scheduled routes across southwestern Idaho. Job-site and residential drop-off. On-time guarantee.

Big-Box Stores

Third-party delivery with variable scheduling. Delivery fees per order. Limited to metro areas. Job-site service inconsistent.

Other Salvage Yards

Most salvage yards are pickup-only. If delivery is available, it is usually a single truck with limited range and no guaranteed scheduling.

Our Guarantee

We Stand Behind Every Board

Reclaimed lumber carries a reputation for inconsistency. We have built our business on proving that wrong — and we back it up with guarantees that no big-box store and no other salvage yard in Idaho can match.

Structural Integrity Guarantee

Every board we sell as structural grade meets or exceeds the load-bearing specifications for its stated grade. If a board we graded fails inspection on your job site, we replace it at no cost and cover the delivery.

Moisture Content Guarantee

Kiln-dried lumber leaves our facility at or below the moisture content specified for its intended use — typically 6 to 8 percent for interior finish work and 12 to 15 percent for framing. We provide moisture readings on request.

Dimensional Accuracy Guarantee

Custom-milled lumber is cut to your specified dimensions within a tolerance of plus or minus 1/16 inch. If it does not meet spec, we reprocess or replace it at no charge.

Satisfaction Policy

If the lumber you receive does not match what was described, quoted, or expected, contact us within 7 days. We will make it right — whether that means replacement, reprocessing, or a full refund. No arguments, no fine print.

Who We Serve

From General Contractors to Weekend Woodworkers

Our customer base spans the full range of people who work with wood. General contractors rely on us for competitively priced framing lumber and structural timbers. Finish carpenters and cabinet makers source specialty hardwoods and character-grade planks for custom projects. Architects and interior designers specify our reclaimed material for commercial interiors, restaurant fit-outs, and residential renovations where authenticity matters.

Homeowners come to us for DIY projects — accent walls, shelving, furniture builds, fencing, and decking. We welcome small orders as readily as large ones and provide the same level of guidance regardless of project scale. If you need one board or one truckload, you get the same attention.

We also work with municipal agencies, schools, and nonprofits on sustainability initiatives, providing reclaimed lumber for community projects and educational programs. Building a sustainable future starts with the materials we choose.

General Contractors

Competitive bulk pricing, reliable delivery, account terms, and consistent quality across orders.

Woodworkers & Craftspeople

Character-grade hardwoods, live edge slabs, and rare species you will not find at a chain store.

Architects & Designers

LEED-eligible reclaimed material with documented sourcing for specification and certification needs.

Homeowners & DIYers

Expert guidance on species selection, cut lists, and finishing — no question is too basic.

Property Owners & Demolition Crews

We buy your surplus and salvage lumber. Turn waste into revenue instead of paying disposal fees.

Municipal & Nonprofit Projects

Discounted reclaimed material for community builds, school shops, and public infrastructure.

What Customers Say

The Proof Is in the Projects

“

We switched from our big-box supplier two years ago and have not looked back. The quality is better, the pricing is competitive, and they actually respond the same day when I reach out.

Local General Contractor

Commercial framing project, Meridian

“

I needed old-growth fir for a farmhouse table and they had exactly the right boards — tight grain, no checks, perfectly dried. You cannot get that from a lumberyard that only sells new.

Custom Furniture Maker

Residential commission, Eagle

“

The reclaimed cedar accent wall in our restaurant gets more compliments than anything else in the space. Boise Lumber helped us select the boards, mill them to tongue-and-groove, and delivered on schedule.

Restaurant Owner

Commercial interior, Downtown Boise

“

I had leftover lumber from a barn teardown and did not know what to do with it. They bought the whole lot, saved me the dump fees, and the wood ended up in someone else's project. Everybody wins.

Property Owner

Barn salvage, Kuna

More Customer Voices

Hear It from the People Who Work with Us

From one-time buyers to long-term contractor partners, our customers consistently highlight the same things: quality, price, and service.

“

I drove past three big-box stores to get to Boise Lumber because the cedar they carry is leagues better than anything I have found on a chain store shelf. Tight grain, no wane, and they milled it to the exact thickness I needed while I waited.

Kellan Whitford

Deck Builder

Star, ID

“

We spec reclaimed material on most of our commercial projects now, and Boise Lumber is the only supplier in the valley who can consistently deliver it graded, dried, and documented. They make my job easier.

Tamsin Oakes

Interior Designer

Boise, ID

“

Tore down an old horse barn on our property and figured the lumber was worthless. Boise Lumber came out, looked it over, and paid us for the whole lot. We made money instead of paying for a dumpster.

Holden & Margot Pruitt

Property Owners

Middleton, ID

“

The live edge walnut slab I got from them is the centerpiece of my dining room. Every guest asks about it. The price was half what a specialty hardwood dealer in Portland quoted me for comparable material.

Sienna Dahl

Homeowner

Eagle, ID

“

I run a small cabinet shop and go through a lot of hardwood. Their reclaimed oak machines beautifully — better than the kiln-dried plantation red oak I was buying before. And it costs less.

Jasper Tully

Cabinet Maker

Nampa, ID

“

They delivered 4,000 board feet of mixed framing lumber to our job site on Monday morning, exactly when they said they would. Everything was on the order ticket, nothing was missing. That reliability matters when you have a crew waiting.

Rowan Jessup

Project Manager, GC Firm

Meridian, ID

“

I had no idea reclaimed lumber was this good or this affordable. Built a bookshelf and an accent wall in my bedroom with their reclaimed pine. Total cost was less than what the big-box store wanted for new material, and it looks ten times better.

Emerson Kreig

DIY Enthusiast

Boise, ID

“

As a LEED consultant, I need suppliers who understand documentation requirements. Boise Lumber provides sourcing data, material data sheets, and environmental impact estimates that I can plug directly into credit submissions. They get it.

Sable Ashworth

LEED Consultant

Boise, ID

Our Commitment

The Boise Lumber Guarantee — In Detail

We understand that choosing reclaimed lumber requires trust. You need to know that the material will perform as specified, arrive as ordered, and meet the standards your project demands. Our guarantee program exists to remove every bit of risk from that decision.

Unlike big-box retailers who sell lumber as-is off the shelf with no individual inspection, and unlike other salvage yards that offer material in unknown condition with no recourse, we stand behind every board we sell with specific, actionable guarantees:

Structural Performance Guarantee

Every board we grade and sell as structural meets the load-bearing specifications for its stated grade per WWPA or NHLA grading rules. We test representative samples for fiber strength, stiffness, and compression performance. If a board we graded as structural fails a building inspector's review on your job site due to our grading error, we replace it immediately at no cost, deliver the replacement ourselves, and cover any reinspection fees you incur.

Moisture Content Precision Guarantee

We measure and document the moisture content of every kiln-dried board using pin-type and pinless moisture meters calibrated monthly. Our target ranges are 6 to 8 percent for interior finish work and cabinetry, and 12 to 15 percent for structural framing. We provide written moisture readings with every kiln-dried order. If material arrives outside the specified range, we re-kiln it at no charge or provide an immediate replacement.

Dimensional Accuracy Guarantee

Custom-milled lumber is produced within a tolerance of plus or minus 1/16 inch on all dimensions — thickness, width, and length. We measure every board at the outfeed of our planer and resaw against the customer's specified dimensions. If any board falls outside tolerance, we reprocess it on the spot. If a dimensional issue is discovered after delivery, we replace or reprocess at no charge and arrange pickup and redelivery at our expense.

Species Authenticity Guarantee

When we identify a board as a specific species, that identification is accurate. Our grading team includes members with decades of species identification experience, and we verify unusual or high-value species through grain analysis and density testing. If you receive material that is not the species stated on your invoice, we replace it with verified material at no cost.

Order Accuracy Guarantee

Every delivery and pickup order is assembled by one team member and verified by a second before it leaves our yard. Species, grade, dimension, quantity, and any custom processing specifications are checked against the order ticket. If an order arrives with missing items, incorrect material, or wrong quantities, we correct it within 24 hours at our expense — no questions asked.

Complete Satisfaction Guarantee

If for any reason the lumber you receive does not meet what was described, quoted, or expected, contact us within 7 days of delivery. We will make it right — replacement, reprocessing, exchange, or full refund. We do not hide behind fine print, restocking fees, or manager approvals. Our customer service team has full authority to resolve any issue immediately.

Case Studies

Real Projects, Real Results

Detailed stories from projects where our lumber, service, and expertise made a measurable difference for the customer and the environment.

Historic Boise Bungalow Restoration

Residential Homeowner — North End, Boise

Challenge

A 1918 Craftsman bungalow needed replacement floor joists, new porch decking, and restored interior trim. The homeowner wanted to maintain the home's historic character using period-appropriate materials but faced quotes from specialty suppliers that exceeded the renovation budget by 40 percent.

Solution

We sourced old-growth Douglas fir structural timbers from a 1920s warehouse demolition in Caldwell that matched the home's original framing species and dimensions. Porch decking was cut from reclaimed Western red cedar with natural weathering that complemented the home's existing exterior. Interior trim profiles were custom-milled on our moulder to replicate the original baseboard and casing profiles.

Result

Total material cost came in 35 percent below the specialty supplier quotes. The building inspector approved all structural material on first inspection. The homeowner reported that visitors cannot distinguish the replacement material from the originals — because the wood comes from the same era and the same growing conditions.

4,200 board feet supplied35% cost savings vs. specialty sourcing100% period-appropriate species and grain

LEED Gold Office Interior — Capitol Boulevard

Commercial Architecture Firm — Boise, ID

Challenge

An architecture firm pursuing LEED Gold certification for their new office space needed reclaimed wood for exposed ceiling beams, accent walls, and a reception desk. The LEED documentation requirements were strict — material had to be verifiably reclaimed with chain-of-custody documentation, and it needed to meet the firm's aesthetic standards for a client-facing professional environment.

Solution

We provided 6x10 reclaimed Douglas fir beams from a barn demolition in Emmett for the exposed ceiling structure, character-grade reclaimed pine for the accent wall installation milled to shiplap profile, and a hand-selected live edge walnut slab for the reception desk surface. All material came with documented provenance, species verification, and environmental impact estimates for the LEED submission package.

Result

The project earned LEED Gold certification, with our reclaimed material contributing significantly to the MR Credit for Sourcing of Raw Materials. The firm's partners reported that the reclaimed wood elements became the most commented-on feature of their new space — by both clients and prospective employees visiting the office.

6,800 board feet of reclaimed materialLEED Gold achievedFull provenance documentation provided

Farm-to-Table Restaurant Buildout — 8th Street

Restaurant Group — Downtown Boise

Challenge

A restaurant group opening a new farm-to-table concept wanted an interior built entirely from reclaimed and sustainably sourced materials. The design called for heavy ceiling beams, wall cladding, a 16-foot bar top, booth seating surfaces, and decorative shelving — all in reclaimed wood with distinct visual character. The timeline was aggressive: six weeks from design sign-off to material delivery.

Solution

We coordinated with the restaurant's interior designer to select specific character profiles for each application. Ceiling beams came from a 1940s potato warehouse in Twin Falls. Wall cladding was milled from barn siding sourced across Canyon County. The bar top was a single live edge walnut slab from a storm-felled tree in the Boise foothills. All material was kiln-dried, processed, and delivered in five weeks — one week ahead of schedule.

Result

The restaurant opened on time with a fully reclaimed wood interior that reinforced their brand story of local sourcing and sustainability. The owners reported a measurable marketing benefit: the story of the reclaimed materials became a key part of their social media content and press coverage, generating significant earned media value.

8,500+ board feet across all applicationsDelivered 1 week ahead of 6-week scheduleZero new-growth wood in the final interior

Community Garden Infrastructure — West Boise

Neighborhood Association — West Boise, ID

Challenge

A neighborhood association received a city grant to build a community garden but needed to stretch their budget to cover 30 raised beds, a tool shed, a covered pavilion, perimeter fencing, and pathway edging. New pressure-treated lumber from a big-box retailer would have consumed 80 percent of their materials budget, leaving little for soil, plants, and tools.

Solution

We donated 500 board feet of reclaimed cedar and provided an additional 1,200 board feet at a community-project discount rate. Cedar was selected for its natural rot resistance — no chemical treatment needed for soil contact. We also donated milling time to cut all bed framing to specified lengths and provided delivery at no charge. Our team spent a Saturday on-site helping volunteers with assembly.

Result

The association built all 30 raised beds, the tool shed, and the perimeter fencing within budget, with enough savings to fully stock the garden with soil, compost, and seedlings for the first growing season. The garden now serves 45 families and has become a model for other neighborhood garden projects in Boise.

1,700 board feet (500 donated, 1,200 discounted)30 raised beds built45 families served in the first season

Technical Advantage

What Makes Our Lumber Different

Beyond sustainability, our lumber offers measurable technical advantages that affect the performance, appearance, and longevity of your project.

Old-Growth Grain Density

Much of our reclaimed inventory comes from structures built before 1960, when construction lumber was harvested from old-growth and second-growth forests with 80 to 200-year rotation cycles. These trees grew slowly, producing tight growth rings — often 15 to 30 rings per inch compared to 4 to 8 rings per inch in modern plantation lumber. Tight grain means higher density, greater hardness, better dimensional stability, and superior resistance to wear. This is not a subjective quality difference — it is measurable with a ring count and a scale.

Natural Seasoning & Stability

Reclaimed lumber has been naturally seasoning in its original structure for decades. Wood that has spent 50 or 100 years at equilibrium moisture content in a building is inherently more dimensionally stable than freshly kiln-dried new lumber. It has already completed the stress relief, cellular compression, and moisture cycling that causes new lumber to warp, cup, and twist in its first years of service. When we kiln-dry reclaimed material, we are fine-tuning an already stable product — not trying to force-dry green wood.

Species Unavailable in New Production

Many of the species in our reclaimed inventory are no longer commercially harvested at the scale or quality that was common decades ago. Genuine old-growth Douglas fir, heart-grade redwood, American chestnut, clear vertical-grain cedar, and dense old-growth longleaf pine are extremely difficult or impossible to source as new lumber. Reclaimed stock is often the only way to obtain these species at the quality levels that were standard in earlier construction eras.

Character & Provenance

Reclaimed lumber carries visual characteristics that cannot be manufactured: authentic patina, natural weathering, hand-cut saw marks, mortise and tenon joinery marks, original paint traces, and the grain compression patterns that come from decades of load-bearing service. Each board has a documented history — we track the source structure, location, and approximate age of our material. For architects, designers, and homeowners who value authenticity, this provenance is a significant design asset.

Higher Natural Resin & Extractive Content

Old-growth softwoods like Douglas fir, cedar, and redwood contain higher concentrations of natural resins and extractive compounds than fast-growth plantation counterparts. These compounds provide natural resistance to decay, insects, and fungal attack. Reclaimed boards from old-growth timber often outperform new lumber in durability testing, especially in exterior and ground-contact applications where natural decay resistance is critical.

Rigorous Processing Standards

Unlike big-box lumber that is machine-graded at high speed and sold as-is, every board that leaves our yard has been hand-inspected by our grading team, de-nailed to remove every embedded fastener, and processed through our milling line to achieve smooth, accurate surfaces. We verify moisture content with calibrated meters, check dimensional accuracy at the outfeed of every machine, and grade according to NHLA or WWPA standards. The result is material that consistently meets or exceeds the quality you would expect from new stock.

Fair Pricing

Pricing Transparency You Can Trust

We believe you should know exactly what you are paying for and why. Our pricing structure is straightforward: material cost based on species, grade, and dimension, plus any custom processing fees, plus delivery if applicable. No hidden charges, no surprise surcharges, no opaque markup layers.

Our reclaimed lumber prices are typically 20 to 40 percent below equivalent new lumber retail pricing. This is not because the material is inferior — it is because our raw material cost is fundamentally lower. We do not pay for logging operations, primary sawmill processing, or cross-country transport from managed forests. We source locally, process locally, and sell locally. Those savings flow directly to you.

For contractors and commercial accounts, we offer volume pricing tiers that reduce per-board-foot cost on orders above 500, 1,000, and 5,000 board feet. We also offer net-30 payment terms for established accounts with approved credit. No application fees, no membership costs.

Quotes are free, always. We do not charge for site visits, estimates, material consultations, or phone time. If you want to know what something will cost, just ask. We respond to all quote requests within 24 hours.

How Our Pricing Compares

Reclaimed Douglas Fir (2x6)

Boise Lumber: $2.50 - $3.50 / LFOthers: $4.00 - $5.50 / LF (new retail)

Reclaimed Western Red Cedar

Boise Lumber: $3.00 - $5.00 / LFOthers: $5.50 - $8.00 / LF (new retail)

Reclaimed Oak (character grade)

Boise Lumber: $4.00 - $6.00 / BFOthers: $7.00 - $10.00 / BF (specialty dealer)

Custom Milling (planing)

Boise Lumber: $0.30 - $0.50 / BFOthers: $0.75 - $1.25 / BF (third-party mill)

Kiln Drying

Boise Lumber: $0.40 - $0.60 / BFOthers: $0.75 - $1.00 / BF (commercial kiln service)

Local Delivery (Boise metro)

Boise Lumber: $50 - $150 flat rateOthers: $75 - $250 per delivery (big-box)

Prices shown are representative ranges and may vary based on availability, grade, and quantity. Contact us for current quotes.

Service Coverage

Where We Deliver

From our Beverly Street yard, we serve the entire Treasure Valley and well beyond with reliable, scheduled delivery service.

Boise Metro Area

Same-week delivery

Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Garden City, and Middleton. Delivery typically scheduled within 2 to 4 business days of order confirmation. Flat-rate delivery pricing for most load sizes.

Residential driveway delivery
Job-site drop-off
Commercial loading dock
Boom truck available for elevated placement

Southwestern Idaho

Scheduled route delivery

Emmett, Mountain Home, McCall, Cascade, Jerome, Twin Falls, Hailey, Sun Valley, and surrounding communities. We run scheduled routes through these areas and can coordinate delivery timing with your project schedule.

Weekly scheduled routes
Distance-based delivery pricing
Bulk orders may qualify for free delivery
Advance scheduling recommended

Extended Service Area

Custom delivery available

We regularly fulfill orders outside our standard service area for larger projects. If you are located elsewhere in Idaho or in neighboring states, contact us with your order details and location. We will provide a delivery quote or help you arrange freight.

Custom delivery quotes
Freight coordination for large orders
Will-call pickup always available
Oregon, Washington, Montana orders accepted

Credentials

Awards, Certifications & Memberships

FSC Chain of Custody Certified

Third-party verified responsible sourcing for new lumber lines.

ISPM-15 Heat Treatment Facility

Compliant kiln for pest elimination and international standards.

LEED Material Credit Eligible

Reclaimed material qualifies for LEED v4 MR credits.

Carbon-Neutral Verified (2025)

Operations independently verified as carbon-neutral.

Boise Chamber Environmental Award (2021)

Recognized for decade of environmental stewardship.

Idaho SBA Small Business Finalist (2022)

For sustainable practices and community impact.

TVBA Sustainability Partner (2023)

Preferred partner for sustainable building materials.

Idaho DEQ Full Compliance

Zero violations since founding. Annual inspections passed.

Boise Green Business Network Member

Certified for waste reduction and energy efficiency.

ICL Community Partner Award (2024)

For multi-year reforestation and conservation support.

Treasure Valley Builders Association

Active member providing sustainable material education.

NHLA Grading Standards Compliant

Hardwood grading per National Hardwood Lumber Association rules.

Ready to See the Difference?

Visit our yard on Beverly Street, call us for a quote, or browse our inventory online. Once you work with Boise Lumber, you will understand why our customers keep coming back.

Get a Free Quote Browse Products