Totally agree about engineered lumber, especially for kitchen walls or anywhere cabinetry goes. I've seen too many cabinet installs turn into a nightmare because of warped studs. A bit pricier up front, but saves everyone headaches down the road...
Engineered lumber definitely makes sense for cabinetry-heavy areas. I've had projects where we tried to save a bit upfront with standard studs, and ended up spending way more time shimming and adjusting cabinets later. Lesson learned the hard way. The extra cost is minimal compared to the labor and frustration saved down the line. Good call bringing this up—wish more builders would think ahead like this.
- Engineered lumber is great, but honestly not always necessary.
- I've done plenty of cabinetry-heavy projects with standard studs—key is hand-picking your lumber carefully.
- Takes a bit more time upfront at the lumberyard, but if you're selective, you can avoid most of the headaches later.
- Sure, engineered lumber saves hassle, but it's not the only way to get straight walls.
- Just my two cents from experience...
Interesting points about hand-picking lumber, but doesn't that get tedious pretty fast? I mean, if you're building something big or high-end, isn't your time worth more than the savings from standard studs? Just curious if anyone's compared the actual time and effort of sorting through lumber versus biting the bullet on engineered stuff. Seems like it might balance out in the end...or am I missing something here?
"Just curious if anyone's compared the actual time and effort of sorting through lumber versus biting the bullet on engineered stuff."
Good point—I've done both, and honestly, engineered lumber is usually worth it for high-end builds. Hand-picking studs can feel rewarding at first, but after a few hours, it gets old fast. Plus, engineered lumber gives you consistency and predictability, which is crucial when you're aiming for perfectly straight walls and clean finishes. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves headaches (and time) down the road...
