I've gotta be honest, mixing engineered and traditional lumber can sometimes make things trickier rather than easier. I've had situations where the different moisture content between LVLs and standard lumber actually caused more bowing issues down the line. Not always, but enough to make me cautious about blending them on critical walls.
You're onto something with suppliers though. Quality control definitely varies brand-to-brand and even batch-to-batch. I once switched suppliers mid-project—just because of availability—and immediately noticed a difference in how straight the studs stayed over time. Now I'm picky about which brands I spec for structural framing.
Curious if anyone else has noticed significant differences in engineered lumber quality across different suppliers or regions? Could it be a regional climate or storage issue affecting stability?
I've noticed similar issues with engineered lumber varying between suppliers—especially LVLs. Had one batch arrive warped right off the truck... storage conditions maybe? Definitely worth asking suppliers how they're storing it before delivery. Has anyone checked moisture levels on arrival?
"Had one batch arrive warped right off the truck... storage conditions maybe?"
Had a similar experience recently—our LVLs arrived noticeably bowed. Supplier insisted their storage was fine, but when we checked moisture levels, they were surprisingly high. Definitely pays to double-check before installation to avoid headaches later.
Went through something similar a while back, and moisture was definitely the culprit. Even if suppliers swear their storage is perfect, wood can pick up humidity during transport or sitting at job sites. If you can't swap out the lumber easily, try stacking it flat with spacers (stickers) between layers and put some weight on top for a few days. Usually straightens things out enough to work with... saved me from tossing a whole batch once. Good luck!
Had the same issue myself a couple years ago when we were doing our addition. Moisture was definitely part of it, but honestly, sometimes lumber quality these days is just hit or miss. Even kiln-dried stuff can warp if it's handled poorly or sits around too long.
I second the stacking and weighting method mentioned above—worked pretty well for me too. Another thing that helped was being picky about how I framed. I'd set aside the worst pieces for shorter cuts or blocking, and save the straightest ones for critical areas like corners and doorways. Also, if you're open to alternatives, engineered lumber or even metal studs can save you a headache down the line—plus they're usually straighter from the get-go.
Good luck with it... nothing worse than fighting warped boards all day.
