Limback Lumber Co

I’m a DIYer who is starting to outgrow the bix box stores, and I’m really glad I found Limback. I was looking for LVL beams all over town — some places offered to order them for me, but Limback was the only one who had them in stock. For somebody like me who is just starting to venture out from the consumer stores to the lumber yards, it can be a bit intimidating, since it’s not like you can just walk around looking at everything while looking it up on your phone — you need to know what you need. Once you figure out your list though, these guys will hook you up.
The customer service has been excellent — the phone is answered right away, they will gladly go and look to check stock, they will make cuts for you, bring things out to your car, etc — it has a great old-​school full-​service feel.
They also sell various tools, fasteners, and accessories, and while at first it might seem not a very large selection, this is because they only stock the high-​quality stuff.
Edit: Dropped to 4 stars because of relatively high prices. I bought some insulation there for $ 32/​sheet, which was double what it cost at the big box store, but I figured it was fine, because their website said it was a better (more expensive) brand. When I got it delivered, it was exactly the same stuff as at the big box store, just twice as expensive.

After calling and getting quotes from FIVE lumber companies and get crummy service and delays from two of them, I found Limback Lumber and they were a godsend. SO EASY. I called, got a quote, made the order, they delivered the right items on time. Not such a big deal you say? HAH! I ordered from Lowe’s, they were a week late. I ordered from another lumberyard, they charged me on the phone, and later called me to tell me that I had to pay an additional $ 150.
I will order EVERYTHING for my deck from Limback Lumber. So competent. Rare!

For some reason unknown to me, the previous owner of our home replaced the trim around two doors with something that just didn’t match. It bothered me for years. Per recommendations I brought the old original trim into Limback. There was a set up fee (seemed reasonable), and then they ran me some lengths of matching trim. The room seems SO much more cohesive now… bummed I waited so long to do it.

I’ve bought two lots of hardwood from Limback so far. The first was about 160 bd/​ft of cherry which I used to build my daughter’s bed, the second was about 130 bd/​ft of black walnut which I used to build custom cabinets and trim for my home office. The wood was top notch, and looks incredible in its final form. What I like most about Limback is the old-​school lumber yard feel. It’s the sort of place where I can spend an hour or two sorting through pieces to match grains and get exactly what I’m looking for. Try finding another store where the space is available to lay pieces out. I will be returning in the future — Limback is my go-​to place for lumber.

im a small carpentry co. and I need lumber to be Quality at a good price… this is not what i get here. every time I send my guy down there to pick up lumber i swear they give him the worst crap they have. Ok a little bend in my ACX ok but warped both ways is garbage (i can go to home depot and get crap) .ill give my money to someone else from now on.

Very nice people… excellent products! Pleasure doing business with them and supporting a local company!

Ok, Limback is great for so many reasons. The guys that work there are awesome. They have wood that is really hard to find. My husband frequents Limback on a regular basis because he both loves to support the local businesses of Ballard (our neighborhood) and the quality and community feel you have when you’re there is awesome. If he can avoid Home Depot to get things at Limback, that’s what he does. It’s worth the extra costs to have the sort of quality and camaraderie you get at Limback. And here’s a tip: It helps if you’re a Husky.

Great knowledgeable staff, great store and quality products. I like not having to walk a half mile to get what I need unlike HD/​Lowes.
I am a general contractor and if I’m working in Ballard I shop here. Heck, even if I’m not in Ballard I’ll drive a little bit to shop here. Nothing more annoying than sifting through a pile of crappy lumber just to find a few good pieces that aren’t warped or scarfed up so bad you can’t use it like you get at HD/​Lowes. The helpful staff at Limback pick the lumber for you and always select the best they have in stock which has always been high quality.
When you ask a question they don’t have to drag you over 2 acres of concrete floor to find someone who can answer your question. They know what they are doing, period… Give them your business, they deserve it and you won’t be disappointed.

Had to find some 12 mm x 2.5 inch and 12 mm x 3.25 inch moulding to match the moulding in our townhouse. Went to McClendons, Home Depot, and Alki Lumber without any luck. By chance I was in Ballard and across from Limback and decided to check with them. While they didn’t have the exact product in stock, they found a matching depth and ripped the moulding to match the width I needed in about five minutes. Awesome.

Limback Lumber is a great lumber yard. I often had to pick up wood wedges here for work and everyone was always friendly and processed my order quickly. An employee would always help carry the stacks of wood out to my car and put them into my trunk for me.
We have since found someone who donates the wood wedges to us for free, so I haven’t been back in about six months, but I would definitely return here if I needed any other sorts of wood products.

Excellent lumber yard. I needed a bunch of different moldings and they had everything I needed in stock, at a lower price than the big Box stores, and cut the pieces I needed cut very precisely and at no extra charge. They also have an excellent website with all of their products and prices available for your perusal.

Operating for over 80 years in Ballard, Limback is one of the few locally owned, old school lumber stores left around, and it is unlikely they won’t have something you need whether you’re a contractor or a weekend DIYer. Rather than leaving you to wander around trying to find assistance, you get a dedicated person to who takes your order, rings you up, helps you select your lumber, AND helps you load your stuff into your car or truck.
In addition to a large selection of lumber, sheet goods, fencing materials, roofing supplies, drywall, insulation, et cetera, they have a large selection of millwork, bulk fasteners, hardware, essential tools, ladders, and other things you probably forgot you needed before you got there. Plus they have free delivery and offer discounts on larger orders.
While Karl M points out the surliness of the employees, I’ve found them to be typically friendly, knowledgeable and businesslike (maybe that’s where the surliness was perceived?).
Pricewise, they are comparable to the big box stores, maybe a bit on the higher side for some items, but for me, the few cents more is well worth it, especially since it is supporting a locally owned business.
The only thing I’d like to see is later hours a couple days a week. While the weekday hours of 7 – 5 serves the contractor crew well, it forces the DIYer to hit the big box stores after work or wait until Saturday.

I like to support local, mom-​and-​pop-​style businesses and Limback fits the bill. They have really helpful and entertaining guys (haven’t seen many women working there) and they have enough basic hardware stuff so I don’t have to go to a chain.
They have a sufficient lumberyard right there so you can get your materials and go. Real contractors go there too so that’s a good sign.