# Picnic table — real material prices, and whether building still makes sense (25 Oct 2026)

## The cut list priced at today's Home Depot Canada prices
| Item | Qty | Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated 2x6x12 (Stella-Jones, above-ground) | 7 | $24.72 | $173.04 |
| Pressure-treated 2x4x8 | 3 | $11.20 | $33.60 |
| Pressure-treated 2x2x8 | 1 | $6.87 | $6.87 |
| **Lumber subtotal** | | | **$213.51** |

Add the two things people forget:
- **Screws**: 100 × 2-1/2" exterior/deck screws. A 1 lb box will not cover an A-frame table with 8 seats —
  buy the **5 lb box (~$45)**. Hot-dipped galvanized only, per the lumber warranty note.
- **Stain or water sealer**: one gallon covers a 6-ft table and benches (~$35-45).

**All-in: about $265-$305.** That is $35.44 per seat for an 8-seat table.

## The comparison that changes the decision
A ready-made 6-ft picnic table at Home Depot runs **~$250-400**. So **building saves roughly $0-$100 and costs
4-6 hours plus a second pair of hands.** If the only goal is a table in the yard, buying is the rational
choice. The build only wins on three real points:
1. **2x6 pressure-treated top** — most sub-$300 retail tables use 1"-thick fir slats that warp in two winters.
2. **Repairable and re-stainable** — you can replace one board instead of the table.
3. **It seats 8** at 6 ft with the A-frame overhang; most retail 6-ft tables seat 6.

## Two things that will bite on the day
- **Stock.** The Home Depot listing showed the 2x6x12 PT **"Out of Stock Online — 0 at check nearby stores"**
  at the time I checked. Do not plan the build around a delivery date that has not been confirmed. Alternative
  for the 2x6x12 PT: **Peacock Lumber, $19.30/piece, in stock** — 7 boards = **$135.10**, which is **$37.94
  cheaper** than Home Depot and worth the drive.
- **Cutting 12-ft boards.** Seven 12-ft boards will not fit in the Odyssey with the third row up. The yard
  cuts to the cut list for free or a nominal charge — have them cut to final lengths at the store, not "in
  half", so the lengths match the plan.

## Sequence that avoids rework
1. Stain or seal **every board before assembly** — especially the end grain, which is where rot starts and
   where you cannot reach after it is screwed together. Touch up cut ends afterward.
2. Build the **two A-frame leg/seat assemblies on a flat surface first**, then attach the tabletop.
3. **Measure both diagonals of the top** and adjust until they match — that is the only way to get it square
   without a framing square big enough.
4. Shim the legs on uneven ground rather than trimming them; a table that rocks gets a wobbly reputation and
   never gets fixed.

Sources: homedepot.ca pressure-treated lumber category pages (2x6x12 PT $24.72; 2x4x8 PT $11.20; 2x2x8 PT
$6.87, checked 25 Oct 2026); peacocklumber.ca 2x6x12 PT $19.30.