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

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.
Build the two A-frame leg/seat assemblies on a flat surface first, then attach the tabletop.
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.
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.