5 Things to Know Before Buying Power Poles For Sale

Wood poles are still a very commonly used option within the utility industry.

Click here to get more.

But recently, lumber prices have been on the rise.

Near the end of , lumber prices went up for11 out of 13weeks in North America.

Historically, wood poles and utility poles have been less expensive than materials like steel and concrete. They have been a cost-effective solution that’s worked well for dozens of years.

So, are wood poles still the most affordable option for a utility company?

Today, we’ll dive deeper into the current wood utility pole prices.

About Wood Utility Poles

Cedar and pine are common types of wood used for utility poles. The companies often opt for the stems of these trees, since they meet the necessary design standards for supporting and utility lines.

In the United States, a standard utility pole is roughly 40 feet long. In some cases, poles may be up to 120 feet.

The Cost of a Pole

When poles sustain damage from natural disasters or accidents, they call for replacement. However, the cost of utility poles can vary immensely.

In general, a standard 40-foot utility pole made from wood costs between $250 and $400 depending on several factors. Of course, sometimes you can get a single pole for less or more than that range.

A good example is these prices from3bTimber. For treated poles, they charge:

• 25’ Class 5- $275

• 30’ Class 4- $350

• 30’ Class 5- $325

• 35’ Class 4- $400

• 35’ Class 5-$375

• 40’ Class 5- $475

Factors that Influence the Cost of Wood Utility Poles

As mentioned, the actual price of a wood pole can vary immensely. Here are some of the primary considerations that dictate the price:

Individual vs Contractor

As an individual looking to buy one (or a few) wood poles, you’ll likely pay more than a contractor. Many pole providers offer discounts to contractors. This helps them build a long-term relationship where the contractor continues to turn to them for new poles when projects arise.

You can see on the 3bTimber website how the prices vary for an individual vs contractor. For example, the 25’ Class 5 treated pole is $10 less for a contractor.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Hongrui Technology.

Treated vs Untreated

Treated wood costs more than untreated wood. In fact, untreated wood can be significantly cheaper. This is because it costs money for companies to treat the wood, so they must sell it at a higher price.

Despite the price difference, many utility companies opt for treated wood, because it’s necessary for utility projects. Treated poles last much longer and endure the elements better. If you purchase untreated wood, you will need to pay and arrange for treatment on your own.

Size

While the average utility pole is 40’, they do come in several sizes. Depending on your project, you may need poles that are longer or shorter than 40’.

Price varies based on the size of the pole. As you may guess, larger poles will cost more than smaller ones.

Wood Market

The overall state of the lumber market does impact the cost of wood utility poles. When wood prices are lower, the cost of wood poles is lower. When lumber costs are high, like now, you’ll often find utility pole prices that are well above the average.

Installation

The cost of installation is typically what drives the price of utility poles way up. In reality, a wood utility pole is only a few hundred dollars. However, installing the pole can cost up to $6,000 or more.

Are Wood Poles Worth It?

Despite rising lumber prices, wood poles are still more affordable than other materials. While there are pros and cons to each type of utility pole, treated wood still has a long lifespan.

Furthermore, if you only need to replace a few poles it makes the most sense to replace them with the same material. This is part of the reason why so many utility companies still use wood poles.

An Affordable Pole Hauling Solution

Another consideration for the cost of utility poles is the cost to transport them. Thanks to their massive size and weight, your average truck won’t work.

For an affordable, quality pole hauling solution, turn to Blackwood Resources. Using our specialized hauling trucks and equipment, we can handle your wood pole, steel pole, concrete pole, and transformer hauling needs.

Our certified women-owned trucking company provides asset-based service. We don’t hire companies to haul, we do the hauling. We own all of our own equipment and directly employ our team of trucks drivers. Best yet, we also unload all of the materials for you at your job site.

Here are the top three reasons – Money, Availability, and Recycling/Reusing.

Trying to save a few bucks on your pole barn and don’t care about longevity or ease of use, then used utility poles may be the answer. Most people, who are going to invest an average of $50,000 into a new building, prefer to have a design solution which can be relied upon however.

As discussed in my recent articles, most utility poles are replaced due to decay issues. Oil based preservative treatments (like penta or creosote) are affected by time and gravity. As the treatment chemicals wear thin at the ground line, decay begins to occur and the utility company replaces the pole. In an attempt to reuse the poles, the portion which was at the former ground line (the decay zone) should be cutoff and properly disposed of in a landfill. This leaves the remainder of the pole being the portion with little or no treatment chemical remaining.

If one of these poles happens to rot in a new pole barn, the cost to replace it will be more than what was initially “saved”, even if the poles were free.

Building a pole building which requires a structural review of the plans? (In my humble opinion, all plans should be so reviewed.) Building officials are probably not going to “buy in” to the use of used utility poles. Why? There is no way to determine if what remains will meet with the minimum code requirements for preservative treatment.

Fully enclosed building? Many will find the odors of oil based chemicals to be an issue, not to mention having the chemicals continuing to leech from the posts. Even the CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) treated pole can no longer be used in residential applications due to EPA (Environment Protection Agency) regulations.

Ease of use – used utility poles are round and tapered. In order to place them in a building so dimensional lumber can be properly affixed, the sides of the pole which will be attached to, are best cut to a flat surface. Besides complexity, this also adds the issues of hazardous chemicals being placed into the air, both as fumes and in the sawdust. Dealing with the taper, means the poles will not be set plumb, in relationship to the actual center of the pole, but will instead be leaning outward, so the outside face is vertical. This may be less of an issue, unless an interior finish of some sort is to be added at a later date.

Many utility companies have used poles laying around – they are not easily disposed of, as they should be taken to a landfill and buried as hazardous waste. This makes the utilities all too happy to either give them away, or to sell them at what seems to be a bargain.

And, while I am all for recycling and reusing, this is just one place where it does not make sense from a practical or economic standpoint.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Power Poles For Sale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.