Most homeowners have never heard of 84 Lumber — and that’s by design. While Home Depot and Menards serve the general public, 84 Lumber built its business around professional contractors and builders. For deck contractors working in Aurora and the Fox Valley, the Naperville location is a go-to source for pro-grade framing lumber, engineered beams, and the kind of jobsite delivery service that keeps projects on schedule.
This page is part of our local guide to where deck contractors source materials in the Aurora area.
84 Lumber – Naperville (Store #806)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1704 N Aurora Rd, Naperville, IL 60563 |
| Phone | (630) 355-8420 |
| Fax | (630) 355-2342 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sat 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Closed Sunday |
| Website | 84lumber.com |
The store sits on North Aurora Road in Naperville, just a few minutes east of the Aurora border. It serves contractors across Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, North Aurora, Batavia, and the surrounding Fox Valley area.
Why Deck Contractors Use 84 Lumber
84 Lumber is the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, with over 320 facilities across 34 states. Unlike big-box home centers, their business model is built around serving trade professionals. For deck contractors, that translates into a few practical advantages:
- Better lumber grading. The framing stock at 84 Lumber is selected for the pro market. You’re more likely to find straight, clean 2×10s and 2×12s — the kind of boards that make framing go smoothly — compared to what’s typically available at retail home centers.
- Knowledgeable staff. Associates at 84 Lumber understand construction. They can talk through span tables, beam sizing, and material takeoffs in ways that retail store employees generally can’t.
- Contractor pricing. 84 Lumber offers trade pricing, volume discounts, and account billing. For contractors buying materials across multiple deck projects, the savings add up.
- Reliable jobsite delivery. Same-day delivery is available based on scheduling. Their fleet includes trucks designed for hauling long lumber — 16-foot joists and 20-foot beams delivered directly to your backyard.
What Deck Contractors Source at 84 Lumber
Pressure-Treated Framing Lumber
The core of every residential deck is pressure-treated (PT) lumber. 84 Lumber stocks the full range of dimensional PT that deck contractors use for structural framing:
- 2×8, 2×10, and 2×12 joists in lengths from 8 feet through 20 feet
- 4×4 and 6×6 posts for deck support columns
- 2×10 and 2×12 rim and ledger boards
- 2×6 decking boards (for contractors who use PT lumber as the walking surface rather than composite)
Longer lengths — 18-foot and 20-foot joists, for example — are often hard to find in stock at retail stores but are more readily available through pro suppliers like 84 Lumber. This matters for larger deck builds where longer spans reduce the number of support beams needed.
LVL Beams and Engineered Wood Products
This is where 84 Lumber really separates itself from the big-box stores. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams are engineered wood products that are stronger, straighter, and more consistent than traditional dimensional lumber. For deck projects, LVL beams are used when:
- You need to span a longer distance between posts than doubled 2×12s can handle
- The deck design calls for fewer posts (for example, to keep the area under the deck open for storage or walkthrough access)
- The municipality’s building code requires engineered beams for elevated or large-footprint decks
84 Lumber stocks LVL in multiple depths (commonly 9¼”, 11⅞”, and 14″) and can special-order custom sizes. They also carry I-joists and can coordinate with their network of engineers and manufacturers for complete structural packages — though this level of engineering is more common in new home construction than in typical deck projects.
If you’re considering an elevated or multi-level deck and want to understand how different structural approaches affect your material choices, our overview of how builders evaluate materials for different deck applications covers the decision-making process from the contractor’s perspective.
Decking and Additional Materials
While 84 Lumber is best known for framing and structural products, the Naperville location also carries:
- Composite and wood decking products
- Deck fasteners and structural connectors (including Simpson Strong-Tie)
- Railing systems
- Concrete accessories
- Flashing and waterproofing products
That said, most contractors who shop at 84 Lumber for framing will source their composite decking surface through a different supplier — either a big-box store for Trex and TimberTech, or a specialty dealer like Alexander Lumber in Aurora for premium composite lines. It’s common for a single deck project to involve materials from two or three different suppliers.
How 84 Lumber Differs From Home Centers
| Factor | 84 Lumber | Big-Box Home Centers |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Customer | Professional contractors and builders | General public and DIYers |
| Lumber Quality | Pro-grade, hand-selected stock | #2 grade, self-service yard |
| Engineered Wood (LVL) | In stock with custom-order options | Limited or special-order only |
| Pricing Model | Trade pricing, account billing | Retail pricing, loyalty programs |
| Jobsite Delivery | Same-day available, long-lumber capable | Available with scheduling, varies by store |
| Staff Expertise | Construction-focused, can discuss span tables | General home improvement knowledge |
| Weekend Hours | Sat 8am–12pm, closed Sunday | Full hours 7 days/week |
| Open to Public? | Yes — open to everyone | Yes |
Can Homeowners Shop at 84 Lumber?
Yes. Despite its pro-focused reputation, 84 Lumber stores are open to the public. If you’re a DIY homeowner building your own deck, you can walk in and buy materials. The staff will help you find what you need, and the lumber quality will likely be a step up from what you’d find at a retail store.
That said, the experience is different from a Home Depot or Menards. There’s no self-service lumber yard — an associate will help pull your order. Hours are more limited (closed Sundays, early close on Saturdays), and the product selection is focused on construction materials rather than general home improvement.
For homeowners who are researching composite decking options for hot summer conditions, a big-box store with display boards may be a better starting point for the surface material. But when it comes to the structural bones of your deck — the posts, beams, and joists that hold everything up — 84 Lumber is hard to beat on quality.
Why Material Quality Matters for Your Deck
When your contractor sources framing lumber from a pro supplier, the benefits show up in ways you might not immediately see but will appreciate over time:
- Straighter boards mean a flatter deck surface. Warped or twisted joists create an uneven decking surface — no amount of composite can fix a bad frame.
- Fewer defects mean fewer callbacks. Cracked or split framing members can fail over time, especially in the freeze-thaw cycles that Aurora experiences every winter.
- Engineered beams don’t shrink or crown. LVL beams maintain their dimensions over time, which is especially important for elevated decks where even minor settling can affect the structure.
Planning a Deck in Aurora or the Fox Valley?
Platinum Decking sources materials from trusted pro suppliers — including 84 Lumber — to build decks that are structurally sound and built to last in Illinois weather. Call (224) 634-4345 or visit platinumdecking.com to discuss your project.