Good local yard for the basics, but double-check your delivery ticket
I’ve used Knecht Home Center (now Mead Lumber) a handful of times over the past year for smaller weekend projects and one bigger deck refresh.
Their yard staff in Rapid City are honestly the highlight. When I was trying to figure out what pressure-treated lumber I actually needed for the deck frame, the guy at the lumber desk took the time to walk me through the options and didn‘t make me feel like an idiot for asking basic questions. That kind of patience matters when you’re DIY and not a contractor.
Pricing on dimensional lumber and sheet goods is competitive with the big box stores in town, sometimes a couple bucks cheaper on 2x6s if you catch a decent batch. The shed-grade plywood I grabbed was usable but definitely not pretty — wavy edges and a few voids, which I expected for the price point but worth mentioning if you're doing anything finish-grade.
The biggest headache I ran into was delivery timing on a larger order. I placed an order for decking boards, balusters, and some hardware and was quoted a delivery window between 9:00 a.m. and noon on a Friday. By 1:30 p.m. nothing had shown up and I had to call the office twice to get an update. The truck did eventually arrive around 2:15 p.m., and the driver was apologetic, but it chewed up half my afternoon. When I went through the pile, I found the 2-1/4" deck screws I'd ordered got swapped for a different brand at the same gauge, which was usable but not what I paid for. I decided it wasn't worth chasing a return over a box of fasteners, but it reinforces the need to verify orders before signing off.
On the positive side, their concrete and masonry selection is solid for a yard this size, and they stock a nice variety of retaining wall block in colors that actually complement the Black Hills aesthetic. I picked up a dozen Belmont blend blocks for a small garden wall project and the color match across pallets was excellent — way better than what I'd seen at the national chains.
I'm rating three stars because the in-store help is great, prices are fair, but the delivery experience and small order error left a bad taste. I'll probably still use Knecht for quick runs on common materials, but for anything I need delivered on a tight schedule, I'd have a backup plan. Good local company overall, just room for improvement on the logistics side.