When you’ve spent more than three decades in a Vermont lumberyard, you start to recognize patterns: what works, what fails, and what homeowners often wish they had done differently.
Dave Prior has spent 31 years at Rice Lumber helping homeowners and builders plan smarter projects, from decks and additions to full home builds. Over that time, he’s become a trusted resource for practical advice, deep product knowledge, and thoughtful problem-solving that helps prevent costly mistakes.
This post introduces Dave, his experience, and the core principles he’s learned after decades in the industry. In upcoming posts, we’ll dive deeper into specific topics like decking, railings, windows, and planning for future additions, all through Dave’s insight and perspective.
Dave’s philosophy is simple: smart building starts with planning, product knowledge, and experience, not just price.
After 31 years at Rice Lumber, Dave says the biggest problems homeowners run into usually have nothing to do with motivation or effort. Instead, they stem from decisions being made too late or without enough information.
"Planning the whole project out makes life a lot easier for everybody."
Over the years, Dave has seen countless projects slow down or stall once construction is already underway. Couples disagree on finishes, flooring, or layouts. Contractors are forced to leave the job while decisions are being made. By the time they return, timelines and budgets are already off track.
“I mean I’ve seen hundreds of couples always get along good until the building is usually about three-quarters of the way through and then one or the other is holding the project up, because the decisions they don’t want to make. (For example the) type of hardwood, what color of hardwood, you know the type of flooring, the finishes, paints."
For Dave, experience is not just about knowing materials. It is about anticipating these moments before they happen. Helping homeowners plan early keeps projects moving, reduces stress, and avoids unnecessary costs.
Over the years, Dave has supported thousands of customers with decks, additions, and full homes. Certain lessons come up again and again, especially when it comes to decks.
“I see the same mistakes repeated for decades. It’s not because people don’t care, it’s because no one explained it to them ahead of time.”
Dave is quick to explain that composite decking behaves very differently than traditional pressure-treated lumber or cedar.
“Composite deck boards are not as structural as the old PT (pressure treated) or cedar. So the main thing that you have to do is basically frame it 12” on center rather than 16”."
"Because it’s not as structural, it will dip in between the joists. So it’s very important to do that and it’s very important to do cross bracing near the doors and stairs, the heavily trafficked areas."
Composite Decking Advice from Dave:
2. Not All Composite Decking Is the Same
One of the biggest challenges Dave sees today isn’t choosing composite decking it’s understanding which composite decking you’re actually buying. Dave explains that composite decking isn’t a single product category. At Rice Lumber alone, homeowners will encounter multiple brands, each with different performance characteristics.
“It’s really confusing, the different composite deckings, because we carry three or four different types. One is straight composite, one is composite wrapped with PVC on the tops and sides only, one is completely wrapped, and the last one is all PVC.”
Some composite boards are solid, while others are scalloped or cut out underneath. Without proper picture framing, those cutouts remain visible.
“I see some that are cut out underneath, which is okay for some things, but you’ve got to picture frame it. If you don’t picture frame it, you’re going to see the scalloping on the edges and stair ends."
Early composite products, he says, performed very differently than what’s available today. He had experience with one of the first line of composite deckings and said it was difficult to clean; if something was spilled on the deck you couldn't wash it off.
Modern composite decking has come a long way, but Dave stresses that the only way to choose the right product is to work with someone who truly understands how each option is made, installed, and finished.
“So the new decks, obviously there's a dozen different brands of them, but the thing to be watching out for as a consumer is you want to research a little bit and buy from places such as Rice because they could explain the differences and what would happen."
Choosing the right composite decking isn’t about picking a name, it’s about matching the right material to the right application.
When homeowners ask about railing systems, Dave often steers the conversation toward safety especially for families with young children.
Dave's years in the business have taught him a thing or two about children and how they interact with spaces. He explains that cable systems create gaps that kids naturally want to explore. Dave also points out that horizontal rail systems are climbable, which make them more dangerous too.
“I would not recommend cable railing for young kids just because they will put their head in between because that’s something they can do and they thinks it’s fun. Or they will jump up and down on it, loosen up the railings, and you’ll have to keep tightening them up."
"And anything that’s horizontal, is climbable, which is dangerous so the vertical bars are the best way to go."
While this may seem like common sense, for someone who has never built a deck or installed railing, these are easy details to overlook.
For Dave, layout is the most important part of any deck or home project. He encourages homeowners to bring in dimensions, stair locations, and even sketches to give a visual of what they're trying to put together.
“The layout is the most important thing.”
“They should bring in their dimensions where the want the stairs and so forth and we can help them design the decking and the railings so they match up”
Dave explains that even small adjustments, like shortening a deck slightly to allow for proper overhang, can make a big difference in how the finished project looks and performs.
One of the most valuable lessons Dave shares comes from seeing what happens when future plans aren’t considered. For example, say you're building a house and want to install a deck in the future you must consider what the deck will need to save you time and money.
"Okay well one thing when you build, put your ledger board in and you can add the deck to it afterwards so you don’t have to reframe everything.”
Without a ledger board installed during initial construction, adding a deck later often means removing siding, plywood, and reframing entire sections of the house.
Dave also stresses planning for window and door placement.
"But the other thing is if you’re going to put a deck there, you don’t want those awning windows there, you don’t want those casements there, you’re going to run right into them. You've gotta have double hungs or sliders on that deck, so plan ahead."
Planning ahead, he says, saves time, money, and frustration down the road.
Why Dave Chose to Spend His Career at Rice Lumber
Dave has worked in both the original Rice Lumber yard located directly off Shelburne Road and the current location at the top of the hill, and he says that change is a big reason he stayed.
He remembers the early days clearly.
“You’d have to walk down the stairs, grab fifty pounds of nails, throw them over your shoulder, walk back up."
When helping customers load up 2x4's, "you’ve gotta take a sledge hammer with you to pound on them and break them up in the winter time".
Today’s Rice Lumber is a completely different experience.
“It’s modern, it’s easy to get in and out of, it’s handicap accessible. The showroom is huge but the hardware section is phenomenal. It’s a one stop shop for building your home. You can get your hardwood flooring now, you’ve got the best brand of windows in Andersen that you can get."
Dave emphasizes that what truly sets Rice apart isn’t just the facility, it’s the knowledge.
“You can walk into a Lowes, but you’re not going to get the product knowledge that we have here so that’s huge."
After 31 years in the lumber industry, Dave’s advice remains simple:
"So before you build your house, come in here."
Whether you’re building a deck, planning a home addition, or starting new construction in Vermont, talking with an experienced lumberyard professional can save time, money, and frustration.
Before you build, talk to someone who’s seen it all.
Visit Rice Lumber and work with any of our knowledgeable pros who help homeowners and builders plan smarter, from the first sketch to the final board.