Outlook brightens for southern pine industry

l\Tt* HoME coNSrRUCrroN is on the rebound, the I \ nation's employment picture is inching its way toward improvement, and lumber dealers are finally recovering from the disastrous impacts of the latest recession.

Measures of builder confidence have also been on the rise in recent months. With spotty increases in demand, lumberyards are coping with new sales strategies to invigorate monthly sales totals. There's a bit less market uncertainty lately; the lumber industry remains cautiously optimistic.

Estimates of total southern pine lumber shipments for

2013 hover around 15.5 billion bd. ft., nearly 87o above the 2012 volume and a promising l6Vo ahead of the 201I volume shipped. Though a return to historic 2005 highs of 1.7 million single-family starts and l9 billion bd. ft. shipped won't happen, market indicators suggest that 2014 could chalk up another year of increased annual shipments. Certainly, more promising days lie ahead for southern pine suppliers.

Through it all, the Southern Forest Products Association has supported southern pine lumber dealers and distributors with the tools they need to improve their sales and service customers. Whether it's providing span tables and design values, specification and construction guidelines, even outdoor project plans, SFPA has delivered promotional and sales support to lumber retailers for nearly 100 years.

Now Effective: New Design Values

In terms of impact on business, perhaps the biggest news for southern pine dealers and users last year was the announcement of new design values for all sizes and grades of visually graded southem pine dimension lumber that became effective June 1, 2013. It was the first major revision ofdesign values since 1991.

Southern pine's strength and stiffness is comparable to other softwood species used in residential and commercial construction. Southern pine users have many available product options, including visually graded dimension lumber and an increasing supply of mechanically graded lumber. From framing a house to building a deck, southern pine continues to be a dependable product with superior treatability against decay and termites.

The new design values apply only to new construction; the integrity of existing structures designed and built using design values meeting applicable building codes at the time of permitting does not change.

Southern pine users can find complete information about the new design values, as well as comparisons with other species and updated span tables by visiting www.southernpi ne.com.

"Everyone should be using the new design values now that the effective date has come and gone," said Cathy Kaake, SFPA's vice president of technical marketing.

Get Connected: SFPA.org

Lumber dealers need just one online source for all product information related to southern pine. SFPA's gateway, www.sfpa.org, provides convenient access to SFPA's comprehensive family of websites, dedicated to specific applications.

The flagship marketing site, www.southernpine.com. has recently been upgraded to include several new helpful features for lumber dealers. The popular Product Locator remains a dealer's easiest way to find suppliers from a listing of more than 400 products-all sizes, grades, profiles and other specifics are called out here. New to this locator is the ability to search for suppliers by state, resulting in a list of nearby southern pine manufacturers; complete contact information is provided.

Also new to the site is a Lumber Purchase Inquiry form, available right on the homepage. Here, any dealer or user can fill out a form of what they are looking for, indicate where they would like to have it delivered, submit the form to SFPA, and then receive responses from interested member suppliers.

The listing of updated span tables, based on the new design values for visually graded southern pine dimension lumber, has been remodeled to make a selection of any table easier and more intuitive. If customers have more questions about the new design values, SFPA provides a dedicated page on its site with all the related details and background information on this topic.

B uilding professionals and serious do-it-yourselfers wi ll appreciate the l0 project plans and information available inside the Outdoor & Garden Ideas section of the site. Each project plan listed is now formatted to standard 8.5"x11" sheets, making it quick and easy for dealers or their customers to download and print. The projects appeal to all levels of skill, from the very basic to the more advanced. Plans include lists of pressure-treated southem pine materials and tools required, plus detailed construction stepst illustrations cover every phase of assembly. This collection features three deck plans, backyard storage units, a playhouse, doghouse and childrens' picnic table, among others.

The Publications page contains SFPA's comprehensive Lumber Library. Here are more than two dozen titles to help dealers and their customers properly select and apply Southern Pine materials for the job at hand. A good place to start is the Southern Pine Use Guide, which includes grade descriptions, standard sizes, seasoning requirements, plus all design values. The Pocket Span Card has been updated to include the latest span information, including spans for using machine stress rated (MSR) lumber and machine evaluated lumber (MEL). Hard copies can be ordered from this page of the site. These cards are very popular with builders and building officials wanting a handy reference to spans on the jobsite. Other publications are available listing maximum spans for joists & rafters, plus size selection and allowable load tables for headers and beams. These authoritative booklets are all provided as free PDF downloads.

When the deck-building season gets underway this spring, nearly one million homeowners will build a deck or add on to the one they already have. Dealers can click over to www.southernpinedecks.com and find complete construction details and recommended practices for building decks and porches. Product selection, installation, finishing and maintenance tips-it's all here. Span tables for deck joists and beams and other details related to the new design values have been updated. SFPA also offers a helpful construction guide that dealers can use with professional deck builders and advanced do-it-yourselfers. Southern Pine Decks and Porches highlights the beauty, durability, comfort and value that pressure-treated southern pine materials bring to outdoor structures. This updated booklet covers the deck and porch building process from start to finish, compiling the latest information for the proper specification and use of treated southern pine materials for codeaccepted decks and porches. Porch construction details are provided as well, with tips on fasteners, finishes and proper maintenance. Handy tips are included to enhance the building process. Impressive deck and porch projects are illustrated throughout the booklet. Dealers and professionals already familiar with treated lumber can use this booklet as a refresher course in building techniques, or to acquaint a customer with the versatility and value of using real wood products for their new deck or porch.

Best Bet: Treated Southern Pine

It's a fact: the unique cellular structure of southern pine permits deep, uniform penetration of preservatives without incising, making it the preferred species for pressure treatment with the newest formulations of preservatives. No wonder that some 9OVo of all pressure treated lumber produced in the U.S. is southern pine. This material remains popular for decks and gazebos, plus marine applications such as fishing piers, bridges and walkways. And, of course, it's perfect for framing entire homes and other structures in areas of the country where excessive mois- ture, decay and termites can create problems.

Dealers can address customers' green building concerns by noting advances in wood preservation technology, creating new "earth-friendly" formulations that are now widely available. New code-approved preservatives include several micronized copper formulations, which reduce impact on marine or terrestrial environments and are less corrosive to fasteners. For the end-user, paints and stains also look better when applied to these materials. Borates are continuing to find growing popularity for wall plates and interior applications not exposed to continual moisture.

Whatever preservative is used, proper application of treated lumber is essential to long-term performance. Along with treaters and preservative manufacturers, SFPA reminds all users of treated materials that if the end tag indicates "Above Ground" use, then it is not intended to be used for "Ground Contact" applications, which includes lumber in contact with soil or fresh water.

"Lumber dealers can help prevent the misapplication of treated materials by educating their customers," advises Eric Gee, SFPA's director of treated markets business development. "Stair stringers and decks that are subjected to regular wetting, such as a hot tub platform, are good examples of where material treated to 'ground contact' specifications should be used."

SFPA offers a comprehensive technical guide all about choosing and using pressure treated southern pine. The new 2014 edition of SFPA's Pressure-Treated Southern Pine features a simplified specification guide as well as more detailed specification guidance, if needed. Also included is a table listing the commercial trade name under which each preservative is marketed and a corresponding product website for those wanting additional information. This new edition will be available soon as a free PDF download at southernpine.com.

New Labelinq: Treated Woo-d

The plastic end tag on each piece of treated southern pine lumber is being updated for easier identification. In a recent development, the treated wood industry adopted new labeling practices for preservativetreated lumber products that are in compliance with the International Building Code and International Residential Code. The new end tags have easily identifiable markings for both American Wood Protection Association Standard Ul and ICC Evaluation Service LLC preservativetreated wood products.

A Hiqher Standard: Rais6d Floors

SFPA continues its promotion of raised wood floor foundations, educating building professionals and consumers about the merits of building a raised home rather than one on a con- crete slab. Focus groups conducted by SFPA have confirmed that homeowners appreciate the look and enhanced curb appeal of a raised floor home. Lumber dealers can benefit from promoting raised wood floor systems, too; each framing package can add a third more lumber when a raised wood floor foundation is included. Developers are finding that a raised wood floor foundation is also the cost-effective solution for sloping lots that would otherwise require expensive fill. Remodeling projects and underfloor repairs are simplified with a raised floor foundation. Certainly, a raised wood floor foundation makes sense in flood-prone areas due to its inherent elevation advantage. It may also be the cost-effective approach in areas with poor soils. This type of foundation is easier and less expensive to level than a concrete slab if any shifting or subsidence does occurs.

SFPA provides the resources dealers need to maximize a customer's satisfaction with a raised wood floor foundation. The basic facts and features are outlined in a six-chapter video series accessed from the homepage of raisedfloorliving.com. A new section of this site highlighrs construction details for building homes with closed crawlspaces, explaining insulation details for optimizing energy efficiency. Helpful construction guides and promotional brochures can be downloaded from the publications page at southernpine.com, too.

Indoor Beautv: Southern Pin6 Patterns

While new home construction continues its recovery, repair and remodeling projects are keeping dealers' customers busy. And southern pine products are ideally suited for projects all around the home.

No matter the d6cor, southern pine flooring, available in a range of widths, grades and finishes, can enhance the look of any indoor space. Homeowners have discovered that a wood floor adds comfort and value, not to mention being a healthier, allergy-free alternative to carpeting.

Wall paneling and wood ceilings add a dramatic flair to all rooms of the home, providing another opportunity for any dealer to boost southern pine sales. Using the long lengths available, a customer can reduce splicing. Eye-catching clear or semi-transparent finishes draw attention to southern pine's distinctive grain. And best of all, wood is a natural insulator, contributing to the energy efficiency of the home.

When it comes time to know proper installation and maintenance tips, SFPA offers comprehensive guides for using both interior flooring and exterior porch flooring. Copies of Southern Pine Flooring and Southern Pine Patterns are available as free PDF downloads from the Publications page of southernpine.com. A two-parl video program covers installation of both materials from start to finish in a case study format. With a visit to SFPA's YouTube channel, southernpinelumber, dealers and their customers can view both instructional programs right on their laptop, on a tablet or smartphone (along with more than 30 other programs and updates).

Helpful Services for Dealers

With regular visits to southernpine.com, lumber dealers can invest in their future success by learning what's available to help themselves and their customers build with versatile, durable southern pine products. Today, the site is a dealer's top resource for answers to customers' questions, training salespeople, and for locating product suppliers. Sourcing hard-to-find items can be just a few mouse clicks away.

Complete information about SFPA and its programs and services available to the industry are presented online at the association's website, sfpa.org. SFPA continues to extend its social media reach, too. Dealers can follow SFPA on Twitter, @southern-pine, receiving news updates, enabling immediate access to information.

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