Building Products Digest - May 2003

UILDING PNOOUCTS DIGES"

EnviroSafe Plus" Wood Preservative

'Enhancing

the quality of treated wood"@

A Borate-Based Presenative Effective for Under-Roof & Most Erterior

EnviroSafe Plus'"

EnviroSafe Plus'" is an environmentally safe & effective pressure-treating wood preservative that provides a wide range of unique value-added benefits:

. Effective for All Above-Ground Residential Applications - Indoors & 0utdoors

r Protection Against Wood-Destroying Insects (Including Formosan Termites)

Protection Against Decay Fungi (Rot)

. Inhibits Growth of Mold / Mildew

Retains Wood's Natural Color (No Discoloration from I|eatment)

. Safe for Humans, Animals & the Environment (No Arsenic / No Heavy Metals)

. Non-Combustible / Flame Retardant Properties

. Increases Stability ofWood - Increases Durability/ Reduces Splitting & Warping / Dries Quicker

. Maintains Wood's Natural Stren$h

r Maintains Fastener & Connector Holding

Strength

o Reduces Nail & Fastener Pop-0uts

Non-Corrosive to Nails. Fasteners & Connectors

. Minimizes Tooling Wear

. 20+ Year Service Life, even in Exterior Environments

Applicable to Dimensional Lumber & Wood-Based Panels

. Applicable to Most Widely Used Wood Species

Cost-Effective

o Lower Weight (Up to 25% Less Than Other Tlpes of l}eated Wood)

o Available at tho Minimum Retention Levels: .175 pcf (Standard) or .28 pcf (Formosan Termite Regions)

. Lifetime Limited Warranty

The EnvlroSafe Plus'" Solutlon

Envlrosafo plucrx wood presenrative is a rwolutiona,ry patented technologr that combines a high[ efrective, safe and wide$ used pesticide - DOI borates - with a pmprieta,ry bindfu system thal fu6t€s the borafes within the wood for decades ofprotection against irsects, rot and other forms ofbiological degradation. Envlro$afa Pluorx contains no arsenic, no ammoni&, no copper, no ehrcmiurn and no other heavy metals, which raise health, envimnmental and disposal concerns.

Componu*I: DtIhruIa

Ilre active preservative ingredient in EnvlroSafe Plusrv

is boron, an inorganic element that occurs natura[y thmughout the world. Boron has been used a.s a wood presen"ative since the 1930s for protection against rot, fungus, mold, termites, carpenter ants, wood borers, roaches, fleas, silverfish and other pests. The form ofbomn most commonly used for wood presewation is Disodium 0ctaborate Tetrahydrate (D0f). Boron derivatives are also widely used in consumer products such as detergents, eyewash, adhesives and cosmetics, and are used industrially as conosion inhibitors.

Borates are ha,mless to humans, other mamna\ and the envimnment. In fact, they are an essential mineral for all vascular plants as well as an important component of human nutrition (Wfl0, 1906). However, boratesputicularly the DOI uriety - are lethal to ineeds and other pesb. DOf does not protect by poisoning, but rather by interfering with insects' ability to metabolize food, and by casing enrymatic rcartions with tugi rendering tircm uruble to gow or reproduce. In addition to their protection against fuNects and fungi, borates a^re also inhertnt$ fre retrrdrnt Borates have the added benefit of being invisible nhen applled to wood producte for preoen'stion.

Aftpr decades of eommercial use, la.rgely in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, the U.S. EPA, has determined that boric acid and its salts (including D0tf) show no evidence of carcinogenicity; do not break down into in€frective byproducts; and do not evaporate to negatircV afrect indoor air qudity. And, even though they are water soluble, they do not havel far in the ewimnmentespecially in soil - re-cryttallizing when the water evaporates, To date, borates have been used extenshreSfor topical (surface-only) applications on wood, and increasingly for '\rholehouse heatment" in tle westem U.S. and Hawaii.

Despite their many aduantages, borates have historically sufrered from one m{or drawback theya,re prcne to rapid leaching fum wood wften erposed to signiffcant levels ol moisturc. and have thercfore been unsuitable for exterior applicatioru, until now.,.

Conponant II: Pdentd tliliete Ntrdttq futtu t fire EnvlrcSafe p1u5ru pstpnt€d Silicate Binding System is the key to the product's longltem deefioneeg ln exterior em'ironmenb. During the prcssur€ treahnent process, the binder combines with DOT borateswithin the wood - causing "fuetionn of the borates tlroughout, and thercWprovidfu high levels of protection from insects and decay for decades. Numerous tests have bwn peformed on EnvlroSafe plusrx treated wood to confirm the continued pnesence and performance of its DOt borates, even after being subjected to repea,ted and edended e;posure to rain, hot and cold temperaturc €xtr€meq drying, W and infrared ra;n and other outdoor conditions. Silicates a^re non-toxic - having a toxicity profile about the same as regula,r glass. They are also used industrhl$ as conosion inhibitors.

llw Flml Prc&rd: EnvlroSafe Aug- llwtd M

Envlro$afe Plurru txeated wood is huly unique. It is entircf non-toxic, and naintairs the natural color and beauty ofwood. It has dimensional sta,bility, which rtduces warping, cracking, and splitting, and maintrains wood's natural strength. It h8s flame & smoke retardant prcperties, inhibits the growth of mold & mildew, and is formulated with non-conosive chemicals. For these reasoru and many others, EnvlrcSafc Pludrx is he wood preeennftrc of the lhre!

EnviroSafe Plus'" Applicr

EnviroSafe Plus" is effective for a variety of above-ground treated applications, including:

. Decking Fencing

. Residential & Commercial Framing

o RoofTfusses

r Floor Tlusses

Wall Panels

r Sill Plates

Playgmunds / Recreational Structures

. Picnic Thbles

r Outdoor Furniture

o Gazebos & Shelters

o Railings

o Sheathing & Fascia Boards

o tog Homes

. UtiliW Buildings

o Whole-House lteatment

EPA Regishation No. 66706-1-7

How to Order

EnvlroSafe Plus'" Tleated

EnviroSafe Plus'" treated wood is available exclusively through licensed independent wood treating firms, includ

Cook Lumber Company

Tbmpa, FL

Phone: (813) 626-1411

EcoSafe Wood Tfeaters

Greenville, SC

Phone: (864) 289-9493

Northeast Tleaters

Belchertown, MA

Phone: (413) 323-?811

More authorized treaters coming this Spring and Summer!

EnviroSafe Wood Tbeatment hoducb, 6000-29 Daniels Parkway, #102 Fort Myers, Ft 38912

Phone: 239-768-6248 Fax 280-768-0164

www. eswoodtreatnent.com

tF YOU WANT AN EDGE, YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR tT.

Think alt lumber's the same? Think again. That's why from forest to mitl to lumber yard, here at Canfor, we do everything we can to consistently deliver the highest quality lumber. Like using the latest laser technotogy, optimally kiln-drying it, and carefully wrapping it. Why? So when you demand a higher level of [umber, you'll get the competitive edge you're tooking for.

Bvn ntNe Pnonucrs Drcosr

Seruing bullding products retailers 8L uholesale distributors in 16 Southern states

$eel lroming sfill not o sleql

Despite heody predictions, steel $uds hove yet to moke o serious dent in new home construction.

Softwore mokes deck design eosy

Ne*p'ogror simplifies estimoiing ond ordering process.

Selecring the riolt vinyl de*ing

Whot to look for in o olo$ic deck svstem.

Use coulion in relocusing your brand

Anolyze the risls before oltering estobiiihed businesses.

20m lBm Sofiwore Repoil

ir,hnoiost ue;ioii ui'ueti ihlii lotest products.

W.estern red rgd-ar producers fi_ght bock ogflint!- ryIthetics

Aggressive morketing compoign oims to recloim territory in competitive decking morket.

Copirol affoir: lexos deolers Gonvene in lustin

BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is published monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newporl Beach, Ca. 92660-1872, (949) 852-1990, FM 949-852-0231, www.building-products.com, by Cutler Publishing, lnc. (a Califomia Corporation). lt is an independently-owned publication lor building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 16 southern states. Copyright@2003 by Cutler Publishing, Inc. Cover and entire contents are lully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. AII Rights Beserved. Building Products Digest reserves the right to accept or reiect any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liabilily lor materials furnished to it.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label from recent issue, new address and nine-digit zip code.

UR COM EGK SOURC

Mev 2003 Burr,orrc Pnooucls Dlcns'r

ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@aol.com

High Performance Retailing

As the war with Iraq winds down, entering a mop up and rebuild mode, perhaps we can now take this monkey off our backs. The economic news seems to be positive these past days, with housing up 8Vo in March over February, consumer spending holding up and inflation steady.

As I travel around and speak with dealers, I'm delighted to hear so many doing great business. In one past life I was in the book industry where we publishers sat and watched the demise of the independent dealer. They just could not compete against the Barnes & Nobles and Borders Books of this world. We watched as on Main Street after Main Street, independent booksellers closed down.

While the big boxes have made an impact, many LBM dealers have risen to the challenge to create solid highperforming businesses. Many consumers, as well as the builder community, have found that there are alternatives that provide better knowledgeable service, comparable pricing, and reliable after-sales help.

As in any industry, every retailer would like higher margins. While commodity prices have remained low, high-performance dealers have been able to increase margins that have provided ROI's of 9-lOVo by offering an ever increasing assortment of product. However, one recent report suggests that the top independents are further increasing their profit perfor-

mance over the rest of the pack with very healthy ROI's well in excess of 20Vo. This increase would appear to come from being able to achieve higher gross margins than their counterparts, while not necessarily indicating that they have been able to grow sales at any faster rate.

Many factors impact profitability at the retail level or any business for that matter. Having a high ROI, generally suggests that a business can afford to see a drop in performance and still not have to face any difficult business issues-a great cushion in a difficult time. However, under that same premise, a healthy cash flow better positions a business to expand and capitalize on market opportunities.

Better performing stores generally achieve a 2O-30Vo greater floor sales productivity than poorer performing stores, while at the same time achieving higher inventory turns, higher sales per employee, higher gross margins, lower receivables and a lower payroll percentage of revenue. Keep these ratios steadily improving, in line or better than average industry ratios, the better the opportunity to compete.

Locally, I've been impressed how retailers are effectively competing with the big boxes. Fliers and specials in my newspaper, trained and enthusiastic inside and outside sales teams, classes, competitive prices, friendly and knowledgeable service, accessibility, an ever-widening range of services along with one-stop shopping, all drive a business as a destination store. In other words, by offering value, they can compete more than effectively.

The lifetime value of every customer won and lost can dramatically impact business results. The biggest tangible lost in statistics, is the quality and the motivation of employees. Their knowledge to save customers time and money are invaluable in differentiating a business from all the rest. Getting people to walk into the store is only part of the battle, getting them to purchase, and more importantly giving them enough "customer delight" to bring them back over and over again is the key. Yet, a recent survey of all businesses suggests 557o of all employees are intensely negative about their job and company. Now think that these same people might be the first impression a potential customer gets of your business. Hmmm...

P.S. Ever wonder why they are called apartments when they are all stuck together?

It's a bold clairu. but here are the facts:

CorrectDeck is made from polypropylene, not polyethylene. lt is 5 times stiffer than other composites and less prone to heat distortion.

CorrectDeck does not expand or contract as much as polyethylene based composites and is more slip resistant, wet or dry.

You want rtrore?

CorrectDeck's natural looking wood surface is hot roller embossed, not abraded. Our resin-rich surface offers superior wear resistance, is cooler underfoot and offers outstanding moisture resistance.

CorrectDeck is the easiest composite decking to install.

CorrectDeck's solid cross-section looks and installs like lumber.

CorrectDeck Signature, edge grooved to accept the patent pending

Correct.TY, is the easiest to install hidden fastener system available.

Grow your business with CorrectDeck.

Four great colors Excellent marketing support 25 year warranty

Steel frqming slill nol q steql

f-TONSUMERS who are offered a choice of paper or \-,plastic at the grocery store may one day be able to choose between wood or steel framing at the lumberyard.

"Once we see steel studs on the Home Depot shelves, we'll know that steel framing has officially arrived," says one Houston. Tx.. builder.

Opponents also claim steel studs typically are more expensive than wood. Jerry Huckeba, owner of steel framing manufacturer Steel Tree Inc., Willis, Tx., balks: "There are a lot of myths out there. People have heard that steel framing costs much more than wood when, in fact, the prices are comparable-especially when all the costs are considered."

Nevertheless, as long as lumber prices remain low, most buyers don't see ample incentive to make the switch. Steel supporters admit that that situation has slowed-but not stopped-them from taking market share. They point to noticeable in-roads into states with tropical climates, such as Florida. Alabama. Hawaii and Texas-and discussions in some states to mandate steel frame construction for public safety.

Currently, less than 5Vo of all U.S. homes are framed in steel. Still, that represents 3OO7o growth over the last four years. Yet Vickie Jones estimates that the number of inquiries her Texas Steel Framing Alliance receives from seriously interested builders and homeowners has risen 1007o in the past year.

Proponents say light-gauge steel framing has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than wood; it resists insects and fire; is recyclable, and will not warp, shrink or rot. Builders also appreciate the precision angles and reduced on-site waste steel framing can provide.

Critics point to the unfamiliarity with steel by contractors, home builders, architects and engineers. A majority of lumber framing crews are untrained to install steel framing, they maintain.

Organizations, such as the Texas Steel Framing Alliance, are committed to working with technical schools and providing continuing education to bridge the gap. As well, new tool designs are under development to make the equipment and the process for installing wood and metal more compatible. Some manufacturers offer steel home-building kits or software for estimating steel framing specifications.

Ready access can be a problem since currently so much steel framing is made to order. "If there are changes to the order, you may have to wait days or weeks to get the part," says Bryon A. Parffrey, a certified instructor for Builders Academy.com.

Says the owner of a recently-built steel-framed home: "This is the way of the future."

"Once we see steel studs on the Home Depot shelves, we'll know that steel framing has officially arrived."

AMBITIOUS predictions of skyrocketing steel framing use have not been met, in part due to low lumber orices.

s GI qre mqkes design eqsy

The program also calculates the material order down to the last bag of concrete to set the posts and even determines how many nails are required to fix the lumber in place. "It leaves nothing to the imagination," Hauca commented.

If a contractor uses the software at home, he can then fax or e-mail the finished data directly to the lumberyard.

Hauca said, "It's difficult to estimate the amount of materials needed to complete a job. Once a user has designed a deck [with the software], he just e-mails the order, prints out the step-by-step instructions, straps on the tool belt and gets to work."

IX/ITH summer approaching, lumV Y ber dealers are looking for creative ways to push decking projects that move boards quickly through their yards. One New Zealand-based timber company has introduced software that gives retailers another tool to get contractors and d-i-yers in "deck mode."

Straightedge North America, which is owned by Carter Holt Harvey, has introduced software that allows pros and consumers to design and build their deck before they ever purchase a single piece of lumber.

The new software, named Biz-e Builder, creates a virtual 3D plan of the deck project, showing all elevations and providing measurements for bearer and joist spans.

The software is currently in use at lumberyards in Australia and New Zealand and is in the process of being rolled out in the U.S.

"Biz-e Builder is designed for the serious d-i-yer and small builder," said Straightedge's Greg Hauca. "[It] enables them to pick and click their way from an idea to a fully specified and priced, building code compliant design for a deck, retaining wall or fence."

Lumber and building material dealers can either stock the CD software, having pros and consumers buy it and then use it on their home computer, or they can have the program installed at their yard. Dealers can install the program at the sales counter, in the manager's office or in a special deck planning kiosk.

"The contractor version of the tool." noted Hauca. "affords the opportunity to manage the customerestimating feature, by adding mark-up to materials, labor and print a customized quotation."

"lt enables deck builders to pick and click their way from an idea to a fully specified, building code compliant design."

Straightedge hopes the software builds ties between the dealer and the end-user, which will ultimately help the dealer attract and acquire the customer's full decking supplies order.

According to Hauca, a dealer in New Zealand reported 28 deck quotes in three months, with nearly 5O7o of all quotes proceeding to orders.

"The beauty of the product," added Hauca, "is the customer can visualize the end product by viewing the 3D diagrams."

Dealers that install the program at their yards will get technical assistance over the phone setting up the database. Straightedge also provides on-site orientation seminars for multiunit dealers.

drdingr da rapra8anl6liw only. For !@r.ry, pl€ar€ aelerb S€ Odng. od Sd.dul.3 S.dion. CYBER DECK: New software allows dealers and builders to plug in the dimensions of a deck project and get a 3D image of the deck, fully priced and building code compliant.

Choosing rzirnJzl Stock the right vinyl decking system

By Deron Manwaring Royal Crown Ltd.

rnHE rise in the popularity of vinyl I deck svstems means a rise in the number oi brands available on the market today. Not all vinyl decks are alike so dealers and distributors need to understand what they are buying and the differences between the various vinvl deck svstems.

Look for a vinyl deck system that is produced entirely of 100% virgin vinyl.

A good deck system will offer features that can handle the various demands users place on it. Features such as ultraviolet protection, color retention, impact retention, the proper use of co-extrusion all affect the quality and impact the longevity of the product.

Ultraviolet (UV) protection is essential in vinyl products that are intended for exterior applications. The UV additives work like a window shade to protect the vinyl from breaking down, becoming brittle or discoloring.

The industry standard for the UV additive is l0 parts per hundred. The best vinyl decks on the market are produced with 12 parts per hundred of titanium dioxide, the best additive available.

Several deck systems are offered in different colors. Make sure they are manufactured with good quality color additives to ensure that the colors do not fade. Vinyl deck manufacturers that use the best proven color blends certify the steadfastness ofthe colors.

In the vinyl industry, the co-extrusion manufacturing process is becom-

ing more common because it reduces material expense. This process normally results in a high quality product if used properly.

All too often, though, it is used to hide a sub-standard, recycled base material that the manufacturer can purchase at a reduced price. The outer layer is comprised of a quality material that effectively hides the sub-standard base material.

Look for a vinyl deck system produced entirely of l0o7o virgin vinyl that does not include inferior or incompatible ingredients that affect the quality of the deck.

Other qualities that identify a wellbuilt vinyl deck system include a single-piece plank design that prevents

vinyl against vinyl squeaking, safety features such as a slip resistant surface, outstanding weight load capacities, self-extinguishing non-toxic vinyl, excellent impact resistance, and a connection system that does not expose fasteners to lift or rust.

A reputable manufacturer will submit its vinyl decking to strength, aging, durability and safety testing by independent labs and testing specialists that are submitted to the Building Officials Code Administrators (BOCA). Ask manufacturers' representatives for testing information.

- Mr. Manwaring is marketing manager for Royal Crown Ltd., manufacturer of vinyl fence, deck and railing products (www.royplas.com).

VINYL DECKS built lor exterior applications should contain ultraviolet additives to help pre-

vent deck planks from discoloring or becoming brittle with age.

Refocusing your brqnd? Proceed with coution

By Greg Stine Polaris, Inc.

1|.\NE of the questions I am most \-foften asked during workshops or by clients is, "We want to change the focus of our company. Is it a good idea to try and change our brand or should we create a new brand?"

This decision is often very difficult and not clear cut-make the wrong decision and you can do considerable damage to your business.

The Lifecycle of a Brand

Like all things in life, brands are born, mature, and eventually die. Successful new products or services are perceived as new or different; those qualities (new or different) are part of a new brand. As a product or service becomes established in a marketplace, being a market leader replaces being new or different as a brand quality. At one time, Pepsi was new and different. No lonqer. Now,

the Pepsi brand has matured and is perceived as a market leader.

Eventually, all brands die. Sometimes this happens because companies simply make mistakes that kill a brand (or sometimes the entire company), but changing market conditions is the most common reason that once successful brands die. As powerful as the Kodak brand has been, it has begun the process of dying due to the emergence of digital technology (industrywide, digital product sales are now outselling traditional film products).

Savvy companies acknowledge the reality of this cycle and when the time comes, they let obsolete brands die. With that said, the decision on whether you can change or refocus your brand should be based on a few conditions...

How Strong and Focused Is Your

Existing Brand?

Simply put, it's very difficult if not impossible to refocus or change the perception of a strong brand. What I mean by this is that if a product or service is perceived strongly in the marketplace, it is extremely difficult to change how people think about it. Whether the perceptions are good or bad doesn't matter-changing people's mind is tough.

Kodak has been trying to extend or refocus its brand to include digital products and services. I think this is a big mistake. As one of the strongest brands ever, Kodak is associated in people's minds with photography and, specifically, film. Kodak is fighting a losing battle and the writing is already in the wall. They would have done better to accept the reality that eventually the Kodak brand would die, and use the opportunity to launch a new digital photography brand.

Think back a couple decades to Mazda and its rotary engine. The engineering behind these new motors was revolutionary and the first generation of those cars was launched with a great ad campaign. They were ready to change the industry. The problem was, the first wave of these new motors had problems in manufacturing and the

Southern Yellow Pine

Stock

"Rotary Engine" brand ended up being perceived as inferior to piston engines. The rotary engine failed to change the industry because Mazda did such a great job of marketing a first generation of faulty cars. The brand was forever associated with these negative qualities.

If you have a strong brand, live with it, or let it die. It's hard to make it something different.

Product Brands

If your business sells products, improving or altering a brand is fairly easy-simply kill the old brand and replace it with a different, refocused, or repackaged brand. This happens all the time. Procter & Gamble has done this over the years better then anyone, with currently over 180 brands in their product line. Managing brands from A to Z (Always to Zest), they sell you such well know brands as Charmin, Ivory, NyQuil, Old Spice, Pringles, Pepto-Bismol, Scope, Vidal Sassoon, and many others. They create new brands, push the successful ones, and pull old ones when they stop selling.

Service or Company Brands

Refocusing the brand of an entire company is much more problematic

than a product brand. You can't kill companies like you can products. Nevertheless, companies reach a point in their development where they have outgrown their current brand. The company name may be misleading, the visual identity (1ogo, marketing materials, etc.) may not be communicating the brand qualities that have developed over time. So now what?

If you have a weak or unclear presence in the marketplace, my advice is this: Make the identity change and make a big deal about it. Let nothing be sacred and make the changes that will allow you to communicate what makes your company special. If you currently have a weak brand, making this change will be like launching a new brand. Forget about the old you and charge forward.

If you have a well known but misstargeted brand, it's not so simple. Some companies choose to change their company name when the negative brand perceptions are overwhelming. Philip Morris Companies appears to be distancing its corporate empire from tobacco-related issues that are under fire by becoming Altria Group. Altria, which owns Kraft Foods as well as the Philip Morris companies.

says specifically on its Web site, "Our name change reflects the fact that we are no longer the same company we once were." If the negatives outweigh the positives, sometimes changing your company name may be the only choice.

In other instances, simply altering your existing brand and promoting those new qualities can be effective. You can't be subtle about it thoughif you are no one will notice. A recent, hi-profile example of this was the retargeting of the Subway brand. Not long ago. Subway was trying to compete with other fast food giants such as MacDonald's, Burger King, etc. About a year ago, Subway refined its brand to focus on the healthy qualities of its food and has since become a Ieader in a new category of restaurant-healthy fast food.

Successfully altering a prominent brand can work, but only if you are altering or simply emphasizing some of your brand qualities-not changing everything. With a well-designed campaign, it is possible to turn a duck into a swan-but not into a tiger.

- Mr. Stine is the founder, president and director of sales at marketing specialist Polaris Inc. (www.polaris-inc.com)

employees take pride in cartying on the Smith tradilion offine woodworking.

LBm software report What3 New in 2003

(OffWnnE companies serving the lumber and buildsf ing material industry have begun unveiling a host of new and updated products.

CcrTntno

New iNet e-Invoices allows point-of-sale systems to automatically email a copy of each invoice to customers. Seconds after completing a transaction, the customer's bookkeeper automatically gets a copy ofthe invoice.

Channe ti nx

Channelinx's new elinx release, Version 3.79, contains approximately 170 enhancements throughout the e-commerce platform and specific expanded functionality to its OCI Punchout and Sourcing modules.

In addition, Content Manager Version 1.9 adds over 150 new features, including performance improvements in the Submit, Distribute and Publish processes.

Cogn icase

ScoopSoft Version 7.0 features an improved order entry screen, directly from the whiteboard, to view available-forsale inventory. Users are able to configure their own order entry screen by choosing which fields they will have to fill in order to complete the sales order. This helps sales personnel quickly create sales orders, therefore reducing available inventory from the whiteboard in seconds.

New features also include two-way match (or reverse billing) for freight invoices. For selected carriers, the system can generate an accounts payable directly at time of shipping, based on pre-negotiated rates (as opposed to creating the usual accounts payable accrual).

Accounting department users will also be able to electronically reconcile checks by downloading a check file from any bank.

Computer flssociates Inc.

CAI has released its interface program to the Andersen Windows Intelligent Quote (IQ) system. The program allows Andersen dealers and distributors to generate an Andersen product quote on IQ, then submit the quote.

CAI's new Ponderosa Building Materials software system captures the information and brings it forward into a quote or sales order. Part numbers, pricing, description and other information are polled from IQ.

Once the Andersen IQ quote is in the CAI system, individual lines can be changed, selling discounts applied and load factors calculated. Also other products can be added providing a single quote for all lumber and millwork items needed for the job.

When the job is sold, the entire quote or any portion of it can be turned into an order without re-entry. Non-stock items can be converted into the Purchase Order system or

the order can be classified with CIA's new Crossdock Module. Crossdock orders can be combined for van shipment and the van number tracked through the CAI software. Products may also be selected individually for the crossdock order so the dealer or distributor can "pick and choose" what products can come from stock versus those shipped from Andersen. When the van is received, another program sorts the receiver by Andersen part number, reducing the effort to match shipping and ordering documents.

In addition to Andersen Windows, interfaces have been developed for Caradco, Vetter, Windsor Windows and 20120 for Kitchens. Others are in the works.

Dmsi

Through advanced features in Inventory and Attribute Viewer screens, DMSi's Agility software Version 2.3.4 enables wholesalers and treaters to quickly access on-hand lumber to help create custom orders.

For example, users can search inventory records based on attributes, items, size, description, product group and supplier. Even with minimum information, it's easy to find accurate inventory information on products immediately in a point-and-click Windows environment.

"Our customers want accurate information on inventory while their customer is on the phone and ready to place an order," said Monte Jensen, DMSi software lumber industry sales representative. "The latest version of Agility provides the tools to easily locate items through attributes, item characteristics, ordering status, view groups of inventory items and their quantities for one or more branches, and dynamic features allow Agility users to select items and add them to orders instantly."

One exciting trend sees users running Agility graphical

ATTRIBUTE Viewer screens for DMSi's Agility software provide quick access to on-hand lumber to help create custom orders.

software features like this on wireless Tablet PCs when they're out in the yard. The potential uses in a business for this type of device are significant-imagine sales personnel, with a dealer, at a customer job site, quoting material and converting it to an order on the spot in real-time. A Tablet PC stylus can offer excellent touch-screen, handwriting and voice recognition capabilities.

Enterprise Computer SUstems

Best known for its POS systems and productivity tools, Enterprise's latest development is its estimating service. The service frees dealers from adding a dedicated estimator as well as purchasing the software and hardware to generate automated takeoffs. So far,80 dealers have signed on.

Enterprise currently has five full-time estimators on staff and is looking to add one more. Since custom databases are set up for most customers, any of the estimators can work with any customer. "We are doing a full range of takeoffs-from small residential house plans to large commercial projects and everything in between," said Dan Kukol, general manager of estimating services. "Most customers send us the more difficult plans that would be very time consuming for them to estimate."

Enterprise provides professional takeoffs with a quick turn around and gives dealers the ability to review the takeoff from their own point-of-sale system. Enterprise dials into customers' POS systems and deposits the material list for the dealer to review and price, eliminating the need to key lists back into the system.

Takeoffs can also be received by fax, e-mail plan file or export file. Customers choose the time frame in which they need the takeoff back. There is an option to use a generic database or to have a custom database created with specific

HAND-HELD data collection devices interfaced to Lumber Track allow the entire operation to track inventory levels, movement and commitment.

item numbers, phases, assemblies, and delivery loads. Enterprise also markets the service to dealers using its Professional Estimating module, to assist when an estimator is overwhelmed with requests, on vacation, or out sick.

llxTrend Technologg, Inc.

A fast, simple way to connect to disconnected vendors, eBuy Center is an automated procurement solutions that reduces the time, cost and errors associated with manual processing of POs. Unlike other solutions, vendors do not need to be hooked up via EDI, and the user does not need to run a specific proprietary back-office system.

Progressiue Solutions Inc.

Lumber Track Version 7 began shipping this spring and (Please turn to page 3l)

Rrrrrrtls

Emanuel Lumber Co., Azle,Tx., has closed after more than 50 years; Ken and Betty Haas, owners since 1976, wanted to retire and could not find a buyer

Bartow Ace Hardware, Bartow, Fl., opens next month in a newly remodeled, 8,000-sq. ft., former Goodwill storel owner Curtis Blocker also operates a hardware store in Immokalee, Fl.

Prescott's Ace Hardware, Tallahassee, Fl., has closed after 20 years in business ...

84 Lumber opened new stores last month in Savannah, Ga.; Palm Shores, Fl., and Augusta, Ga. (Jack Holt, mgr.), returning to the market after a lO-year hiatus the chain submitted plans to build a railserved pro yard on 12 acres owned by CSXin Brunswick, Md. ...

Ac e Hardw are, Chattznooga, Tn., suffered a recent fire that damaged a warehouse ...

Home Depot this month oPens new home centers in Lawton, Ok.; Vicksburg, Ms., and Destin, Fl., and a Landscape Supply store in Lewisville, Tx.

Home Depot recently held its annual meeting in Chicago, marking the first time the companY has held its meeting outside Georgia in its 24-year history ...

Loblolly Builders Supply, Moultrie, Ga., had $245 stolen by a thief who broke through a brick wall with a tire iron

Wtorrsn:rs/|f, murlcrutlRs

Louis iarn- Pac ifi c completed the sale of its Marianna and West Bay, Fl., sawmills to Grayson Lumber Corp., Grayson, Al. ... L-P has established a claimant offer program for homeowners who filed

claims under the Inner-Seal siding products liability class action settlement

Georgia-Pacific Corp. is closing its Oxford, Ms., particleboard plant; the mill has an annual capacity of 200 million sq. ft.

Augusta Lumber Co., Waynesboro, Va.. plans to invest $5 million in the former West Point Sawmill it recently acquired in King William County, Va. ...

Enterprise Computer SYstems, Greenville, S.C., agreed to merge with Canadian-based software solutions firm Speedware Corp.; Enterprise shareholders were scheduled to vote on the merger in late April ...

Ridgeway Truss Co., Gainesville, Fl., lost a lumber shed in a March 29 ftre ..,

Bradlev Lumber Co." Warren, Ar., has agreed to buy 15,20O acres of Arkansas hardwood bottomland from Potlatch Corp.; Potlatch closed its Bradley hardwood mill in July and two months later sold the facility to Bradley Lumber president Dr. David Chambers ...

Ravonier" Jacksonville. Fl., is expeited to sell 8,465 acres of north Florida timberland to the St. Johns River Water Management District and the State of Florida for $22.7 million; the state is expected to incorporate the propertY into a nearby conservation area ...

FAX us your news!

Have a notice of your recent exPansion, promotions or other company changes published in the next issue of Building Products Digest! Just Fax vour news to 949-852-0231.

(a free serube)

Crown Bolt Inc. recently won a five-year tax freeze in lvlemphis, Tn., where it plans to consolidate three DCs into a 91,000-sq. ft. facility...

Branmar Logging Inc., Gordonsville. Va.. lost its office and warehouse complex in a March 31 fire

Latham Stairs & Millwork, Denton, Tx., is moving from its current 20,000-sq. ft. facility to a new 43,000-sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution facility

USP Lumber Conneclors has been renamed USP Sftuctural Connectors...

American Lumber Standards Committee has certified engineering design values for cypress, giving it recognition in model U.S. building codes

Elder Wood Preserving, Mansura, La., is now stocking Geodeck composite and ip€ hardwood deckm9...

Sunbelt Forest Products, Bartow, Fl., is now stocking Epoch Composites' Evergrain decking

Elias Wilf Corp., Owings Mills, Md., is now distributing Vicksburg, Ms.-based Capella Hard' wood Floors' flooring in W.V., Va., Md., and Washington, D.C.

Anniversaries: Swanson Tool Co., 75th ... Spartanburg Forest Products, Greer, S.C., 25th Langboard, Inc., Quitman, Ga., 15rh...

Housing starts in March (latest figures) rose \Vo to an annual rate of 1.780 million single family starts increased 7.7Vo to a rate of 1.414 million; multifamily (5+ units) were at a pace of 329,000 building permits dropped 7Vo to a 1.685 millionrate...

(Please turn to page 30)

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Mav

Columbia Forest ProductsMay 13-15, hardwood plywood training class, Chatham, Va.; (800) 547-4261.

Southern Building Material Association - May 13-16, management training retreat, Hilton Head, S.C.; ('704) 376-1503.

National Sash & Door Jobbers Association - May L5-17, top management meeting, Indian Wells, Ca.; (800) 786-7274.

Peak Auctioneering - May 17-18, building material auction, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tn.; (816) 474-1982.

Do it Best Corp. - May l7-2O, spring market, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, In.; (219) 748-5300.

International Conference on Woodfiber-Plastic CompositesMay 19-20, Hilton, Madison, Wi.; (608) 231-1361.

Southern Building Material Association - May 20-21, sales seminars; May 22, time management seminar, Cookeville, Tn.; May 27,time management seminar, Roanoke, Va; (704) 376-t503.

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors - May 2l-22, human resources conference, Chicago, 11.; (202) 872-0885.

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association - May 27-30, annual convention, Phoenix, Az.; (7 03) 264-1690.

fux:

Construction Specifications Institute - June 5, ProSpec trade show, Seattle, Wa.; (206) 382-3393.

Southern Building Show - June 5-7, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, Ga.; (800) 854-7736.

National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association - June 6-9, semi-annual meeting, Asheville, N.C.; (901) 526-5016.

National Lawn & Garden Show - June 11-12, Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago, Il.; (888) 316-0226.

Florida Building Material Association - June 12-14, summer management conference, Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, Fl.; (352) 383-0366.

Intertribal Timber Council - June 16-19, Indian timber symposium, Cherokee, N.C.; (503) 282-4296.

Louisiana Forestry Teachers Tour- June 17-21, Alexandria, La.; (225) 922-1234.

Lumbermen's Association of Texas - June 18-19, committee meetings, Austin, Tx.; (512) 472-1194.

Temperate Forest Foundation - June 18-21, Southeastern Teachers' Tour, Jacksonville, Fl.; (503) 579-6762.

Forest Products Society - June 22-25, DoubleTree Hotel, Bellevue, Wa.; (608) 231-1361.

Southern Forest Products Association - June 25-27, forest products machinery & equipment expo, World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; (504) 443-4464.

Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association - June 26-28, summer outing, Grand Hotel, Point Clear, Al.; (512) 472-1194.

Tigers of Asia - June 27-29, show and expo, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fl.; (305) 445-3788.

futv

Construction Supplier's Association - July 10-13, summer management conference, King & Prince Hotel, St. Simons, Ga.; (770) 751-6373.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers AssociationJuly 14, golf outing; July 15, summer board meeting, Lexington, Ky.; (800) 844-1774.

House-Hasson Hardware Co. - July 18-20, summer market, Knoxville Convention Center, Knoxville, Tn.; (865) 525-0471.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association - July 19-24, wood marketing seminar, Moscow, Id.; (800) 527-8258.

$

tion, attract more female customers, and significantly increase sales. And their new member portal, mydoitbest.com, has helped me get the product and program information I need, when I need it. lf you want a co-op that helps you stay a step ahead, contact Do it Best Corp. today.

Just as the landscapes provide broad displays of beautiful Corza desrgns a wide range of custom profiles fo fit just what you imagine. Corza provides reliable moulding supply solutions fo the world through extensive custom profiles and inventory of standard profiles.

Veneer & paper wrapped mouldings

Lumbermen's Association of Texas installed Kyle McCarley, Paris Lumber & Building Center, Paris, Tx., as president during its recent annual convention in Austin (See pftotos, p. 38-39).

Cally Fromme is 1st v.p.; Steve Herren, 2nd v.p.; Bruce Agness, associate v.p.; Frank Fraazzio, Lousiana v.p.; Doug Gregory, treasurer; Kyle Williams, secretary; Mary Cunningham, sgt. at arms, and Mitja Peterman, immediate past president.

Lonnie L. Goolsby Jr., John E. Quarles Co.. Fort Worth. was named Lumberman of the Year. Andrew "Drew" Sanders, Texas Industries, is Associate Member of the Year.

Southern Building Material Association booked Thomas P. Randolph to conduct time management seminars May 22 in Cookeville, Tn., and May 27 in Roanoke, Va. Also slated this month are a management training retreat May 13-16 at Hilton Head. S.C.: a back to basics sales seminar May 20 in Cookeville, and an advanced sales seminar May 2l in Cookeville.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is staging

its Congelton Cup golf outing July 14 in Lexington, followed by the summer board meeting July 15.

Oklahoma Lumbermens Association is hosting its Summer Fling July 11-13 at the Shangri-La Resort, Grove, Ok.

Construction Suppliers' Association has enlisted consultant Ruth Kellick, Kellick & Associates, to address "Consistently Great Service" during its summer management conference July l013 at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort Hotel, St. Simons Island, Ga.

Treated Wood Associations In,Trangltion

A glimpse at the futu& of prebsure tre,ated wood was set to be irnveiled during the American Wood-Preserverg' Associationr 5 annual meeting at the end of April. Details and photos will appear in next month's Building Products Digest.

In addiiion to presentations on emerging preservatives, the event* themed "Your Industry in Transition"Jeatured the flrst ever business meetings of AWPA's standards-setting commitbes outside of the usual week-long September sessions. AWPA hopes to sheanline its standards-setting Fsoess by'having technical committees meet twice annually instead of once.

During the event, AWPA was set to propose allowing corporate sponsorships to augment dues. The association also introduced its new executive vice profident;,,,,Colin lv1cCown, w:ho sucee€ds the retiring John Hall at the end of May.

Other associations:-inc|ll:ding the America,n Wood Preservers Institute, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Timber Pile Council and the Southern Pressure Treaters Association-were also expected to unveil seriors chasg8s during the event. In the wake of AWPI's restructuring, SPTA is considering expanding its foc,us beyond industrial treaters to the entile soqthern $eating industry.

Langboard Expands OSB Mill

Langboard is investing $70 million to double the capacity of its Quitman, Ga., OSB plant to 440 million sq. ft.

The l5-year-old facility will receive a second production line plus modernization of its equipment to conform to MACT (maximum achievable control technology) standards. Part of the Clean Air Act. the standards require the plant to capture the steam emitted and incinerate the fumes, with a compliance date of 2005.

Langboard OSB v.p. Chris Reid said over the next year of anticipated construction time, the plant will only lose a total of six days in down time, quite an accomplishment for an operation running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "We have engineers constantly monitoring the project to ensure we lose as little production time as possible," he said.

Reid toured several OSB plants in the U.S. and Canada to learn about new types of equipment and recently returned from Germany, where the firm purchased a new Dieffenbacher press. The huge press, being shipped on three boats, is expected to arrive this month and be installed over the summer. Production should besin in

the second or third quarter of 2004.

"The new press will allow us to produce 9-ft. boards, where we can only do 8-ft. now," he said, citing a growing demand in the housing market as more homes are beine built with higher, 9-ft. ceilings.

N.C. Hardware Adds Sibling

The owner of Briggs Hardware, Raleigh, N.C., opened a second hardware store last month in a local shopping center.

Named Marc's Hardware, the 3,000-sq. ft. store serves d-i-yers and building contractors, according to owner Marc Scruggs. Scruggs added that the store's focus is on plumbing, cabinetry and door hardware.

Asked about stiff competition from big box stores, Scruggs said, "I feel like if I run a tight ship, we can come in 5 cents lower or even 5 cents higher, and we may save people time and money in getting what they need."

He will continue to operate Briggs Hardware at its cunent location.

Florida Millwork Firm Moving

Pinecrest Industries of Florida Inc. plans to move from Wellington, Fl., to

Fort

The specialty millwork company will soon begin construction on a new 9,000-sq. ft. manufacturing plant.

Owner Ferando DiSisto explained that the move was necessary because of increased demand for their mahogany and glass doors.

At the new location, DiSisto expects to make about 200 to 300 doors a year, priced at $4,000 to $ 1s.000.

The company chose Fort Pierce because it featured a central location for distribution and easy access to I-95 and the Florida Turnpike.

The move is expected to cost approximately I $ million.

Firms Expected To Invest

North American forest products companies are expected to increase spending in fiscal year 2003 on plant, properties and equipment.

A survey of 39 companies tallied expected expenditures at $8.1 billion, an 1l.6Vo increase over 2002 spending.

Last year the same companies spent $7.3 billion, $2.1 billion less than in the previous year.

Firm To Virginia Top Court

After a year of setbacks on a proposed expansion, one Virginia lumber firm is taking its fight to the state Supreme Court.

Roper Brothers Lumber, Petersburg, has been seeking approval to build a cement mixing and proportioning plant on a 4.5-acre portion of its lumberyard. In early April, the city council voted unanimously to reject the company's expansion bid.

Some in the community say the decision was not about cement, but a proposed tourist complex on the banks of the Appomattox River, directly across from the yard.

Roper's property is on an end of Pocahontas Island, which has a population of 90 and both residential and industrial neighbors. Some island residents feel a plant would harm the community's quality of life.

Last April the city planning board affirmed that the construction was an allowable use, yet questioned the plant's traffic, noise and environmental impact. Soon after, Roper took its case to the board of zoning appeals,

which upheld the planning department's ruling. Roper then went to the local circuit court and the city council, where it met defeat by both bodies.

A hearing date has not been set.

Dealers Demand Free Trade

Last month a North American Free Trade Agreement bi-national panel accepted a "friend-of-the-court" brief on behalf of LBM dealers and home builders that seeks to overturn tariffs on Canadian softwood.

Filed last fall, by the National Association of Home Builders and the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association, the brief argues that U.S. consumers and dealers who rely on Canadian lumber have been left out of recent softwood talks.

The brief also documents that different types of lumber produced by the U.S. and Canada are not interchangeable in the home construction industry. The groups argue that many builders prefer Canadian S-P-F for wall framing instead of U.S. southern yellow pine.

The U.S. residential housins mar-

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ket relies on Canadian lumber for 30Vo of its needs and fears that home buyers may pay as much as $1,000 more because of the tariffs.

The U.S. currently imposes a 277o tariff on all Canadian softwood.

Pick Paint The Depot Way

Home Depot stores are introducing an interactive paint center that seeks to simplify paint selection for customers.

The Color Solutions Center features new color technology, brochures and project idea cards in a 30-ft. display. The results of several years of consumer research, Home Depot will use the center to showcase paint brands by Ralph Lauren, Glidden and its exclusive Disney Color by Behr.

The center incorporates technology that lets consumers choose a color and then preview its application in virtual computer "rooms." There are also peel and stick paint chips that can be applied to any wall surface.

"Our research clearly pointed to customers' desire for a more userfriendly color presentation system," said Depot's Sophia Schade.

Gary Donnelly has resigned after 12 years as president of the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association. Vicki Worden is serving as interim president during the search for a replacement.

Brandon Wall has been promoted to store mgr. at McCoy's Building Supply Center, Port Arthur, Tx. John Finney is now store mgr. in League City, Tx.

Sonny Richmond, ex-Builders FirstSource, has rejoined Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies, Roanoke, Va., as general mgr. of the Knoxville, Tn., operation. Brian Muelenaer, exWickes Inc., is the new Roanoke mgr. Wayne Hargrove has been named general mgr. of Phillips Building Supply, Charlottesville, Va., a division of Moore's.

Lee Thomas, president, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta. Ga.. was named to the added position of chief operating officer. David Paterson is now executive v.p. of the building products businesses.

James H. Hill has been named v.p. of land sales & acquisitions for the forestry division of MeadWestvaco, Charleston. S.C. D. Bruce Funderburke is now msr. of land sales & acquisitions.

Tommy Guy, New South Wood Preserving, Myrtle Beach, S.C., transferred to the treated sales staff.

Sonny Sessions has sold Georgetown Hardware, Georgetown, S.C., to Wayne Carter. Sessions ran the business for 27 years.

Trent Freernan is a new account mgr. at Savannah Lumber's Waynesboro, Ms., location.

Karen Cannon was named window dept. mgr. for the millwork division of Buck Lumber Co., Charleston, S.C. Ken Conway is now millwork operations mgr., and Jim Wood, a sales trainee specializing in window products.

Richard J. Taggart has been promoted to executive v.p. and chief financial officer at Weyerhaeuser Co. He succeeds William C. Stivers, who will retire in June. Jim Hemphill has been named eastern sales & customer service leader for Weyerhaeuser Building Materials. Phil Leupold is now East region general mgr.; Bill Ames, Northeast area general mgr., and Jack Delaney, New England area general mgr.

Michael Haining has been named senior v.p.-distribution and logistics for TruServ Co1p.

WooD.

Aubra Anthony, president and c.e.o., Anthony Forest Products, was elected to the board of the newly formed Arkansas Forest & Paper Council. Lynda Anthony was elected to the Southern Forest Products Association board. Chester New has been promoted to general mgr. of Anthony's engineered wood operations, overseeing laminating plants in Washington, Ga., and El Dorado, Ar. Johnny Nolan succeeds him as mgr. of the El Dorado laminating plant. Keith New is now plant superintendent of the El Dorado facility. Chris Webb is Anthony's new engineered wood sales mgr.; Ronnie Britt, dry-end superintendent, Urbana, La.; Mike Little, maintenance superintendent, Urbana, and Jeff Stefani, exJager, a new structural engineer for the Power Building System.

Bob Whitman is retiring as president of Home Depot's Expo Design Centers. Annette Verschuren, president, Home Depot Canada. will serve as interim president of the division.

Stan Collyar has joined the spruce department at The Buying Source, Greer, S.C.

Joseph Haggerty, Williams Lumber Co., Rocky Mount, N.C., was elected president of the Southem Cypress Manufacturers Association.

Robert B. Jordan III, president, Jordan Lumber & Supply, Mount Gilead, N.C., has been appointed to a four-year term on the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill's board of governors.

Jerry Tanner, owner, True Value Hardware. Green Forest, Ar., was named Person of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Tom Willcutt, co-owner, Specialty Fasteners. Inc., Prairie Grove. Ar.. was named vice chairman of the International Staple, Nail & Tool Association.

TnERE Is No SUnSTITUTE.

The Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association rePresents ovet 220 independendy owned lumber manufacturers throughout the Southeast. Members of the association produce 4.5 billion board feet of quality hardwood and softwood ptoducts annually. Call (404) 361-1445 to request your complimentary copy of the 2003 SLMA Membership Directory, or visit us online at wwwslma.org.

Jeff Hanks, Bill Hanks Lumber, Danbury N.C., was elected lst v.p. of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association. Tony Parks, Anderson-Tully Co., Vicksburg, Ms., is 2nd v.p. New directors include Lyman Shipley, Coastal Lumber Co., Weldon, N.C.; Charlie Netterville, Fred Netterville Lumber. Woodville. Ms.; Herbert Kwasniewski, J.C. Lumber, Elkins, W.V.; John Jones, Ward Timber Co., Linden, Tx., and Al Whitson, Jr., Whitson Lumber Co., Clarksville, Tn. Executive committee members include Netterville; Pem Jenkins, Turn Bull Lumber, Elizabeth, N.C.; Bill Buchanan Jr., Buchanan Lumber Birmingham, Aliceville, Al., and Orn Gudmundsson, Northland Corp., LaGrange, Ky.

Terry Lee Soley, maintenance supervisor, Millville Lumber, Snow Hill, N.C., recently married Lori Ann Pusey. Tommy Gunn, Mungus-Fungus Forest Products. Climax. Nv.. is returning from his Army reserve stint in lraq, report co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Lumber Tag Firm Loses Flag

Two high school students have been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a 9-ft. flag hanging at Lumber Tag Specialties, Cypress, Tx.

The U.S. flag hung vertically outside the business until March 22, when owner Victoria McCord received a call while attending a birthday party that there had been a fire. When she arrived, all that remained of the flag was a char mark on the metal siding.

"Had the fire gotten into the rafters under the eaves, it could have caught the insulation on fire," she said. "I would have been ruined."

Three cars passing the business

spotted some young men fleeing from the fire. One driver called 91 I , another stopped to help clean up the mess, and a third briefly chased the suspects and noted their license plate number.

The suspects were charged with arson and criminal mischief.

"I'll be a lot happier when the building's painted and I have an apology," McCord said. "I hate to see a kid go to jail because of stupidity."

The flag had draped the casket of McCord's brother, an Army veteran.

The bright side, she said, is how the community responded soon after the blaze; many neighbors gave her flags to replace the one she lost.

New Owners For Wickes

An investment group has acquired 5lVo of Wickes Inc.'s outstanding common stock, giving it majority ownership.

Imagine Investments acquired 2.8 million shares of the lllinois-based retailer, replacing Riverside Group Inc., Jacksonville, Fl., as the majority shareholder.

Now that Riverside Group no longer has an ownership interest in Wickes, J. Steven Wilson has resigned as president and c.e.o.

Recently, New Jersey-based distributor Bradco Supply Corp. offered $7.2 million to buy the remaining Wickes shares it did not own. Bradco already owned l57o of the firm's stock.

Robert Mulcahy III, a director since 1988, has been appointed chairman. The board has also established an executive management committee.

Mill Settles Anti-Age Suit

A former lumber yard manager forced to retire when he turned 65 agreed to settle his age discrimination lawsuit for $97,000.

Jesse Daughhetee had worked for Burlington Cooperative Association, Burlington, Ok., for 33 years, before being fired in 2001 after he refused to retire.

The lumber co-op attributed the termination to financial reasons, but replaced Daughhetee with a male employee in his early 20s.

Burlington Cooperative Association agreed to provide age discrimination training, post a notice defining and prohibiting discrimination, inform workers of their rights, and establish a procedure for workers to submit allegations of discrimination.

Blueprints As Marketing Tools

Associated Press will now allow building product companies to advertise in its study plans and blueprints purchased by customers of the AP House of the Week.

AP's weekly home plan is distributed to I,600 AP member newspapers and study plans bought by homeowners represent a potential construction of nearly $250 million in new homes.

"We think there is a place for advertising in our home plans," said home plan publisher David Bradley. "Advertising is an additional source of lesitimate information for readers."

rich colors. Dccldrg staining or naUrral beautyand

Cedar Group Takes On Synthetics

The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association has launched a $2 million marketing campaign aimed at curbing the inroads that composite and vinyl have made into the western red cedar decking and siding markets.

The association, whose members produce 65Vo of the world's western red cedar, will emphasize its tradition-

al place as building product for decks and siding.

By featuring spoofs of plastic and synthetic building products in print ads, the association hopes to highlight what they say is "natural beauty and durability of western red cedar."

The campaign will target home builders, building material dealers and

homeowners.

"Western red cedar is what every plastic and composite substitute dreams of being," said the association's Peter Lang. "This is their wakeup call."

Lang added that cedar has to be thrust back into the public eye as a building product with proven durability.

"Substitutes may come with guarantees," he said. "But only cedar provides the time-tested assurance of centuries of real performance."

In addition to the ad campaign, the association is introducing a new visual image with the words, "Real Cedar," to appear on all western red cedar products from WRCLA members.

The association hopes that the campaign can protect western red cedar's market share, which has slipped in recent years because of stiff competition for composites. Western red cedar now holds 4Vo of the siding market and lOVo of the decking market.

The campaign will emphasize that western red cedar, among other attributes, contains natural compounds that act as preservatives, lays flat and straight for decking, and has excellent noise reduction qualities.

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REAL CEDAR: WRCLA says the building material market is awash with synthetic products that receive much attention and millions in

ad dollars. They aim to bring western red cedar back into the decking and siding spotlight with a sustained $2 million ad campaign.

Retail Push For Composite Deck Manufacturer

As composite decking continues to win more market share, dealers and their builder customers are looking to manufacturers for help in promoting and using composites.

Last year the composite decking market totaled $500 million, with figures expected to double by 2005.

CPI Plastics Group, which manufactures Eon decking, has initiated a program to assist dealers and builders competing for consumer deck dollars.

According to CPI's Ron Mitchell, his company has seen sales of Eon increase ll57o per year since its introduction in 1998.

On the builder side of its new initiative, CPI has launched the Expert Installer Program which includes: lead refenals; eon sales materials; apparel and branding materials; . select tools, including a tape measure and the appropriate carbide saw blade, . access to in-depth demonstrations, online professional forums and on-going sales training.

The dealer portion of the initiative is focused on the more than 1,000 home centers and independent yards that currently stock Eon.

In addition to volume and stocking incentives, CPI plans to assist dealers with display decks and free in-store merchandising (banners, product display stands, learning videos and complete decks).

Other effbrts include regional sales force support with contractor events to be held at stocking locations. Dealers' sales personnel will be supplied with sample boards, installation instructions and techniques, along with collateral materials.

CPI also plans to help the distribution channel by creating a consumer

Web site referral program for elite status stocking dealers and contractors.

As part of its marketing efforts, the company plans advertise to in consumer and trade publications.

DECK PROMOTION HELP: Now that the composile decking market totals $500 million per year, dealers and builders are looking for

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Home Depot Appeals Use Laws

Home Depot is challenging a zoning determination for a proposed 104,000-sq. ft. store in Fauquier County, Va.

At issue is a ruling by county zoning administrators that Depot will require a special zoning exception because it sells building materials.

Home Depot was scheduled to appeal the decision May I to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

"Building supply sales are classified separately from general retail sales," said Home Depot attorney James Downey. "Building material sales require a special permit at wholesale but are permitted by right at retail."

Zoning administrator Kimberley Johnson said, "The proposed use meets the definition of retail in the Fauquier zoning ordinance and will require a special exception."

Local county officials say that in recent history the Board of Zoning Appeals has never overruled a zoning administrator.

Home Depot contracted in January to buy the 15.7-acre propeny.

Weyerhaeuser Chief Maps The Way

Weyerhaeuser Co.'s c.e.o. Steve Rogel told shareholders recently that the company's immediate focus will be on paying down debt.

"Lean, nimble, quick, opportunistic. That's what we are trying to do," Rogel told shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Federal Way, Wa.

This year the company has had to grapple with low lumber prices and shrinking profits.

Ln2002 the company's profits plunged to $241 million,

from a high of $840 million in 2000.

Rogel said the company was still facing internal challenges from the Willamette Industries acquisition.

"Admittedly, this new Weyerhaeuser is not going to be a comfortable fit for everyone," Rogel said. "As I've told our employees: You're going to find our workplace of the future fulfilling, exciting and rewarding if you're the kind of person who is customer-focused and results-orientated."

Speaking of future acquisitions, Rogel added that the company didn't have the cash now for bold moves.

"We wouldn't preclude ourselves from a minor acquisition," he said, "but anything major will have to wait."

In the future Rogel noted that the company would likely expand its international operations, particularly in China.

In the short term, however, Rogel said, "We're going to continue our focus on capturing synergies from the Willamette integration, paying down our debt and reshaping the company."

Rogel predicted that Weyerhaeuser will be out of debt in 30 to 60 months.

Still using steel banding?

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Secure bundling of all truss jobs

Resists weather and material shrinkage

mrun$ ond BIIIEII$

f; Helps eliminate "mushrooming" in ." composite decking material.

fi1 Dual thread design provides optimum - holding power and displaces less material.

ai Oversized top thread traps most loose - composite material during installation.

fi Undercut head traps any additional - loose material, pushing it back into the hole while countersinking.

@ Sure Drive USAo's exclusive Rustguard@ - coating prcvides excellent corcsion prctection, (i Patented WoodmasteP thread design starts ..- faster and slices through decking with minimal material distort.

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flt l0l8-1022 case hardened steel for - maximum strength.

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Steel bandinLis dangerous and obsolete. Until now, there was no viable alternative. We believe we have the solution to your load containment needs! See for yourself!

In FlOfida, call Stambone & Associates

D-l-Yers'Cash In Place

A new survey ofhomeowners indicates that Americans will invest significantly in home improvement projects this spring.

The American Express survey of 341 households found that the average home improvement budget this year is

$3,800. The figure is a big jump from 2000 when the annual d-i-yer's budget was estimated at $2.900. Homes with an income of $50,000 or more are expected to spend nearly $4,300. With summer approaching, 44Vo of respondents said that home improvement spending was a higher priority

than taking a vacation (20Vo) or dining and entertainment (157o). This is up from 33Vo in 2000.

According to the survey, T3Vo of homeowners will spend their d-i-y dollars at home improvement centers, followed by department stores and then hardware stores. Only 6Vo of those surveyed plan to shop at a lumberyard or specialty retailer.

The survey found that home owners will use nearly half (447o) of this budget for interior decorating, followed by remodeling, landscaping and other critical maintenance.

Less than 20Vo said they would tackle exterior house decor, add a room or expand a deck or patio this year.

When picking projects and materials, two-thirds of respondents said price determined where they shopped, followed by selection, service and location.

The survey also found that homeowners are tuning in more to home improvement shows-44Eo now as opposed to38Vo three years ago.

News Briefs

(Continued from page 16)

Alantic Forest Products, Baltimore, Md., was burglarized April 14; two men have been arrested on suspicion of lumber theft

Frisco Wholesale Lumber, Frisco. Tx.. was named Business of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce

Nexwood Industries Ltd. has expanded its Ontario, Canada production facility, adding equipment and doubling the capacity of its floor line

Deceuninck has acquired Thyssen Polymer, the extrusion business unit of ThyssenKrupp Technologies...

Universal Forest Products was ranked 769 on Fortune magazine's "Fortune 1000" list of America's most profitable companies ...

American National Standards Institute approved the window standard "101/I.S. 2/NAFS-02 North American Fenestration Standard, Voluntary Performance Specification for Windows, Skylights and Glass Doors" as an American national standard.

Save money by stocking Deep Swamp Cypress in place of redwood and cedar. This beautiful, versatile, all around species, for exterior and interior use, finishes better than cedar or redwood and is more stable than southern Dine. We mill to your specs-any pattern siding, plus finish, S4S, fine bevel/bungalow sidings, 1" sidings, paneling, ceiling, wainscot stock and flooring. All kiln dried, from finish to common grades. No order too small.

LBM Software Report

(Continued from page I 5 )

has already been sold to numerous companies wanting to streamline their operations. The software integrates everything from procurement to sales to inventory management and reporting. It is now quicker to install and configure, operates even faster than before, and has added functionality to enhance sales, shipping and reporting.

MacBeath Hardwood is the first firm to operate Lumber Track's Pointof-Sale functionality. The Californiabased hardwood manufacturer, distributor and retailer uses the system to better track and handle inventory management and determine the cost of goods sold, helping to ensure adequate margins. Lumber Track also allows MacBeath to standardize business practices at all locations and integrate their retail sales into their overall inventory management.

New tag printing and data collection products allow companies to tag inventory at receiving or production and track it throughout their operation. Tag Track is a stand-alone, rugged printing station for printing product identification tags, including bar codes. Hand-held data collection devices running Progressive Solutions software for inventory counts, load tallies and end tallies help track and tally product in receiving, warehouses and mills.

Order Track, a new e-commerce add-on product, allows wholesalers' customers to check the status of their orders online with standard Internet browsers. It can be plugged into an existing Web site or set up as secure space on the Order Track server.

Seljax International lnc.

Easier than ever to use, Seljax 3D Decks Version 8.0 lets new users with little lumber experience design and accurately estimate decks in minutes.

Advanced features include pools, hot tubs, angled decking, herringbone decking, angled beams, custom railing systems, multiple foundation types (piles, pier forms, bell forms, default post in ground height), ramps, bridges, skirting, benches, vertical or horizontal joists, decking cut list, and a lengths table for decking.

lllorldUieul, ttd.

WorldView, a division of DMSi, is increasingly focusing on Web-based document management. The concept

is that documents like business reports, invoices, statements, delivery tickets, contracts, etc. can be centrally stored electronically for fast, easy access from any PC. It's said to be more cost-effective than traditional file cabinets, offering significant time savings and new abilities to share information.

Fifteen companies in the industry currently use World-View document management.

llf orld lUlde lUood lletuork, Ltd.

A new supplier-managed inventory (SMI) program simplifies the entire inventory management and order replenishment cycle.

Matching available to promise inventory with customer replenishment needs by location and product,

W3Net SMI sends automated reorder alerts to the supplier that include suggested replenishment orders. From that point a supplier can create a final order by accepting or modifying the suggested order based upon practical sales considerations such as weather or transportation issues.

Replenishment levels can be driven both by simple minimum/maximum inventory levels or more sophisticated demand forecasting formulas.

The company offers a full suite of Web-based tools to facilitate the entire business process between buyers and sellers via its W3Net Commerce Platform and W3Net Document Exchange Platform, as well as business process consulting and custom software development.

ond'iompleie"!'i!rvice wS ffi qur" integroted softwore system for the building moteriols industry.

thot eoch ond every clienfs unique requirements ore fully sotisfied.

CAI provides the finest industry specific softwore solutions to building moteriols componies notionwide.

ond Perrormonce your compony needs- todoy ond in the future.

roducls

Your Composite Fastener

Sure Drive USA, Inc. has introduced a new composite deck screw that reportedly eliminates "mushrooming" during installation.

The Sure Drive CDS screw features a dual thread design that is said to displaces less material while being driven and reduces driving torque by over 23Vo.

- Please contact (888) 2191700 or go online at www. suredrive.com

Composite Railing Cues

Kadant Composites has added a composite railing to its GeoDeck line of composite decking.

Mortar The House Custom Building Products has approved its line of thin set mortars for use over USG Levelrock. When poured over lightweight concrete, FlexBond flexible bonding mortar is said to prevent tiles from cracking due to minor surface movement.

- Contact (800) 272-8786 or visit www. c u s t omb uildin gp r o duc t s. c om.

llluminate Your Drilling Makita USA Inc. has introduced a 3/4" hammer drill with a high-output L.E.D.light.

HP2050F and HP205lF feature lights that are shockproof and made of a diode that reportedly won't need replacing.

- Please contact (800) 462-5482 or go online at www.makitatools.com

Underlayment Panels Galore

Weyerhaeuser Co. has introduced underlayment panels that are said to minimize irregularities in subfloors and old floors.

FiberFlor reportedly eliminates splitting from fasteners, reducing the need for sanding and filling seams. The panels come with a l0-year limited warranty.

- Please contact (877) 235-6873 or v isit www.weye rhae us e r. com

Unload Railcars Safely

Steel Storage Systems has introduced a railcar unloading device that reportedly allows one forklift user to disconnect a center beam railcar in minutes.

Said to fit any forklift, Cable Dominator is designed to eliminate climbing on railcars.

- Please contact (800) 422-0291 or visit www. cab ledominato r.c om

GeoDeck features Biodac, a proprietary ingredient made of purified cellulose and other minerals. that is said to resist fading.

- Please contact (781 ) 275-3600 or go online at www.geodeck.com

Tighten The Insect Borders

A stiff insect screen that is designed for window and door rolling screen systems is new from Phifer Wire Products.

EliteScreen is woven from vinylcoated fiberglass yarns with a special coating for stiffness.

- Please contact (205) 345-2120 or go online at www.phiftr.com

Door Frame Contacts

Prefinished exterior wood door frames and mouldings made of fingerjointed softwood or composite substrate to enhance pre-hung door systems are new from Contact Lumber.

Impact door frames are wrapped in impregnated cellulose prior to paintlng.

-They feature a l0-year warranty.

- Plea.se contact (800) 824-3296.

Narrow Aisle Fork Lift

Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp. has introduced a line of electric threewheel counterbalance fork lift trucks for narrow aisles and confined spaces.

The EFG-DF vehicles feature a curve speed reduction system that operates independently of the operating mode, reportedly preventing tipptng.

- Please contact (888) 333-2644 or vi s it www.j unghe inric h. com

Show Your Teeth

A 14" tool box hand saw for cutting PVC and ABS plastic, wood, aluminum and drain pipes is new from T. Christy Enterprise, Inc.

TC-300 features a fine tooth, tempered steel blade.

The tool can measure 45' and 90' angles.

- Please contao (800) 258-4583

Okon On My Wood

A water-based, water repellent wood toner for decks, fences and pressure treated lumber that is said to create an oiled wood appearance is new from Okon, Inc.

Okon Natural Choice contains transparent oxide color toners and provides protection against UV rays.

- Please contact (303) 337-7800 or go online at www.okoninc.com

Framing The lssues

Stanley-Bostich has introduced a framing nailer for standard framing and metal connecting applications.

for use with SDS rotary hammers and features a flattened tip with a 4-flute design, and a core diameter.

- Please contdct (800) 433-9258 or go onLine at www.dewalt.com

Sky Light Color Schemes

Wasco Products has introduced 10 new architectural colors to its line of skylights.

The new colors are said to provide a seamless transition between roofine and framing materials.

- Please contact (800) 388-1181 o r visit www.wasc op roducts.com

Pine Corner Store

Millworks Inc. has added oak to its custom corner line.

Vinyl Deck Dryness

Homeland Vinyl Products has introduced a new waterproof vinyl deck that reportedly keeps the under deck dry and clean.

Advanced Gorilla Deck features an interlocking design and meets all building codes for l2' or 16' spans.

- Please contact (800) 999-6813 or vi s it www. home landvinvl. com

What's Your Stair Angle

An adjustable railing bracket that is said to assists installers with stair ansles.

N88RH-2MCN features a pushbutton trip mechanism that allows the operator to switch from standard fiaming trips to metal connector tips.

- Please contact (800) 782-6539 or v i s it www. stanleyw o rks. com

Bits And Drill Pieces

Dewalt has introduced drill bits designed for masonry and concrete that are said to last longer than competitors.

Rock Carbide SDS Plus Bits are

Pine Corner Store line features rosettes. base blocks. base corners and common crowns.

- Please contact (800) 933-3930

Angle Wizard "T" Stair Brackett rotates on a double track and can be adjusted for stair angles from 15" to 35". It also features a "site window" that lets the installer see three standard degrees.

- Please contact (577) 685-7675

Mobile Toolboxes

Rolling truck storage boxes for contractors and d-i-yers with six pullout drawers on ball bearines are knew from Slide Systems.

Rollerbox features a bottom unit that can be detached and transported to the job site by hand.

- Please contact (888) 917-5433 or go online at www.slidesystems.com

is ovoiloble by contocting the mo nufoctu rer d irectly.

Reel In Contractors

A new contractor-grade chalk reel from C.H. Hanson creates heavy-duty chalk lines up to 150 ft. in length.

A DTVISION OF LUMBER GROUP, INC.

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Spa Components

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Edge-Glued Panels

Kilns for Custom Drying .

Anderson, Ca.: (800) 427-8253. (530) 378-6980

. Fax 530-378-6987 Fred Duchi Don Cherovsky

Mike Webster. Danen Duchi Dean Duchi

Weed, Ca.: (800) 374-0210. (530) 938-2771

. Fax 530-938-3227 Bill Duchi Dennis Duchi

SuperPro 150 contains 24 oz. of chalk an easy filling chalk reservoir. It is manufactured with ABS plastic and a nickel-steel handle.

- Please contact (800) 827-3398 or go online at www. chhanson.com

Motorinq Lift Truck

Tovota Miterial Handlins has added a line of threewheel"electric lift trucks in 3,d'00- to 4,000-lb. capacities. Seven Series features a motor that reportedly regenerates at 10 times the rate of a DC motor.

- Please contact (949) 474-1135 or go online at www. toyotaforklift.com

Lift This Power Stacker

A power lift stacker for light-duty material handling is new from Multiton MIC Corp.

Model SM l5120, a walk-behind stacker, is available in a single mast for 62" lift or a telescopic mast for lifts up to 130".

- Please contact (804) 737-7400 or go online at www.multiton.com

Waterproof Plywood

Georgia-Pacific has introduced plywood with a water repellant coating that is said to reduce moisture absorption.

Steel ls In Trouble

A metal cutting circular saw that reportedly cuts through steel as easily as traditional saws cut throush soft pine is new from M.K. Morse Co.

Acrylic Avant-Garde

Acrylic block that is reportedly 70Vo lighter than installed glass block is available from Hy-Lite Products. The blocks feature cross rib pattern for obscurity and are available in green wave, blue wave, peach wave and rose wave.

- Please contact (877) 712-4013 or go online at www.hy-lite.com

G-P Plus Plywood Sturd-I-Floor reportedly will not interfere with the direct installation and adhesion of covering such as vinyl tile, hardwood floor and carpeting.

- Please contact (800) 284-5347 or go online atwww.gpplywood.com

Morse Metal Devil is said to cut through 6"xl/4" steel plates in an average of less than 12 seconds.

- Please contact (800) 733-3377 or go online at www.mkmorse.com

Certif ication Handbook

FSC Forest Management Certification

Handbookfor the Southeast United States, a handbook for landowners, forest mangers and forest product companies involved with Forest Stewardship Council's third-party certification program. is free from The Forest Management Trust, Box 1 10760, Gainesville, Fl. 32601; (352) 846-2240; www.foresttrust.org.

Wired In The House

Structured Wiring Networks, a new brochure of structured wiring products for electrical contractors and builders, is free from Cooper Wiring Devices, 45-31 Court Sq., Long Island, N.Y. lll0l; (718) 9378000; www.cooperwiringdevices.com.

The A To Z OF CBA

A product guide to Natural Select copper azole wood preservative is available from Arch Wood Protection. 1955 Lake Park Dr., Suite 250, Smyrna, Ga. 30080; (770) 801-6600; www.naturalselect.com

Mouldings Showcase

A interactive CD of mouldings for builders and architects featuring product specs and CAD drawings is new from WindsorOne, Box 39, Windsor, Ca.

3j.i:3:g:t' 838-7r0I; www wind-

The Tool Catalog

A 96-p. catalog of power tools, toolings and abrasives for industrial, construction and welding applications is free from Metabo Corp., 123 1 Wilson Dr., West Chester, Pa. 19380; (800) 638-2264; www. metabousa.com.

(||}ngtabo

Power Tools, Toohng and Abrasives

Glass Insulation Intellect

A brochure of flexible spacer systems for insulating glass (brochure # F-8067) is free from TruSeal Technologies, 23150 Commerce Park, Beachwood, Oh. 44122; (216) 910-1 532; www.truseal.com.

Window Replacement Tips

A 8-p. guide to selecting replacement windows is free from Simonton Windows, Box 1646, Parkersburg, Va. 26102; (800) 5 42-9 | l8 : www.simonton.com.

Foam Roof Insulation Facts

An educational package to assist designers, specifiers and contractors with the recently adopted long-term resistance values of polyiso foam roof insulation is free from Johns Manville, Box 5108, Denver, Co. 80217; (303) 978-2000; wwwjm.com.

Deck ldeas Galore

The Big ldea Book, a l2-p., full-color brochure of composite deck designs, is free from Louisiana-Pacific Corp., 805 SW Broadway, Portland, Or. 97205; (800) 648-6893: www.weatherbest.com.

Fastener Your Seat Belts

Seventh Edition Inch Fastener Standards Book, a 1,277-p. reference guide for fastener design, selection, materials, strength properties and installation, is $345 from Industrial Fasteners Institute, 1717 E.9th St., Suite I105, Cleveland, Oh. 44114: (2lO 241-1482.

Cruising In The DC

A 12-p. brochure of three-wheel electronic cushion and pneumatic lift trucks is free from Toyota Industrial Equipment, (800) 226-0009; www.toyotaforklift.com.

Finish That Wood

Quick 'N Easy Guide to Ultimate Wood Care, an interactive CD of tips and teaching ideas for pros and d-i-yers on applying wood finish, is free from Performance Coatings Inc., (800) 7366346; www.penofin.com.

S.C. Hardware Firm Expands

Burdette Hardware is adding a third South Carolina location-a I 4,000-sq. ft. store in Mauldin.

Owners Alan and Art McCraw said groundbreaking commenced earlier this month. with construction scheduled to start by the end of the summer.

The 8.34-acre site will include a garden center and a shopping eenlrr.

Burdette Hardware has been in Simpsonville since I899, and also has a store in Fountain Inn.

lEEuo,i.,

Truman W. Hall, 71, fbrmer lobbyist for the Mid-Anterica Lumbermen's Association. died March 2l

A krng-time resident of Little Rock, Ar., Mr. Hall served I3 yeiirs in the Marine Coros.

Befirre joining the MLA statf, he worked in the retail lumber business in Little Rock fbr 28 years. During that time. he was elected MLA's Arkansas Dealer of the Year in I988 and MLA president in 1987- 1988.

Robert S. Coleman Sr., 92, founder of Robert S. Coleman Lumber Co., Culpeper, Va., died April 6.

Mr. Coleman started the sawmill in the rrid- l9zl0s and retired in the early 1970s. when his son. Robert S. Coleman Jr.. krok over.

W.O. "Audy" Gross. 87. cofounder of Gross-Yowell & Co.. Waco, Tx.. died Jan. 9.

A native of Waco. Mr. Gross served with the Army in India and Burma during World War II.

He worked for Wm. Cameron Lumber Co. before founding GrossYowell with his cousin. Orville Yowell. rn 1946.

Ralph Gerald "Jerry" Garner. 64. president of Garner Lumber Co., Duluth. Ga.. died Aoril 12.

He was a native of Gwinnett County. Ga.. and an Army veteran.

Gene Auldridge, 56, president of Auldridge Building Center. Goldthwaite. Tx.. died of leukemia Jan.29.

He had been a member of the Lumbermen's Association of Tcxas since 1977.

Charles E. "Stoneyt' Fleece, 67, formerly a lurnberman at C.E. Shirk Lumber Co.. Clear Spring, Md., died April 6 in Winchester, Va.

A native of Morgan County, W.V., he also co-owned Fleece Masonry.

3D Vinyl Lattice

1" Operrruc

l zla " Operurne 2" OprnrNc

:la" OpEr.rrt'ro 3" Operunc

Operurruc

TEXAS DEALERS: Lumbermen's Association of Texas held its annual convention and buying show April 3-5 in Austin, Tx. (1)Travis & Calley Fromme. (2) Richard Cunningham, Byron Potter. (3) Lucas Ross, Meagan, Lauren and Kyle McCarley. (4) Lonnie Goolsby, John Brill. (5) Shenill & Paul Oeding. (6) Steve Herren, Henri & Larry Loessin. (7) James & Shirley Mclntyre, Brenda & Mike Aaron. (8) Gary Weaver, Mary Cunningham. (9)Brittlnman. (10)Ahren Spilker. (11) Randy Curtis, Al Cron. (12) Michael Littlejohn, Betty Evans. (13) Christina & Josh Johnson, Fred Cruce, Kit Goolsby. (14) Ron Craft, Ward Payne, Dennis Schmidt. (15) Wayne Stevens, Robert Archer, Ed McNorton, Jeff

BurlorNc Pnooucrs Dtcnsr Mnv 2003

LeBlanc. (16) Richard Odell, Scott Stewart, Marshall Owens. (17) Jay Tolson, Mary & Doug Gregory. (18) Mitja & Barbara Peterman. (19) Emily Fiesler, Roy Deering. (20) Dave Mehl, Terry Heathcock, David Porter, Pete SchifJers. (21) Dan Zellick, Matt Robinson. (22) Rick Baughman, Joe Padilla. (23) Cheryl & Lynn Guillory. (24) Joe_Davis, Zane Latham, Karl Akers, Howard Burr. (25) Kevin Rooney, Russell Slaughter, Lilli Huber, Jeff Parnell. (26) Scott Stanford, Jason Henson, Jerry McNamara. (27) Randy Holgate.

(More photos on the next pagel

MORE LAT (continued from the previous page): (1) Michael Zumwalt, Lea Eastman, Steve Cole. (2) Jareld Hathcock, Gary Keen. (3) Frank Stewart, John Brill. (4) Brad Harris, Kathy Del Toro, Ginger Koening, Mark Stripling, Scott Plumlee. (5) Currie Bohn, Kim Hall. (6) Trent Campbell. (7) Nick Pierce. (8) Linda Priddy, Noel Pennington. (9) Ken Joliffe, Sam Chambers. (10) Scott Von Gonten, Mike Wittum, Robb Evans, David Pearson. (11) Jay Tolson, Ken Childs, Don Reboul, Richard Gaiennie. (12) Bill Swartzman. R. J. Patterson. Georoe Crane. (13) Lou Peacock, Wdler Hixson, Todd Beams, Craig Blakeriore. (14) Bobby Crowley, Jamie Hursh, Bill Dunkelberg. (15) Wayne Owen, Daryl Carter, Lee Roy, David & Chris Jordan. (16) Dean Evans. (17) Russell

Evans. (18) Nicole Gardner, Don & Bobby Clinton. (19) Craig Corley, Chad Lowe. (20) Joe Collorton, Larry Schnautz, Leonard Gloor, David Garza, Stephen Geistweidt. (21) James Moore, Tammy Bennett, Matthew Battarbee. (22) Patrick McCaslin, Teni Steers, Bill Weatherly. (23) Tony Venable, David Epley, Barbara & Chuck Colvin. (24) Lariy Reasoner, Julie Hogg, Margaret lssacs, John Myrick, Steve Baker, Guy Pasteur. (25) Rick Hogue, Stephanie & Dana Rhodes. (26) Lee Baxter. (27) Tim Franckowiak. (28) Luis, Susan and Danny Mancillas. (29) Walter Wallace, Carter Smith, Jason White, Joe Guzman, Chris McCollum, Bradley Earnhardt, Jason Sanders. (30) Susan Childers, Pat Aldred. Brenda Elliott. Todd Overhultz. Mav 2003

Rates: 25 words for $25, additional words 700 each. Phone number counts as one word, address as six. Headline or centered copy, $6 per line. Private box or special border, $6 each. Column inch rate: $45 camera-

EXPERIENCED LUMBER TRADER WANTED

Great opportunity for experienced trader with steady accounts. 607o commission split for trader. Any product line. Relocation not necessary. Excellent office support, great credit, and financial strength. Call John at Lakeside Lumber Products. (1.8Cl. 991-177'7. for confidential discussion.

PLYWOOD SALESPERSON: Growing 35year-old Importer/Wholesale-Distributor/ Manufacturer seeks quality, knowledgeable person with at least 3 years sales experience in imported and/or hardwood plywood, willing to relocate to Gulf Coast Region. Entrepreneurial position to expand existing plywood sales program including value-added production. Position offers competitive salary with full benefits. 401k. Send resume to Box 102, c/o Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660.

WE BTIY AND SELL PANEL STRIPS

Plywood, OSB, particleboard and MDF by the truckloads. Lumber Source, Phone (800) 874-1953, Fax 888-576-8723, e-mail LumberSource @ worldnet.att.net.

ready, $55 if we set the type. Send ad copy to Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660, Fax 949-852-0231, or call (949) 852-1990. Ad must be prepaid unless you have established credit with us. Make checks payable to Cutler Publishing. Deadline for copy: 20th of the month.

To reply to ads with private box numbers, send correspondence to box number shown, c/o Building Products Digest. Names of advertisers using a box number cannot be released.

REMANUFACTURING SPECIALIST, center match on 1". 2". 3" and 4" lumber. Other patterns including flooring, ceiling, log siding and more. Custom CCA treating. Custom KDAT. We manufacture Southern Yellow Pine 1x4 and 1x6 S4S and pattems. Call Billy Ryals, Laurel Lumber Co., Laurel, Ms., (601) 6497 696; F ax 60l -428-1214.

Matchlng clients wlth candidates for wln-wln solutlonslll ll72 Country Club Lane 817-457-9995 Fort Worth,

Travelite fade show display from ExpoSystems. Ideal for l0'x10' booth space. Sharp black backdrop with overhead lighting. Quickly and easily breaks down into self-contained case, weighs just 50 lbs. and features wheels for easy transport. Excellent condition. $995 or best offer. Call Chuck, Building Products Digest, (949) 852-1990.

Anxmms

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. ,.,.....,,,..(904) 258-7818

McEwen Lumber Co. (Delray Beach).............(561) 276-5155

McEwen Lumber Co. (Jacksonville)..........,....(904) 783-0170

McEwen Lumber Co. (Orlando)...,.,.,.,...., .......1407\ 299 4280

l\4cEwen Lumber Co. (Tampa) ..,.,..,......,..,.....(81 3) 248-41 1 1

Southern Pine Inspection 8ureau,..................(850) 434-261 1

Stambone & Ass0ciates.................................(863) 646-6445

Universal Building Specia|ties,....,..,.,....,..,.....(800) 282-9583

Weyerhaeuser BMD (Jacksonville) ................(877) 235-6873

Weyerhaeuser BM0 (Pompano Beach) ......(8771 235-6873

Weyerhaeuser Building l\4aterials (Tampa)....(877) 235-6873

Fortress Wood Products (Greensboro).....,.,..(866) 878-9663

Huber Corp., J.M. ,.. ........1704) 547-9220

McEwen Lumber Co, (High Point)...........,.,.,..(336) 472-1 676

McEwsn Lumber Co, (Raleigh)......................(919) 772-7550

Smith Millwork, Inc. ........................................(336) 249-81 71

Tank Fab Inc. ....,...,..,.,..(910) 675-8999

Universal Forest Pr0ducts..............................(704) 855-1 600

Vinyl Windows & Doors Corp. ........................(910) 944-2100

Weyerhaeuser BMD (Charlotte)..........,...,.,...,(877) 235-6873

Weyerhaeuser BMD (Greensboro)............,.,..(877) 235-6873

Weyerhaeuser StructuM00d..........................(800) 523-0824

Williams & Sons, Inc., Jerry G. .......................(919) 934-41 15

Williams Lumber Co. of North Carolina.. ........(252) 442-2136

0xuroml

Cedar Creek Wholesale (Oklahoma City) .,...,(800) 375-6025

Cedar Creek Wholesale, lnc. (Tulsa) .,,...,.,...,(800) 299-9870

Weyerhaeuser Building Materia|s...................(877) 235-6873

Soun Cmoum

Cox Wood Preserving C0,......,............,...,....,.(800) 476-4401

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Darlington).........,(800]1 737 -7 126

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Greenville) ..........(8001 737 -7132

Enterprise Computer Systems, Inc.........,..,...,(800) 569-6309

Grubb & Ellis .................(803) 779-8600

McEwen Lumber Co. (Charleston)............,.,..(843) 766-5383

McEwen Lumber Co. (Greenville)..................(864) 277-8865

New South Wood Preserving Co...........,.....,.,(800) 346-8675

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Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Knoxville)..,...,....,(800) 737-7 127

Diamond Hill Plywood Co, (Nashville),...........(800) 737-71 28

Epperson Lumber Sa|es.................................(866) 292-1414

McEwen Lumber Co. (Memphis)....................(901) 794-1050

McEwen Lumber Co. (Nashville)...,,....,......,...(615) 793-7746

Memphis Hardwood Flooring Co.......,.....,..,...(800)

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Southem Pine C0unci|....,......,..,.......,.,...........(504) 443-4464

Weyerhaeuser Co. ........(31 8) 255-6258

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Beautilul Home Supp|y............................,......(800) 761-9663

Swan Secure Products..,..................,.,.,....,....(800) 966-2801

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Columbus lumber........,......(800) 654-6743 (601) 833-1990

Hood Industries....... ......(601) 735-5071

Southern Lumber Co. ..........(800) 748.891 I (601 ) 362.001 9

Weyerhaeuser Building Materia|s....,...,.,........(877) 235-6873

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A&H Windows ...,..... ...,..(866) 229-7617

Chadsworth's 1.800.C01umns ...,..............,..,..(800) 486-21 18

Chemical Specialties, 1nc.,...........,.,.,.....,. ......(704) 522-0825

Crumpler Plastic Pipe, Inc......,.......,..,............(800) 334-5071

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Charlotte)............(800) 737-7134

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Greensboro) .,..,..(800) 737-7130

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. (Raleigh) ,.....,.......(800) 737-7133

DLH Nordisk, Inc. .......,........,.....,....................(800) 688-2882

Eastcoast i/ouldings ....(800) 627-3263

Epperson Lumber Sales ......(800) 222-1414 (704\ 873-4321

Fortress Wood Products (Elizabeth City) .....(25212il-24ffi

aAX h 949-852-023r

or call (949) 852-1990 or mail to Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca.92660-1872.

Building Products Digest - May 2003

For more information on products or companies (see list at right), circle the appropriate

For more information from advertisers, use FAX Response numbers in brackets.

Austin Wholesale Decking Supply tf361.................. ...Cover III

Beautiful Home Supply t1351........................42

Burk Distribution Center t1f81.........,.,.,......23

Canfor F031.... .........................3

Capital Lumber Co. [105] ...................6, 37, 4l

Chemical Specialties Inc. [10,6].......................7

Chesapeake Hardwood Products t11f 1,.......17

Computer Associates, Inc. tf291...................31

CorrectDeck t1081............................................8

Corza E14l ...........................20

Crumpler Plastic Pipe, Inc. [116] ,,..,............22

Custom Lumber Manufacturing [30].........34

DMSi [123]...... -------.........27

Do It Best Corp. [113]....................................19

Elder Forest Products [128]..........................30

Envirosafe t1021,..........,...............,.....,.Cover II

Epoch Composites [122] ................................26

Flexia Corp. t1381..............-...........................15

Great Southern Wood Preserving U04l ........5

GRK Canada t1241 ........................................28

International Paper Corp.-Engineered Wood Division t12U............................................25

Kodiak Outdoor Products U121...................18

Krauter Storage Systems t1321.....................35

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Kubinec Strapping Solutions [126]...............29

Madison Wood Preservers t1191.,.,...............23

Nexwood Industries [127]....................,.........30

Permalatt Products [134] ..............................37

Sakura U.S.A. tf33l ..........-.-........................35

Siskiyou Forest Products [131] .....................34

Smith Millwork t1f 01...........-..-....................13

Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association [120]

StraightEdge Solutions t1071 ..........................8

SureDrive USA t1251 .....................................29

Swan Secure Products [117]....,,,,............22, 34

Universal Building Specialties [1 l5].............21

US Borax t1371 ...................................Cover IV

Weyerhaeuser Co. [101] --.-,.........,.....Cover I

Williams & Sons, Jerry G. [103]...................12