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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.