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Grow

fohn K. Smith, CPCU President and Chief Executive Officer

decks and porches by visiting SFPA's website, southernpinedecks.com. The site covers steps in the building proccss, explains why treated southern pine decking is the preferred material, and even offers specification tips. Links to American Wood Council's Prescri;ttive Residential Wood Deck C o t s t r uct o rt G u i de appear throughout thc site.

"This sitc tells peoplc why prcssure-treated southern pinc remains thc best material when building outdoors," says SFPA's Richard Kleiner. "There's a lclt of infbrmation and nrisinformation out there about the pros and cons of using real wood versus composites."

Help for buiiding outdoors is available in print, too. SFPA has highlighted the online information and published a l2-page booklet, Southern Pine Decks & Porches. Aimed at professional deck builders and advanced d-i-yers, it offers design and construction guidance. Photos of completed decks and porches showcase what treated southern pine lumber can do to naturally enhance any landscape. Like the online material, generous references to AWC's construction guide are included. A PDF download of this new publication is available at www.soulhernpine.com.

Many producers of treated products offer their own educational programs for dealers and their customers. "Working in collaboration with SFPA and others, our robust continuing education program keeps designers and builders keenly aware that pressuretreated southern yellow pine is much more than decking boards," reports Keith Harris, marketing vice president for Cox Industries, Orangeburg, S.C. "Our dealers are finding a very strong market for our variety of specialty products, such as laminated timber columns, treated and primed trim boards. alternative stabilized treated decking, as well as fire-retardant treated material. It certainly doesn't hurt that all of these products are made tiom the most sustainable and renewable building material on the planct: southern yellow pine."

Green getting attention

According to a recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction and NAHB. the market share for "green" homes is expected to surpass $i100 billion over the next five years. Green building was nearly 20a/c of the market last year. Homebuyers pcrceive a green (Continuetl on puge 30)