Door showroom highlights dealer's extreme makeover

SEVERAL years ago when Mead L)Building Centers. Columbus. Ne.. acquired Knecht Home Center, Rapid City, S.D., some changes were expected. But after a freshly-completed remodeling, the store now bears minimal resemblance to its previous self.

A grand opening May 2l-22 showed off the newly rearranged aisles and series of sample room settings, including bathrooms, kitchens, front porches, windows and doors.

According to manager Dave Kratovil, the mini-showrooms reflect the business' new emphasis on remodeling and new home construction. "We wanted a place contractors could come with home buyers and work one-on-one in a showroom setting," he said. "In the past, we'd have to say, 'We don't have any of that, but we have a book you can look at."'

The crown jewel is a new 6,000-sq. ft. window and door showroom. prominently featuring Therma-Tru fiberslass doors. "Our home center is the largest home showroom between Denver and Minneapolis, with 600 products on display, including all of the doors in Therma-Tru's vast entry systems catalog," said general manager Wally Bork. "The one-stop shop is a whole new concept for consumers. Our showrooms give customers ideas of what the products will look like displayed in their own homes, from the kitchen and bath to the exterior."

Bork attributed the doors' popularity to the performance of the products and the manufacturer's strong brand awareness. He also noted that customers are equally impressed by some of the best warranties in the business that come with the door collections.

"Every customer has his or her own taste, but Therma-Tru has so many options that everyone leaves our showroom satisfied," continued Bork. "Even homeowners who have never seen a fiberglass door wind up selecting one after they see the difference between fiberglass and wood or steel."

Also on display are patio doors. Patio doors have evolved with the advent of fiberglass patio doors, which raises the bar for performance for all patio products. Fiberglass' share of the patio market today is less than 57o, but it is growing very quickly. It doubled in 2002 and again in 2003. The performance of fiberglass is driving the shift from aluminum and wood, but at a much faster pace than the shift occurred for entry doors. The patio door market will be 4. l6 million units by 2006, totaling a more than $2 billion opportunity.

Warren Window & Supply, Rapid City, has been supplying door products to Knecht Home Centers for over four years. He recalled the looks of awe on his customers' faces when he displayed a wood door and a fiberglass door side-by-side. Not a single customer was able to tell the difference from an appearance standpoint, but fiberglass significantly outperforms wood.

"We sell fiberglass doors 50-to-one compared to wood doors," said

Warren's Dave Viall. "Nowadays, the only reason people purchase wood doors is for historical purposes."

Why is the market for fiberglass entry systems growing? According to recent research by Therma-Tru:

Today's homeowners want highperformance, advanced materials that outlast and out-perform their old-fashioned counterparts. They are frustrated with the maintenance requirements and poor performance that plague wood and steel doors.

As front entry doors are replaced, wood was replaced 58Vo of the time, primarily to improve the appearance of the home.

Durability and energy efficiency were the two features given most frequently for selecting a particular type of door. But, for higher-end entry doors. style became a more important factor. Homeowners purchased a fiberglass front door because: ln ONTRACTORS. manufacturers. lL-,and even consumer media have expressed confusion and concern over the proper fasteners to use with "next generation" types of preserved lumber. The hubbub has reinforced two points that are commonly known but also commonly overlooked:

. 3lVa said it was more attractive than wood or steel.

. 627o said it would be more durable than other types.

3l7o thought it would be more energy efficient than other types.

, 317o said it had features other door types did not.

1. Change often brings confusion, whether warranted or not.

2. Follow recommendations and you'll avoid problems.

The copper-based preservativescopper azole and alkaline copper quaternary-protect wood effectively, but the treated wood is somewhat more corrosive to hardware than is CCAtreated wood. After 30 years and countless installations. contractors have come to know well the characteristics of CCA-treated wood and to recognize applications where they could get satisfactory results using inexpensive hardware. The introduction of the newer products erased historical experience and, as change often does, brought doubts and questions.

An article in Rural Builder noted. "The jury seems to be out on the kinds of nails you need to be using with treated lumber." However, this article appeared in January of 1987. It reported on the preservative switch from CCA salts to CCA oxides, and noted that different hardware was necessary for each. Similar statements probably accompanied previous preservative changes, so it is not unusual that corrosion concerns are being heard now.

Most concerns are covered in published hardware recommendations. Although responsible preservative producers are reluctant to endorse specific fasteners since preservative companies do not monitor hardware production, and responsible hardware manufacturers are reluctant to endorse brands of preserved lumber since they

By Huck DeVenzio Arch Treatment Technologies

do not monitor treating processes, both groups know their own products and have provided information to guide contractors.

For example, the producers of Wolmanized Natural Select wood say in literature and on their Web site: " Use hot-dipped galvanized Jasteners (meeting ASTM A I 53 ) and connectors (ASTM A 653 Class GI85 sheet), or better, for protection against the effects of moisture often present where treated wood is used."

They go on to advise against contact with aluminum ("When using aluminum, a protective physical barrier should be used to separate the aluminum.from the wood.") and suggest stainless steel for certain applications ("For Permanent Wood Foundations, use 304 or 316 stainless steel hardware.") In corrosive environments, such as areas with saltwater spray, stainless steel may be advisable.

Licensors of other next generation brands have recommendations that are virtually identical. So are those of Daniel Monison, of Fine Homebuilding, who wrote, "Perhaps the most important point to keep in mind relating to copper-based wood treatments and galvanic corrosion is to avoid aluminum flashings altogether. Aluminum corrodes quickly in the presence of high copper concentrations."

If a nail or joist hanger satisfies their criteria, the treated wood people are confident that the lumber will not cause corrosion problems. Hardware manufacturers need only verify that their products meet the appropriate ASTM standard or provide equal protection.

The hardware recommendations are not new, although previous versions did not refer to standards. Here's the recommendation of Koppers Co., a former CCA producer, quoted in the 1987 magazine cited earlier: "Fasten- ers should be corrosion-resistant such as hot-dipped galvanized, copper, silicon bronze, stainless steel type 304 or 316 or other metals having corrosionresistance equal to that of hot-dip zinc-coatings."

Guidelines about avoiding contact with aluminum and using stainless steel hardware in PWFs also existed with CCA-treated wood, and still do.

Recently, the manufacturer of copper azole amended its general hardware recommendations to address indoor conditions. It makes sense that there would be less corrosion for sill plates and treated lumber in interior applications-there is less moisture present to promote corrosion-but data was lacking to confirm this. In May, Arch refined its recommendations with two amendments: l. While galvanized fasteners are preferable, the use of non-galvanized nails or screws of sizes and types approved by the Model Code is acceptable when attaching joists, studs, or other framing to Wolmanized Natural Select sill plate, provided the wood will remain dry in service. protected from weather and water.

2. The use of standard galvanized strapping, anchor plates, or mild steel anchor bolts l/2" diameter and larger is acceptable for fastening the wood to foundations, provided that the wood will remain dry in service, protected from the weather and water.

As testing and experience continue, manufacturers may make other modifications to their recommendations.

The transition in treated wood does not have to be a hardware problem. If contractors select hardware that meets the recommendations of the preservative companies, they should not experience hardware corrosion. However, if they choose hardware with inadequate protection, some dream decks could become corrosion ni ghtmares.