Interior wood paneling makes acomeback

I f IOOD for walls is back on the Y Y consumer radar screen. It's due primarily to a designer revival of the Mission look and Cottage beadboards. Now designers showcase roomsets with painted wood wainscots along with wallpaper or faux finished paint- ed upper walls. Woodgrain looks are usually the Library (ungrooved) panels shown with flat, wide mouldings to anchor the Mission or Craftsmen architectural style showing a strong resurgence.

While paint and wallpaper manufacturers have been pro-active with designers in color development, panel producers have been focused on the availability of veneers and cores, and the technical limitations of marrying the two together. Now panel manufacturers are beginning to realize the opportunities afforded by today's "wood for walls" consumer demand.

"Our hardwood plywood panel array is being revamped with new grooving knives and spacers to accommodate today's fashion for wider width beaded boards," said John Redding, senior v.p. of sales and marketing for Chesapeake Hardwood Products Co., Chesapeake, Va.

Chesapeake is also making its furniture grade, ungrooved and UV finished panels available for retail and pro sales segments. "We've always had these products, but without the designer focus in our marketing strategy," explained Redding. "The idea of using our upscale wood products as a centerpiece in designing the look of a room really has a place in today's market."

Manufacturers are

reacting to today's "wood for walls" consumer demand.

Other manufacturers, including International Paper, also are enjoying renewed interest in beaded wood panels. "SatinBead has become a renaissance product for us this year with year-to-date sales doubling those of last year," said International Paper's Julie A. Hogg. "We plan on actively focusing our efforts on the homebuilder. retailer. industrial customer, and architect going forward."

The new growth potential will also trickle down to the 1/8" prefinished, woodgrain print and paper paneling usually seen as a random groove pattern, an industry staple. Look for that to change as mass-marketed paneling mimics its luxury hardwood veneer cousins with wider beading and ungrooved panels. Low-cost ll4" beaded MDF and mid-priced paint grade wood finishes now come in ready-topaint primed finishes. Expect today's popular colors to appear in valueadded painted finishes.

With the advent of computerized color matching, paint customers have limitless choices beyond the paint chip array. Their retailers have been able to devote less space to rows of paint cans in favor of paint technique paraphernalia and how-to marketing. The value of the paint chip is not lost, however, as many a homeowner's kitchen table has been spread with paint chips and wallpaper catalogs as they make decorating decisions.

Paneling has struggled with this not being invited to the party. Its 4x8 size and price preclude the advantage of a small can of paint or one roll of wallpaper. Even Web site galleries caution that graining and color are often distorted when viewed on screen, but an in-store pocket sample just doesn't show enough of a woodgrain's variation to make it reliable. Though not as instant as paint samples or checking out wallpaper catalogs, generous 16x24 paneling samples are being ground shipped to the patient consumer for shipping charges.

Decoratives (the paneling industry term for their wallpaper-look designs) has also followed the wallpaper industry's trend toward washable vinyls, and the mimicking of faux effect techniques that has been so successful for the paint industry. Paint enjoys the reputation of being the cheapest route to serious redecorating, and wallpaper brings the ease of pre-selected color pallets and intricate designs. Once the learning curve is mastered, painting and wallpaper re-do's can become quite addictive. On the other hand, the durability of wall paneling is its calling card. It is considered part of the architecture and can even be painted over when a new look is desired.

Paint, wallpaper and paneling often compete for the same customer. The paneling boom gave way to the explosion in wallpaper, followed by the popularity of faux effect paint techniques. However, as evidenced by the designer magazine bellweather, the same sought-after customer now often wants all three and in the same room.

Rank Company

(including number of OSB plants)

Louisiana-Pacif ic

Portland,0r,

14 plants: Hanceville, Al.; Dawson Creek, B.C.;Woodland, Me.: Athens, Ga.; Houlton, Me.; Sagola, Mi.;Iwo Harbors, Mn.; Hayward, Wi.; Swan Valley, Mantoba; Roxboro, N.C,; Jaspet, Carthage, Tx.; Maniwaki, St.-Michel, Chambord, Quebec l0olants: DraytonValley,Edson,SlaveLake,Alberta; Grayling,Mi.; Elkin,N.C.;Sutton,W.V.; Wawa, Ontario; Miramichi, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan; Arcadia, La.

Weyerhaeuser Co.

Federal Way, Wa.

No6ord Industries

Toronb, Ontario

,g plants: Bemidli, Mn.; Cordele, Ga.; Guntown, Ms.; Huguley, Al,; Jetferson, Tx.; Joanna, S.C.; La Sarre, Ouebec; Nacogdoches, Tx.

Georgia-Pacific Corp.

Atlanta, Ga.

6 plants: Fordyce, Ar.;Grenada, Ms.; Dudley, N.C.; Brookneal, Skippers, Va.; Mt. Hope, W.V.

Grant Forest Products

Englehart, 0ntario

0.sla0tQ:End0hart,Timmins,0ntario;HighLeve|{50o/"JVdAinsw0rth),A|berta..'':

Huber Engineered Woods

Charlotte, N.C.

4 olants: Commerce, Ga.; Easton, Me.;Crystal Hill, Va.; Spring City, Tn.

Ainsworth Lqber Go., lJd. , "'100 Mite House, B.C.

3 dants: 1& l,fle l'lorne; Grand Prairie, High Level (50o/" JV wlcrant), Alberta

Potlatch Corp.

Spokane, Wa.

3 plants: Bemidji, Cook, Grand Rapids, Mn.

Tolko Industries

High Pnairie, Alberta

1 plqrit Hi$ Prairb :r ,i:

Slocan Forest Group

Richmond, British Columbia liplant,,, 8anilick, onlario

1 plant: Fort Nelson, B.C.

Eoise ' Bolse, ld.

Martco Partnership

Lemoyen, La.

'I olant: Lemoyen, La. Langboard,lnc. ,