Hot, hot, hot OSB finds value tn radiant barrier panels

the product to continue growing 30357o over the next two to three years.

Other OSB producers are scrambling to get a piece of the action. Potlatch anicipates a late November introduction of LuminOX from its Bemidji, Mn., facility, according to Bob Mai.

"Radiant barrier sheathing has experienced an annual sales growth of upwards of 507o over the past two to three years, making it possibly the fastest growing of all building material categories," says Julie Cole, marketing manager for LouisianaPacific's TechShield.

The product was first produced in the late 1980s by KoolPly, and L-P acquired the company in 1995. Two years later, International Paper introduced their version, Solar Board.

"We have seen tremendous growth, especially in the last 24 months," says IP's Steve Baker. "Partly, it's because of heightened energy awareness, such as with the electricity deregulation in California. That's a piece of it. But primarily, when folks sit down and look at the product. they decide they want it on their home. We just have to let folks know about it."

L-P's Cole similarly attributes the exploding demand to "increased energy consciousness by the American public. Also, part of it is that we and other companies have been placing more emphasis on the product because it's value-added, so margins typically are higher than on commodity products." She anticipates sales of

As well. Willamette Industries is about to formally unveil its still-to-benamed radiant barrier OSB and plywood. "We see it as an opportunity to add value," says John LeFors, v.p. of Willamette's building materials group. "We have plenty of substrate to put it on and the experience to offer a quality product."

Weyerhaeuser, the nation's second largest OSB producer (next to L-P), currently doesn't produce such a product, but does see a need in hot, dry climates. Consequently, early this year Weyerhaeuser customer service centers in applicable regions, such as Southern California, began distributing L-P's TechShield.

Langboard's Quitman, Ga., OSB plant started producing Energylock radiant barrier sheathing in the late spring. "We'd about topped off what we could do with OSB," says Chuck Rigoni. "This is something else to sell, another application for OSB, and a growing market. It's a value-added product; we hope to keep it that way so it doesn't turn into a commodity."

Radiant barrier sheathing, he says, "is already established in Texas and the Southwest, but is just beginning to be used in the South and Southeast. We see a lot of opportunity here, and we hope to grow with that. I'm excited to be selling it for the short-term, but especially for the future."

All the manufacturers admit that their products are basically the same, although in June L-P added a slight differentiation. "We patented a new incising process whereby we actually incise the product after the laminating process," Cole says. "The post-lamination process puts little holes in the foil and in the board. which allows the substrate, either plywood or OSB, to dry much faster. That's important to the builder and homeowner because often the sheathing gets wet before the builder has a chance to install the roofing felt and shingles. The builder is supposed to let it dry. If they apply felt and shingles before it's fully dry, there is opportunity to trap moisture. The incising allows the moisture to acclimate through the board."

The increasing number of players sees nothing but growth. "There are some prognosticators out there who believe that one day all new construction will have this type of product," IP's Baker says. "I don't know that I'd go that far, but certainly we are seeing business grow year after year. (Using the product) just makes sense."