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the industry, marketing tips, FRTW, new markets, and much more
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BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is published monthly at 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. J3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (714) 4862735, www.building-products.com, by 526 Media Group, Inc. (a California Corporation). It is an independently owned publication for building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 37 states East of the Rockies. Copyright®2025 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Cover and entire contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. All Rights Reserved. BPD reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liability for materials furnished to it. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of 526 Media Group, Inc. Articles in this magazine are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or business management advice.
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HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
------------ BY PATRICK ADAMS
MY SON IS NOW 8 years old and, so far, he’s a “Momma’s boy.” From everyone I talk to, this is normal— first daughter is a tomboy, Daddy’s girl, and the youngest boy ends up the opposite. This has never really bothered me because if my kids know we both love them and that, in their many phases, they have at least one of us they can talk to, I chalk it up as a win.
A few years back, I bought some Nerf Gun sets in hopes of reliving a safer version of the BB gun wars I had in the front yard with neighborhood kids. Well, at the time, my son just kind of looked at them and moved on to something else. Recently, however, he’s getting a bit rowdier and the guns came out! He didn’t even get his request to me out of his mouth before we were in the back yard, locked and loaded.
As the “war” unfolded, kind of a tactical game of tag, I found the countless hours of training coming back like riding a bike. Stalking, ambushing, firing from cover. He was outmatched. During one engagement, I rolled from cover, unloaded one magazine hitting him several times, reloaded magazines, and continued firing on the move, striking him several more times, somehow without taking a single hit. It was pure domination of an 8-year-old.
I waited to see his reaction. Would he quit? Get angry? Cry from the countless hits and frustration? To my surprise, he walked up and said, “Daddy, how did you do that?” I was proud, and immediately overwhelmed as my mind attempted to unpack “how” that was the byproduct of so many hours of training that it seemed impossible to break down.
But it reminded me of how important “how” is. To me, “what” is done matters very little if “how” it is done is careless. The same message, action or event can have a very different impact depending on how it is executed. I believe this is a universal truth that carries through every
portion of our life from personal, to business, and even our legacy after we’re gone.
As leaders, this is even more important and, I will argue, is the most important element that defines good leadership. I believe in the philosophy of “leading from the front.” I inform my team of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, who does what, and then, I am the first through the door. I don’t ask people to do what I’m not willing to do, and I make sure that how we do what we do is in line with our goals and values—both short term and long term.
Often I find I don’t necessarily disagree with a leader’s goals, but rather how they pursue them that causes disappointment. Kind of analogous to winning the battle, but losing the war. Maybe this is experience, or wisdom, or perhaps just empathy, but I do believe it is the foundation of good leadership.
I knelt down to my son and asked if he wanted me to teach him how to do that. He quickly shook his head up and down and said, “Yes!” We then spent a few minutes walking through the fundamentals of shooting on the move and tactical reloads, but especially how the fundamentals would allow him to learn a lot more. I wondered if any of this set in, but noticed about 15 minutes after walking inside, he was out there practicing over and over what I had walked him through.
Whether it is our relationships at home, our team at work, or our own community, I hope you spend time considering how you do “that.” In our hectic days, it’s easy to forget and instead just focus on the “what.”
As always, I am grateful to serve you and this great industry! I hope that how you are doing what you’re doing is leading to another great year!
PATRICK S. ADAMS, Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com
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WOOD TREATERS CHART THEIR OWN COURSES
CHALLENGED OVER the past year by slower new construction, repair/remodeling, and industrial markets, wood preserving companies have pursued a variety of strategies to improve on prior performance.
Some treaters tightened their belts, while others implemented new processes. Great Southern just started up a new facility. UFP/ProWood is rebranding. And others—including Doman, Culpeper and United Treating & Distribution—added significant annual revenue and capacity through acquisition (although the pace of
consolidation has certainly slowed compared to recent years).
As Doman chairman Amar S. Doman explained, “We successfully navigated through 2024 by maintaining our focus on operational excellence through inventory and overall cost management, all while strengthening our financial position and executing significant and strategic growth opportunities.”
Each company has its own methods for best serving the $6 billiona-year treated wood industry. BPD
2025 Top Treaters
The following 11 companies are those that operate at least three treating plants in the U.S. They are ordered by number of facilities, not by production volumes.
Stella-Jones saw sales rise 5% last year to $3.469 billion. Infrastructure sales (utility poles, railway ties, and industrial products, which make up 79% of Stella-Jonesʼ sales) were up 6%, while residential lumber sales slipped about 5%. Stella-Jones operates 45 treating facilities (29 of them in the U.S.) and 12 pole-peeling plants. Treatments are CCA, creosote, CuNap, borates, MCA, CA and ACQ.
Doman Building Materials, Vancouver, B.C., last fall purchased South Carolina-based C.M. Tucker Lumber, including its three treating plants. Doman now has 37 treating plants in North America. Treatments include MicroPro XPS, Advance Guard borates, FlamePRO FRTW,
UFP Industries operates 220+ affiliated operations in nine countries, including 22 treating plants from Colorado eastward, primarily along the East Coast, Midwest and Texas. Treatments include ProWood brand MCA, CA-C, borates and ProWoodFR FRTW. UFP also owns Sunbelt Forest Products, Bartow, Fl., which operates 11 plants in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, utilizing Ecolife, TimberSaver borates, Preserve CA, Preserve Plus CA with water repellent, Wolman E MCA with BARamine technology. Last year, ProWood sales slipped 5%.
Culpeper Wood Preservers, Culpeper, Va., has grown to 22 facilities that extend from the Southeast to the Northeast through the Midwest, with its September 2024 acquisition of Fortress Wood Products’ three plants in North Carolina and its August 2024 purchase of Life Long Treated Wood, Hebron, Md. Treatments include MicroPro MCA, Advance Guard borates, CCA, FlamePro interior FRTW, and CA-C.
Great Southern Wood Preserving, Abbeville, Al., is among the nation’s highest volume treaters from its 16 facilities throughout the South, Midwest and Eastern Seaboard. Number 16 began production earlier this year in Tyler, Tx. Its YellaWood brand family of products includes YellaWood Select and SuperSelect KDAT products, YellaWood Columns, MasterDeck decking, and Rainwood with water repellent, plus fencing, railing, specialty products, fasteners, joist tape, stains and sealants. Treatments are MCA, borates, FRTW, CCA and CA-C.
Koppers Utility & Industrial Products, a division of Koppers Holdings, operates 16 industrial plants, mostly in the Southeast—nine specializing in crossties, seven in utility poles. Koppers continues working toward opening a wood treating, peeling and drying operation on 70 acres in Glendale, Or., it acquired in 2023 Treatments include CCA, penta, CuNap and creosote.
Hoover Treated Wood Products, Thomson, Ga., late last year extended its long-established relationship with distributor Boise Cascade, adding Hooverʼs FRTW brands at all Boise branches in the Southeast. The Hoover name is synonymous with fire retardant treating wood, in addition to operating 10 of its own treating plants, from coast to coast, offering Pyro-Guard interior FRTW, Exterior Fire-X exterior FRTW, CCA, permethrin/IPBC-based Clear-Guard, Cop-Guard CuNap, Micro-Guard MCA, and DuraGuard ACQ.
Allweather Wood is the largest waterborne preservative-treated lumber manufacturer and distributor in the western U.S., with six treating plants in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Treatments include borates, CA-C, CCA, MCA and interior FRTW.
Bestway, Cortland, N.Y., has four treating plants (in New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina) that offer Wolmanized Outdoor Wood, Wolmanized Heavy Duty CCA, and D-Blaze interior FRTW.
Biewer Lumber’s three treating plants (Lansing, Mi.; Seneca, Il.; and Prentice, Wi.) have a combined annual capacity of 350 million bd. ft. of CA-C, MCA and FlamePro FRTW.
Conrad Forest Products treats in North Bend and Rainier, Or., and Arbuckle, Ca., using Wolmanized Heavy Duty CCA, Chemonite ACZA, Wolmanized Outdoor Wood CA-C, Sillbor/ FrameGuard borates, interior and exterior FRTW, and QNap.
LOSP (Light Organic Solvent Preservative), Preserve CA, ACQ, and Wolmanized Outdoor Wood (CM Tucker).
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Mandy Arnold General Manager of Morrison’s Hardware & Building Supply Nashville, Georgia
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CUSTOMER SNAPSHOT
CHEMICALS ARE ALL AROUND US THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A FORMULATED PRODUCT DESIGNED TO ENHANCE WOOD
BY BELINDA REMLEY
WHEN DID chemical become a four-letter word?
Some time, in the not-too-distant past, the world became afraid of chemicals—focusing only on the possible harm. We forgot that chemicals are all around us, doing good and keeping us clean and protected.
“Chemicals are in your toothpaste, your shampoo, and the cleaning wipes you use to disinfect your kitchen counter,” says Jay Hilsenbeck, global product director and North American marketing director for Arxada. “Chemicals are used in the manufacture of an uncountable number of materials, keeping our world clean and our bodies healthy.”
Chemicals enhance our lives every day and, for the most part, we don’t even realize it’s happening. But how do those chemicals become useful ingredients in our everyday products? For a closer look, let’s examine the wood treating industry. For thousands of years, humans have been using chemicals to enhance the performance of wood.
“In more modern times, chemicals have been extending the service life of wood to create an inexpensive, readily available, easy to install, and inherently renewable building material,” Hilsenbeck says. “Preservatives have been formulated to take nature’s sustainable building block and make it better. Yet, those preservatives do not detract from the appealing qualities of wood, such as availability, flexibility, and beauty.”
More than 100 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman discovered a method by which wood could be infused with chemicals to lengthen its life. Dr. Wolman discovered certain chemicals react well during a pressure process in which the chemicals are forced into the wood to make it resistant to attack by termites and decay fungi.
Chemical formulations used within the wood industry— as with other industries—were developed based upon needs at the time of innovation. For example, pentachlorophenol (no longer used the wood treating industry) had been used by the Navy to treat rope in World War II. Before this it had even been used in North America to defoliate of crops before harvesting. When the war ended and there was surplus chemical, its use turned to wood preservation.
Preservatives are developed in response to market need, so when the world recognized importance of more healthful and environmentally conscious products, re-
A KEY chemical component in copper azole is copper.
search and innovation focused on the formulation of biocides used in paints and coatings as well as products designed for hygiene, crop protection and other needs.
“It was in the 1970s, with the establishment of the EPA, that people started to say we should really be paying more attention to what we're handling, what we're putting into wood, and what's going into the environment,” explains Dr. Stephen Uphill, technical lead for Arxada’s Wood Group Research and Development team - Americas and Industrial. “And at that point the industry as a whole started to move away from more toxic chemicals.” More modern biocide chemical formulations to protect wood were developed.
Thus begins the product development process of new chemical formulations for the wood industry. Questions are asked, Uphill explains. “Which biocides, fungicides, insecticides, do we need to use together to protect wood in specific situations? Do they only work for crop protection, or will they work to protect wood as well? Will they meet EPA regulatory requirements for wood preservatives?”
“To answer these questions affirmatively, the research and development team performs screening tests,” Uphill says. “The team develops formulations and tests them to see if they work to protect wood. They discuss the risk phrases and health risks and anything else that might send a red flag and possibly prevent EPA registration. We want to constantly ensure we’re using enough of the correct active ingredients to protect from deterioration, without over treating.”
Treated wood becomes part of its environment where it's going to last for a long time, fighting different decay organisms that might occur over its decades-long service life. While in crop protection, developers are trying to defend against specific organisms for a short time during growth/harvesting, wood preservatives need to provide long-term protection against a wide range of decay organisms that occur in nature in different locations around the world. “We are putting wood out in the environment for decades, and we want it be protected,” Uphill says.
How did researchers develop copper azole, the most prominent formulation used in residential applications today? They followed the science. Copper, prominent in many wood protection formulations, is a well-recognized chemical and used in many industries, including protecting hospitals from organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Researchers discovered that azoles, such as propiconazole and tebuconazole, work on their own to protect against decay fungi. Combining copper with azoles results in a formulation in which these chemicals enhance one another’s effectiveness in fighting the natural enemies of wood, allowing them to be used at much lower levels than if used individually.
This sort of product development process does not happen quickly. “A lot of formulation work has to be completed in order to make a stable system that can be sold as a concentrate, for transport all around the world, that is stable at different temperatures, can be diluted in different waters, can penetrate deep into the timber, and doesn’t wash out when it rains,” explains Uphill.
It takes months or even years in some cases to get the correct formulation. Testing continues with treating and retreating the wood to arrive at the final formulation. Then
CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS take great care, employing important safety measures, when delivering products to treaters.
formal efficacy testing that could take years begins.
Finally, the government approval process starts and the Regulatory group takes over. “Developers must consider the regulations and all of the technical registration work in order to support the process to gain EPA approval,” Uphill says. “There is always more work to be done surrounding environmental emissions, leaching aspects, and other things. Products also must go through code approvals as well as meet AWPA standards and/or ICC approval.”
Teri Muchow, senior manager of regulatory affairs for Arxada, explains that the research team hands over their findings and the product registration process begins.
“When formulation of new product is set,” she says, “testing needed to support the registration, such as product chemistry and acute toxicity, begins. Results from this testing are used to draft hazards statements proposed for use on the product label.”
When Regulatory is ready, they give the registration package to regulators at the U.S. EPA. The package includes the formulation, supporting data, description of use and proposed label language. Upon completion of its review the EPA renders a decision regarding product approval. If successful, then the process for state registration begins. It is necessary for each state where the product will be used to also grant approval. The entire process takes anywhere from one to two years.
“Once the EPA approval is received, the team creates a Safety Data Sheet and a graphic label for the new product and sales and marketing can start promoting and selling it,” Muchow says.
Even though a product passes initial registration and
can be sold, its active ingredients go through EPA registration review every 15 years.
“So, my rule of thumb for new product approval in North America is five to seven years from conception to having a registered product. For Europe, it’s eight to 10,” Uphill says.
This cautious, meticulous approach to innovation is typical throughout the entire wood preservatives market, whether it be specialties (sawmills, engineered wood, etc.), residential (backyard projects), or industrial (utility, marine, agriculture, railroad) applications.
“What we should realize,” Uphill adds, “is that we as an industry do not believe in the overuse of chemicals. We do have to acknowledge that chemicals have their place in our world. When you’re using the right chemicals responsibly, they make our world better. And it’s our role within the wood industry to ensure we’re innovating with chemicals that complement our environment and our lives. We use chemicals to make the world’s only truly sustainable building material even better, by extending the service life
of wood, locking away carbon, and allowing more trees to grow. Preserved wood supports leisure and infrastructure, for decade after decade.”
When properly studied and scientifically applied and used, chemicals enhance our lives often in unseen ways.
“Today, the world is leading us toward sustainable products that are safe and effective. That is why treated wood will always be the product of choice when it comes to residential outdoor projects and protecting our infrastructure, marine and agricultural applications,” says Hilsenbeck.
So, the next time you wash your hair, grab a wipe to clean your counter, relax on your deck or countless other things we routinely do every day, thank the researchers who spent countless hours developing that chemically-enhanced product that makes your life better. BPD
– Belinda Remley has been promoting the wood industry for more than 30 years. She is a marketing communications professional with Arxada, a leader in wood preservation and the preservative manufacturer behind Wolmanized Outdoor Wood (www.wolmanizedwood.com).
USE REMINDERS TO BOOST PTW SALES
By Timm Locke, WWPI
I recently went to the local big box home center to pick up a treated 2x4 for a fence repair. Some signage on the lumber racks helped me find what I needed, which I appreciated. Because I do what I do for a living, I knew I needed the right type of fasteners and some topical preservative to treat any end cuts. I knew I had those at home, so I bought my 2x4, went home, and crossed another project of my “honey do” list.
What if I didn’t work for WWPI? Would I have known I needed certain fasteners and the can of top-
ical preservative? Would I have remembered to pick them up while I was at the store? I’ll say, “Maybe.” My wife would say, ”Probably not.” If she’s right, I’d have had to make another trip. But this time I’d go around the corner to the neighborhood hardware store.
The home center I visited is missing a bet. Many consumers don’t know preserved wood requires them to use certain fasteners and to field treat end cuts. Those who do know might be as absent minded as me. Either way, if the home center had reminded me they might have sold me not just the 2x4, but also a box of hot dipped galvanized screws and a can of topical preservative for field treating, making my $10 purchase more like $20-$25.
Merchandising is not a new concept for retailers. Many building supply dealers do it well in areas throughout their stores. Are there areas you’re missing? For the home center I visited the answer to that is “yes, the treated wood racks.”
When a customer is looking for treated wood, it’s a sure bet they have a project in mind. Whether they know it or not, they need proper fasteners and they’ll need to treat end cuts. A simple “Got the right type fasteners?” sign posted where it attracts that customer’s attention might do the trick. The customer will be glad for the reminder and your sales will increase. A portable display stocked with end treatment solution, a variety of fasteners and product use information from WWPI probably would work even better.
Doing nothing? Well, that’s a good way to boost sales for the neighborhood hardware store.
YOUR LUMBER RACKS could work harder for you. Merchandising where customers find their preserved wood could boost sales of ancillary items like hot-dipped galvanized screws and topical preservative to treat end cuts.
AGRICULTURE A TREATED WOOD MARKET WORTH CULTIVATING
BY TIMM LOCKE
AGRICULTURE is a sometimes overlooked market for preserved wood. Lumber dealers servicing areas with heavy agricultural influence can potentially expand sales by focusing more attention on the needs of agricultural producers.
Production of grapes and hops, for example, both require plants to be elevated and supported by trellises in order to grow well. Those trellises are an ideal application for preserved wood posts.
While price is the main driver for those selling to the very large brewers and vintners like Miller, Anheuser-Busch, Mondavi and Gallo, markets also include hundreds of craft brewers and small family vineyards who are equally interested in concepts like
sustainability. To serve those smaller customers, grape and hops producers sometimes seek to be Certified Organic, which can make it difficult to compete for the high-volume price-driven customers.
For those growers seeking to balance sustainability with lower cost, preserved wood offers what might be the best of both worlds:
Researchers at Oregon State University have been studying if preservation migration from preserved wood trellises used in vineyards might contaminate the soil and/or fruit. To get their answer, researchers analyzed soil, foliage and fruit samples for evidence of increased copper levels. Results showed nearly indetectable copper level increases in soil samples taken immediately adjacent to the treated posts, but no measurable differences in samples taken further from the posts, nor the fruit and foliage samples from the vines.
When treated wood posts are more cost-effective than the metal posts used by producers to comply Organic certification, this means growers can achieve near Certified Organic production at a lower cost, potentially satisfying both ends of the hops and grape markets.
Of course, agricultural market opportunities for preserved wood go far beyond posts for trellises. Pole barns and fencing represent much larger potential markets which may be there for the taking. As always, the key to gaining a foothold is to learn what the market needs and offer the preserved wood products that fit those needs. BPD
– With more than 30 years of experience in the wood products industry, Timm Locke is marketing director Western Wood Preservers Institute (www.wwpinstitute.org).
AGRICULTURAL market is often overlooked by preserved wood seller, but in many areas it could be ripe for cultivation.
PRESERVED WOOD trellises allow vineyards to reduce production costs while still achieving near Certified Organics status.
SELLING FRTW? BE SURE IT’S CODE COMPLIANT
------------ BY DAVE BUECHE, PhD
BEFORE REBUILDING from January’s L.A.-area wildfires begins in earnest, you can bet plenty of attention will be focused on fire-resistant building products and construction methods. No doubt some will use the opportunity to turn up the volume on marketing pitches touting the fire-retardant properties of products which are questionable at best.
Even before the fires, there was no shortage of ambiguous misleading claims intended to have you thinking fire-retardant paints and other surface-applied coatings applied to untreated lumber and plywood can be used in place of fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) in construction applications where building codes call for combustion-resistant materials.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Using these coatings on untreated wood in place of FRTW is not just a violation of building codes, it’s also a dangerous threat to public safety. Selling them for use where FRTW is required could result in legal problems and financial liability lumber dealers probably don’t want.
Rigorous standardized testing protocols have been established to ensure code-approved products such as fire-retardant-treated wood meet the requirements needed to earn a Class A fire rating. These test methods were established by consensus and are referenced in building codes developed (also by consensus) by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Those codes, including both International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), are in force nationwide. Products that are untested, tested using methods other than those specified in the codes, or that fail to
achieve the results required for a Class A fire rating should never be sold or used in lieu of code-compliant, pressure-impregnated, fire-retardant-treated wood. They do not meet the code standards called out in the IBC Section 2303.2, the section which relates to fire-retardant wood products used in structural applications.
You might hear claims from promoters of these coating products that they are “code compliant.” Often, they are but that compliance is limited to sections of the codes governing interior non-structural applications, not the structural applications governed by Section 2303.2. It pays to be wary when descriptions like “code-compliant” get tossed around without reference to specific code sections.
It’s no surprise when building materials dealers and their customers are tempted to consider these lower-cost alternatives marketed as “FRTW-equivalent.” Who wouldn’t be? When that temptation presents itself, you are best served knowing and understanding the actual code language.
The building and fire codes in force in the U.S. explicitly exclude use wood products painted with “fire-retardant” coatings as substitutes for pressure-impregnated, fire-retardant-treated wood in structural applications. Several modifications have been made to language in the IBC over the past 20 years to clarify what is meant by “fire-retardant-treated wood” as it relates to Section 2303.2.
The 2024 IBC states:
2303.2 Fire-retardant-treated wood. Fire-retardant-treated wood is any wood product that, when impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process or
Photo of PyroGuard Exterior Fire-X FRTW by Parliament Building Products
other means during manufacture, shall have, when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, a listed flame spread index of 25 or less. The ASTM E84 or UL 723 test shall be continued for an additional 20-minute period and the flame front shall not progress more than 10-1/2 feet (3200 mm) beyond the centerline of the burners at any time during the test.
(NOTE: Code excerpts and references in this article all refer to language in the 2024 edition of the IBC)
Read section 2303.2 carefully. It describes the required production process, “…impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process or other means during manufacture.” It also specifies the test methods that must be used and the results that must be achieved to prove products comply with this section of the code.
Subsections 2303.2.2, 2303.2.3, and 2303.2.4 further clarify the phrase “when impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process or other means during manufacturer”:
2303.2.2 Pressure process. For wood products impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process, the process shall be performed in closed vessels under pressure not less than 50 lbs. per square inch gauge (psig) (345kPa).
2303.2.3 Other means during manufacture. For wood products produced by other means during manufacture, the treatment shall be an integral part of the manufacturing process of the wood product. The treatment shall provide permanent protection to all surfaces of the wood product. The use of paints, coating, stains or other surface treatments are not an approved method of protection as required in this section.” (emphasis added)
2303.2.4 Fire testing of wood structural panels. Wood structural panels shall be tested with a ripped or cut longitudinal gap of 1/8-inch.
This 1/8-inch gap requirement mimics field condi-
BUILDING CODES specify the test procedures that are required for fireretardant wood products to be code compliant. The 2024 IBC specifically call for ASTM E84 (extended) with panel products requiring a 1/8-inch
THE LABELS required by code to be applied to each piece of FRTW must include the items indicated here (top label is for exterior-rated products, lower label is for interior).
tions, where visible gaps often are visible between installed panels. It also exposes bare wood during testing if the product is not thoroughly impregnated by the fire-retardant.
Critical takeaways are that fire-retardant-treated wood products must be “impregnated with chemicals,” that “…use of paints, coating, stains or other surface treatments are not an approved method of protection…” by the codes, and that the products must achieve a flame spread index of 25 or less when tested using specified test methods.
To make it easy for contractors, inspectors and others to identify FRTW, the codes require each piece to be marked with a label that includes, among other things, the identification mark of an approved certification agency, the name of the treater, the treatment used, the wood species, and the flame spread- and smoke-developed indexes achieved during testing. If the FRTW is intended for exterior use, the label must also reference the ASTM D2898 Rain Test.
When building inspectors encounter situations where wood required to be FRTW is not properly labeled, they can require it be removed and replaced. That can be expensive and it always causes delays, so if it happens the contractor, your customer, is probably going to look for someone to blame and you likely will have a dispute on your hands. If the inspector doesn’t catch it and the building later catches fire… well, you probably don’t want to think about that. BPD
– Dave Bueche, PhD, is director of Fire & Life Safety Codes at Hoover Treated Wood Products. He has over 30 years experience and is a leading expert in building code development and combustion-resistant building products.
gap. This requirement mimics field conditions and raises the bar for compliance.
THE BEST IS ALWAYS IN DEMAND.
YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine stands unrivaled in providing the best available protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Enjoy the uncompromising beauty of a backyard made with high quality natural wood products from YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine. Visit yellawood.com for more information.
UNDERSTANDING STANDARDS HELPS MOVE PRODUCTS AND AVOID SNAFUS
BY NICOLE BUTLER
THINK HOW often you use standards. There are standard countertop heights, standard sizes for lumber and plywood, standard systems to describe nails and screws, standard opening sizes for doors, refrigerators, ranges… You probably refer to standards dozens of times every day without even thinking about it. No doubt you take standards for granted; we all do.
Standards ensure product consistency across every aspect of our lives—from plugging in a lamp without worrying if the plug will fit, to expressing blood pressure measurements from any device type in universal terms your doctors can read and interpret, to making sure no matter who your wireless carrier is, your phone will skitter across the table in a panicked vibration when an Emergency Alert is issued.
The American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) is an ANSI-accredited standards developer comprising the largest collection of wood protection experts in North America. These experts evaluate wood preservatives and treatment processes for the purpose of establishing the standards published in the AWPA Book of Standards.
But why should you care? In short, AWPA Standards help provide the guidance customers need to choose the right preserved wood products for their projects and they help protect you, the seller, from negative consequences if they don’t.
Standards provide for the consistency across products that is essential to ensuring those products will perform as they should when used as intended. The labeling found on preserved wood products affirms the standards to which
those products adhere and it helps identify the correct products for the applications the user has in mind, offering assurance that those products will perform in the way that is promised.
AWPA Standard U1 is the primary tool for specifying preservative treated wood. AWPA’s Technical Committees undertake intensive reviews of wood preservatives and define the levels at which preservatives should be used for individual use categories. To help consumers select the treated wood most appropriate for their project, another standard requires preserved wood sold through distributors, home centers and lumberyards to be labeled with an end tag that carries certain required information such as the use category and whether the product is suitable for ground contact. Use categories cover virtually every treated wood application you can imagine—interior dry conditions, exterior above ground, exterior ground contact, marine use, and anything in between. There even are use categories to identify interior and exterior fire protection (see table below).
End tags provide a great deal of information; interpreting that information requires understanding the AWPA. For example, an end tag might say “AWPA U1, UC3B.” Without a solid grasp of the Use Category System, you might not know that means the wood is intended for use in exterior, above ground situations (uncoated or in a poor run-off area). To help with this, AWPA has published an infographic that identifies the appropriate use categories for most common residential projects calling for preserved wood. AWPA also offers a portion of the AWPA U1 standard for free download and reference at AWPA.com. Floor personnel at lumberyards and home centers will find these tools are handy when helping customers find the products they need (see image on previous page). A downloadable pdf of the infographic can be found at preservedwood.org.
AWPA Use Categories
Use Category Brief Description
UC1 Interior Dry
UC2 Interior Damp
UC3A Exterior Above Ground, Coated with Rapid Water Runoff
UC3B Exterior Above Ground, Uncoated or Poor Water Runoff
UC4A Ground Contact, General Use
UC4B Ground Contact, Heavy Duty
UC4C Ground Contact, Extreme Duty
UC5A Marine Use, Northern Waters (Salt or Brackish Water)
UC5B Marine Use, Central Waters (Salt or Brackish Water)
UC5C Marine Use, Southern Waters (Salt or Brackish Water)
UCFA Interior Above Ground Fire Protection
UCFB Exterior Above Ground Fire Protection
Applying the Standards
Let’s look at how all this about standards can be put to use in real world situations. I’ll start with a story close to home:
Not long ago my daughter came home with lumber she had bought to build shelving for her dorm room. The end tag looked like this:
As you can see from the use category table, the lumber she bought was preservative treated and suitable for use outdoors in a ground contact situation, such as a landscape retaining wall or raised bed garden box. As an uninformed consumer she purchased preserved wood treated to a much higher level than she needed. No real problem there, other than she likely paid a lot more than necessary, as untreated lumber would have been just fine for building her shelves.
Now let’s imagine a different situation… Say your neighbor plans to build a deck. When shopping for structural posts they plan to set in the ground to support the deck, they bring home lumber treated to Use Category UC2. That wood is intended for interior use in damp areas such as a basement. It probably won’t last long inserted two feet deep in the ground. When the wood begins to decay much sooner than expected, it creates a dangerous risk of the deck collapsing and someone being injured. At the very least, it’s likely to trigger a complaint from a miffed customer. Most often, that call will be to you, the seller. Treating companies also get these calls sometimes and I’ve even had a few come to the AWPA office.
Regardless of who handles the call, I think we all agree it’s much better if customers are well-informed up front so they buy the right product in the first place. That’s where you, those who most often have direct interaction with the consumer, come in. If you understand the system and have the resources on hand to help consumers learn what they need to know, everyone goes home happier.
AWPA standards exist to help guide and protect the consumer. Along the way they build a clear path of trust for treaters, contractors and sellers. Treated wood producers, distributors, dealers, specifiers and end users will find value in joining AWPA and participating in the critical standards development process. For information on membership and more resources to help educate consumers, visit www. awpa.com. BPD
– Nicole Butler is executive director of the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), the ANSI-accreditation national standards writing body for the preserved wood industry. Their standards address approved preservatives, processes for treating wood, specs regarding the products (i.e., retention levels, etc.) and labeling requirements.
INDUSTRY-WIDE STANDARDS, TESTING AND INSPECTIONS ENSURE QUALITY IN EVERY PIECE OF LUMBER
BY
TREATED WOOD that arrives to dealer/retailer locations can be trusted to last. But you don’t have to take our word for it. You can believe the science behind preservative treated wood.
The wood industry, as a whole, takes great care in ensuring that quality treated products are stocked on the shelves of every retailer/dealer and at every building site. Regardless of whether the wood is treated to protect against termites and fungal decay, flame spread and smoke development, or mold and moisture, quality checks are in place to make sure the wood will perform as expected.
Testing of both the preservatives and the treated wood are performed within the treating facility by plant personnel. Additionally, the treaters
regularly send their samples to their preservative manufacturer and a third-party lab for testing. Finally, third-party agencies also visit plants to perform independent testing and inspections.
According to Steven Jang, Arxada’s senior technical services manager for the Wood Group, Arxada’ Conley, Ga., lab tests about 1,500 samples per month. “We provide the necessary Quality Control (QC) checks on the samples we receive to ensure the delivery of accurate and reliable data that can accurately describe the characteristics and concentrations of wood preservatives in the product, treating solution, and treated wood,” he says.
Arxada, like the other manufacturers, provides testing results to treaters, giving them the science to know
that what they are treating meets specifications set out by the industry.
“We want to help our customers by ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data produced by wood customers in their QC labs,” says Jang. “It’s like a back-up for the treaters.”
This not only helps the treaters in case they need to make adjustments within their plant but also maintains the customers’ status as a part of the product warranty program.
“We can also provide analytical testing that cannot be handled in the wood customers’ QC labs,” Jang adds. “Our QC lab equipment includes X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer for metal-based wood preservatives, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) for metal-based preservatives and metal screening, high/ultra performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, UPLC) and gas chromatography for organic wood preservatives, and titrators for inorganic preservatives.”
Treaters obtain samples from their concentration tanks as well as the treating solution tanks and cores from their treated wood. Some samples are tested on site by the treaters. Some are sent to the preservative manufacturer QC lab for testing. “Using the sophisticated equipment located in our lab,” Steven explains, “our team of expert scientists test samples of the concentrates, treating solutions and treated wood.”
In addition to that testing, treaters partner with third-party inspection agencies, who visit the treating facilities to ensure that the wood is treated properly. According to David
THE LABS at preservative manufacturing sites are well stocked with state-of-the-art equipment as well as accessories necessary to properly analyze samples sent in by treaters.
------------
BELINDA REMLEY
Jones, PhD, director of treated wood & laboratories with Timber Products Inspection, “In order to comply with the building codes, an accredited, independent third-party agency is required to inspect a facility producing preservative treated wood. The wood also must carry a quality mark with the third-party’s logo, the accreditation agency (ALSC, ICC-ES) and the proper information as outlined by AWPA or ICC-ES.”
The inspection agencies visit participating smaller treating plants about once per month and larger plants approximately every two to three weeks when inspectors go over any changes that have been produced by the plant and then review the QC records of all charges since the previous inspection.
According to Kim Merritt, director of the Treated Wood Division at the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, “the third-party inspection process includes reviewing in-plant quality control records, random sampling, visual inspections, preservative retention testing, performance evaluations, and documentation of results. It also involves corrective actions for non-compliance and continuous monitoring to maintain consistent product quality and adherence to industry standards. Treated materials that pass this rigorous inspection process are marked with an ink stamp or plastic end tag, which displays treatment details, the standard reference, and the accredited agency’s quality logo.”
The inspection agencies take their guidance from the AWPA Book of Standards, the American Lumber Standards Committee Treated Wood Enforcement Regulations, and the ICC-ES code reports. “We work hard to build a relationship with our treater partners that help them stay in compliance and understand the overall treating standards,” Jones says.
Merritt, former president of the American Wood Protection Association, says, “through our Treated Wood Quality Audit Program, we help treated wood producers meet industry standards. We collaborate closely with our subscribers, providing accurate inspection data to improve product quality, ensure compliance with Building Code requirements, extend service life, and support sustainability in the industry.”
Agency inspectors analyze treated wood cores taken from lumber or timbers to determine whether the preserved wood meets the penetration standards outlined in the AWPA Book of Standards, and assay samples are sent back to the agency lab for analysis. After the samples are obtained and tested, the inspector also checks equipment to ensure that it is providing reliable results. Gauges and instruments are checked for the appropriate calibrations, and overall functionality of the facility is observed.
“All of the checks are to assure that the preservative treated wood leaving a treating facility meets the requirements outlined in the AWPA Book of Standards or the corresponding ICCES Code Report,” Jones says. “This gives both the producer, the seller,
and the buyer piece of mind that the products they receive will perform as intended when used properly.”
All of this testing is performed regularly with an eye on accuracy and maintaining the high standards to which the entire industry holds itself. The end goal is making sure that treated wood is delivered and sold with the knowledge that it will last and that customers who purchase the wood will build with confidence in the product and their project. BPD
– Belinda Remley has been promoting the wood industry for more than 30 years. She is a marketing communications professional with Arxada, a leader in wood preservation and the preservative manufacturer behind Wolmanized Outdoor Wood (www.wolmanizedwood.com).
LAB SCIENTISTS study both solution samples and wood boring labels to ensure they meet quality standards.
SCIENTISTS within the Arxada Technical Center lab analyze thousands of samples per year.
KNOWING YOUR STUFF KEEPS TREATED WOOD CUSTOMERS COMING BACK
------------ BY BRITTANY POE
SUSTAINABILITY, alongside quality and affordability, continues to grow as a factor in consumers’ purchase decisions, giving lumber retailers the opportunity to guide customers toward options that provide the performance they need while reducing overall environmental impacts. Appealing to customers’ sustainability values will go a long way toward earning their repeat business.
Wood is inherently the greenest building material available for consumers’ home projects. It is the only commonly-used building material that is renewable, with added benefits such as atmospheric carbon sequestration, a low carbon footprint, and its contributions to greater biodiversity and improved air and water quality.
While preserved wood offers all those inherent benefits, customers may also have questions about the preservatives used to treat the wood. They’ll be interested in the extended service life preserved wood offers, certainly. They might wonder if preserved wood products are safe to use and how scraps should be disposed of.
Having a working knowledge of the preservatives used to treat wood will help you provide answers regarding the products you sell. Every customer who walks through your door wants that expertise, but they don’t necessarily expect to find it. When they encounter it, they’ll be more likely to make you the go-to for all their future needs.
A good starting point for gaining an understanding of the preservatives in treated wood is the WWPI PreserveTech publication Options for Preserved Wood Products
Any concerns consumers may have about treated wood likely stem from the 1990s, when chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was the most common preservative used to treat the lumber and plywood found at local lumberyards. CCA is economical and highly effective, with numerous in-service examples dating back to the 1930s to prove it. In 2002 the EPA was concerned about CCA’s arsenic component. So in 2004, the preserved wood industry voluntarily agreed to stop using CCA in products intended for residential use. Thanks to the Internet, remnants of that debate have gained immortality in the mind of the public and customers might associate today’s preserved wood with the CCA-treated wood of yesteryear.
Many alternative formulations have been introduced over the past two decades. Today copper azole (CA) is used to treat most residential preserved wood products. Copper azole has proven to be an effective wood preservative and
both of its active ingredients, azoles and copper, are found in scores of other consumer products including sanitizers and topical medications. Scientific research is proving that in normal use, such as for decks or raised beds for gardens, there is no reason for concern that the components in CA might migrate from the wood and contaminate the soil or plants growing nearby.
Many people believe the best performing wood protection combines extended decay resistance with the maximized dimensional stability (reduced splitting and warping) offered by oil-borne preservatives. One such formulation, copper naphthenate (CuN), is most often used to treat essential infrastructure such as bridges, rail ties, and utility poles due to its longevity and durability in the field. But CuN also is sold at retail. It’s the active ingredient in end-treating solutions such as Copper-Green, Rust-Oleum CopperCoat, or Nisus QNAP2, one or more of which you probably have in stock. Your preserved wood customers all should be made aware of those products, as it is essential they treat end cuts and drilled holes made in treated wood.
While not as prevalent as copper azole, CuN is used by some producers to treat preserved wood for residential use. It is a strong contender for outdoor projects in settings where the wood will be in near-constant exposure to brackish or fresh water such as dock pilings and decking, pedestrian bridges over creeks or streams and boat ramps. BPD
– Brittany Poe is a communications specialist at Nisus Corp., a chemical manufacturer based in Rockford, Tn. (nisuscorp.com).
COPPER NAPHTHENATE (CuN) is particularly suited for treating wood that will be used in close proximity to fresh or brackish water, such as docks or wood pedestrian bridges that cross creeks or streams.
BUILDING A SALES TEAM
I WAS FORTUNATE to work for great sales companies as a salesperson. I was surprised when I began consulting with companies because I thought all companies would understand the importance of having a strong sales team and culture. Many do not. Many see and treat the sales team as a necessary evil. They see it as a war to get the most from the sales team and pay them as little as possible. I consulted with a firm that always complained about the quality of their team. I told them, “You treat your sales team badly, you talk down to them. Of course your team is weak because good salespeople won’t take poor treatment. They’ll leave for a company that will treat them with respect.”
My brother was senior VP of sales & marketing for DirecTV. Before he took over the job, the sales team was “the butt of all jokes” inside the company. He changed that, and sales and profits skyrocketed.
Companies that have strong sales teams and great sales cultures do many of the following:
Testing
It takes a certain kind of person to be successful in sales. Intelligence, creativity, ego drive and relatability are the key attributes that make up a great salesperson. There are several tests available that help companies ascertain whether a particular candidate has these attributes. Turnover is costly so these test are worth the money it takes to administer them to potential hires.
1. Hogan psychometric assessment - predicts job performance by assessing normal personality, derailment characteristics, core values and cognitive reasoning ability.
------------ BY JAMES OLSEN
2. Core values assessmentmeasures fundamental beliefs and principles that guide a potential hire’s actions and decision-making, revealing areas of alignment and potential for growth or change.
4. Wonderlic assessment - The test assesses verbal reasoning, problem-solving, general knowledge, and mathematical aptitude.
Over time, companies build a baseline of attributes that the successful salespeople in their organization possess and measure those against the test scores of potential hires.
Budget for Turnover
The turnover rate in sales is about 35%. This is about three times higher than the rate in other job areas. Companies that want to grow a strong sales team budget for this. Of course they’d like all hires to make it, but are realistic. One client, who took 15 years to build from two to a team of 25 killer salespeople, says, “My only protection is to hire more salespeople.” His turnover rate hovers around 40%.
They take their time in the interview process, test (see above) potential salespeople to make the right decision.
Clear Compensation Packages
Successful companies have clear/ fair compensation packages. I closed a consulting job with a large distribution company. The first day the owner started explaining their compensation package to me. I’d been in sales for 20 years at the time. I could not understand it. He said, “Well, you need to learn it.” I said, “No, if you can’t explain your package in less than two sentences, then it is
demotivating to the sales team.”
I worked with them for two years. I asked general managers at five different branches and multiple salespeople, and none of them understood or could explain it to me. A seasoned and successful salesperson at the company told me, “James, it’s confusing and I think they want it that way.” I quoted that to the owner, and he said, “Oh that probably comes from ----; he’s always complaining.” I said, “No. It’s coming from one of your superstars, ----.”
Contests and Celebrations
Sales contests work. Salespeople enjoy competition and prizes! Successful sales companies celebrate their sales teams. They motivate them by offering trips or free dinners or cash for salespeople who hit their goals. They give awards to the highest performers in several categories, i.e., the highest sales margin, highest number of sales, highest number of new customers, etc.
Sales Training
Successful sales companies offer sales training. Sales training decreases turnover, helps salespeople become profitable more quickly and strengthens sales cultures.
Building a strong sales team takes sustained work, but is doable. BPD
JAMES OLSEN
Olsen is principal of Reality Sales Training, Portland, Or., and creator of SellingLumber.com. Call him at (503) 5443572 or email james@realitysalestraining.com.
James
BUILD LONG LASTING STRUCTURES WITH POWER PRESERVED GLULAM®
STRONG, DURABLE , SUSTAINABLE
POWER PRESERVED GLULAM® FEATURES
• Manufactured with superior strength southern yellow pine MSR Lumber.
• Offered in two oil-borne preservative treatments: Permethrin / IPBC and Copper Naphthenate
• Fast, easy, one-piece installation that’s more efficient than bolting or nailing multi-ply dimension or structural composite lumber members together.
• Excellent choice for decks, boardwalks, pergolas, covered porches and demanding environments such as bridges, highway sound barriers, railroad cross ties, and floating docks.
• 25-year warranty from the treater.
THE STATE OF IMMIGRATION IN THE WORKPLACE
------------
BY PAIGE McALLISTER
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S administration has made or proposed significant changes that will impact how companies do business and manage their workforce. Among the most drastic actions we have seen is immigration, which is unsurprising given its focus of attention during the campaign and from his supporters.
President Trump has stated he intends to deport up to 20 million people, while experts estimate there are only 11 million undocumented people in the U.S. currently. Since only two million non-citizens have criminal histories and/ or previously issued final orders of removal, the other 18 million immigrants impacted will likely be those currently protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA or “Dreamers”), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and other humanitarian parole programs.
Changes to Protected Status Programs
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem began rescinding previously extended TPS—and therefore their Employment Authorization Documents (EAD)—for citizens of certain countries with more expected in the future. Her actions have already changed the TPS expiration for Haitian citizens to Aug. 3, 2025, and for Venezuelan citizens to April 7, 2025, or Sept. 5, 2025, depending on which extension they were under. This means that, unless they have been able to gain a protected immigration status outside of the TPS, more than one million people will no longer be able to legally live and work in the U.S. within the next six months. Additionally, the DEDs (and their EADs) for people from Hong Kong and Palestine will expire this year, and those for Lebanon and Liberia will expire in 2026.
Enhanced Enforcement Measures
DHS has also announced that it will expand its use of the expedited removal process. The expedited removal process allows the U.S. to quickly deport a person they believe to be an undocumented non-citizen without further processing, including seeing a judge, unless they pass a screening interview justifying their fear of returning to their country. This expedited removal process has been standardly used on undocumented people found within 14 days of their arrival in the U.S. and 100 miles of the border. However, DHS has announced that it will begin using the expedited removal process for any undocumented person who cannot prove they have been in the U.S. continuously for the past two years, regardless of where in the U.S. they are.
ICE agents, working with law enforcement agents from other federal, state, and local agencies, have begun conducting raids to find, detain and deport undocumented immigrants. While the initial focus was to be only those convicted of criminal activity, others with non-violent or even no criminal history other than having no current authorization to reside or work in the U.S. are also being detained as part of these sweeps.
Additionally, agents from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have also been tasked with increasing their I-9 audits to locate those workers who are not eligible to work in the U.S. and employers allowing them to work. It is expected that the Trump administration will aim to conduct 15,000 I-9 audits per year, as was the intention of his prior administration before COVID-19. As a result of these audits, employers could face fines ranging from $281 to $2,789 per violation for paperwork errors alone for
properly documented employees and ranging from $698 to $27,894 per violation for employing and/or retaining workers who are not authorized to work in the U.S.
What Companies Can Do to Protect Themselves and Their Employees
Review I-9 Forms and Processes. Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), all employers must verify the work authorization of every employee hired since November 6, 1968, and retain proof of this authorization by completing a “Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification.” Form I-9 demonstrates your goodfaith effort to comply with IRCA but has some very specific requirements to be correct.
Any and all mistakes and/or omissions could result in fines, each one contributing to a possible hefty total penalty. To reduce your exposure in case you are one of the 60,000 companies targeted for a Form I-9 audit in the next four years, we recommend reviewing your process for completing I-9s for new hires, training those who will be completing them, reviewing your recordkeeping practices, and doing an internal audit of your I-9s.
Preparing for ICE Visits and Audits
ICE agents could visit a company for several reasons. They could be serving a Notice of Inspection (NOI) to audit the I-9 Forms, investigating a specific person or a group of employees (usually under an administrative warrant), or conducting an immediate enforcement action under a judicial warrant (“raid”). While these actions have different characteristics in terms of severity, timing, and comprehensiveness, a company’s action plan can minimize impacts while ensuring compliance in each case. It is critical
Q . We received an anonymous complaint about one of our employees. It was a vague "inappropriate conduct" complaint left on our general voicemail. We have no way of following up with the person or anything specific to pursue through an investigation. What do we do?
A. While you should take every complaint seriously, you probably need more information to investigate.
If there is no way to contact the person who made the complaint (i.e., caller ID), you can do whatever you can with the information they provided. You can also determine how much credibility you want to place in the complaint of someone who won't give you their name or specific details.
If the allegations can be explored through a resource such as security footage or account reconciliation, try that. You can also inform the named employee of the complaint and see what they say— maybe they know who the person is or the underlying reason for the complaint. Do not feel like you need to discipline the employee if there is not enough evidence of wrongdoing.
As with any investigation, exhaust whatever means you have to try to find out what actually happened. Document everything—noting your actions and the challenges you faced during the investigation. Then, if appropriate, you can reopen the case if you get more information in the future.
that you engage legal counsel familiar with immigration law not only to review your plan of action, but also to call as soon as agents arrive to counsel you through their search, investigation and audit.
Next Steps and Support Options
Review and update your plan of action, designated point people, and procedures regularly to ensure your organization is always ready for a visit from ICE or other law enforcement.
The Workplace Advisors can help you and your HR team review your Form I-9s and your procedures for their completion and recordkeeping to reduce your exposure in case you are one of the 60,000 companies targeted for a Form I-9 audit in the next four years. We can also help train the employees responsible for completing the forms. Additionally, through our compliance-focused HR Support Plan, we can create or update your employee handbook, notify you of regular updates, and offer one-on-one guidance on specific management or compliance situations. BPD
PAIGE McALLISTER
Paige McAllister, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is vice president for compliance with The Workplace Advisors, Inc. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or paige@theworkplaceadvisors.com.
CHANGE NEED NOT BE SLOW
------------ BY DAVE KAHLE
“I DON’T WANT to ask my team to make too many changes at once. We need to manage change slowly and methodically.”
I’ve heard words to that effect from a VP of sales or CEO dozens of times. Typically, the specifics have to do with changes in the sales force, because that’s the world in which I practice, but the sentiment applies to every job title. That idea ranks up there with the most destructive myths in business.
In truth, managing change doesn’t have to be slow. It can be rapid and transformational and still be effective.
When we hire a new employee, we expect that person to adjust to radical, pervasive changes—a new compensation plan, a new boss, a new work environment, a new set of co-workers. In the case of a B2B salesperson, a new set of products or services to sell, a new set of software to master, a new set of customers. We are asking them to adjust to changes in everything. And, we expect them to acclimatize to all these changes within a few weeks.
Why is it then, after they’ve been employed for a while, we don’t feel like we can ask them to change? Why can’t we ask them to change their compensation plan, adjust to a new automation tool, and support a new product line all at one time? They have done it before. They can do it again. To create an expectation of slow change is to hinder the organization from fully realizing its potential. Slow change in a rapidly changing world is actually
falling behind.
We all understand that the world is changing more rapidly than at any other time in our lifetimes. This pace of change is unprecedented in the history of mankind. And, in this rapidly changing world, those who learn to change and adapt as rapidly as the world around them is changing will survive and thrive in the new marketplace reality. Those who don’t will gradually be jettisoned to the margins and left behind by the pace of change around them.
“I am convinced that if the rate of change inside an organization is less than the rate of change outside, the end is in sight.” – Jack Welch
I was taught this lesson by one of my clients. The company had four geographically arranged divisions, which were run as separate profit centers, and had no incentive to work together. The CEO wanted to change the structure of the company.
Since I was laboring under the common misconception that you had to change things slowly, I expected that he would gradually phase in a new organizational scheme over the next six or eight months. He chose to take a different route. He gathered all his employees from the supervisor level on up for a weekend retreat. On Friday afternoon, he announced that their jobs no longer existed because the company’s organization was obsolete. They had until Monday morning to redesign the company, create the
jobs the new system required, and, on Monday, they could apply for one of the new jobs. What followed was a set of feverish small group meetings that resulted in new corporate organization. They completely changed the company in a weekend. Most people applied for new jobs, and some left the organization. With the exception of the CEO and CFO, everyone changed jobs. My primary contact was the VP of sales, who wound up as a sales manager. Of course, it took a couple of weeks to implement the changes, but within a few weeks the new organization was in place, people were in their new jobs, and business went on. Radical, transformational change for this company of a couple of hundred employees in the blink of an eye.
In our rapidly changing environment, to accept the ideas that change should be managed slowly is to hinder the organization from the opportunity to not fall behind, but to change with the pace of change around them. To do anything but expect rapid, transformational change is to do a disservice to the organization and its people. BPD
DAVE KAHLE Dave
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WHY SPFs IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR CONSTRUCTION-GRADE LUMBER
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BY JEFF EASTERLING
IN A WORLD riddled with fake news and multitudinous ways in which false information can be shared, it was only a matter of time until bad information snuck its way into the lumber industry. And now, in 2025, here we are, with multiple outlets, minor associations, and self-proclaimed experts taking ill-informed aim at SPFs.
As the primary grading agency in the U.S. tasked with the majority of SPFs lumber, we’re here to set the record straight. Buckle up—lots of myths about to be busted!
What is SPFs?
SPFs stands for Spruce-Pine-Fir south, a grouping of commercially important species that includes: from the East, we have red, black and white spruce, Norway spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, and red pine. From the West comes Engelmann spruce, Sitka spruce, and lodgepole pine.
What does the “S” mean?
This is important: the “s” designation indicated that the SPFs lumber was produced from logs harvested in the U.S. (south of the Canadian border). The “s” designation came to be following a 1991 American Lumber Standard Committee retesting of all American lumber species and to delineate home-grown wood from foreign imported wood.
Are there differences in strength value between SPFs and Canadian lumber?
Yes. Lumber from the two groupings is tested separately, resulting in different overall strength values for each group (SPFs in the U.S. and SPF in Canada). Another overlooked fact: SPF and SPFs do not contain the exact same species. Based on testing, there are six lumber properties that are assigned strength values for each species grouping: fiber bending; tension parallel to grain; horizontal shear; compression parallel to the grain; compression perpendicular to the grain; and modus of elasticity. The differences in values between SPFs and SPF vary by grade and design value type.
Does American SPFs lumber meet the same grading standard as Canadian SPFs?
Yes! All construction-graded lumber (such as Select Structural, No. 1, and No. 2) is graded by U.S. and Canadian mills using the exact same standard as set forth by the National Grading Rule. The rules and parameters are applied exactly the same by graders in both countries, as administered by the American Lumber Standard Committee. While the two have design value differences, there are not and there never have been different structural grading standards.
Is SPFs currently in use in building applications in the United States?
Heck yes! There are approximately 2 billion bd. ft. of SPFs-graded and stamped construction lumber shipped annually from lumber mills in the northeast and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. into the marketplace. This wood is used beautifully and successfully in framing construction within these regions… and beyond!
But wait, there’s more! Here’s an ignored fact: another 500 million bd. ft. of SPFs-stamped lumber is produced annually by lumber mills… in Canada!
Is there a reason why someone should choose SPF over American SPFs?
No. For repetitive-use applications where multiple pieces of lumber are used together as a system in construction framing such as wall studs, and for simple spans for joists and rafters, SPFs design values will meet the strength needs. In building designs with longer spans and/or heavy load factors, these applications require engineering to ensure the proper species/size/and grade are utilized. There is no reason why your customers shouldn’t choose American-made SPFs over Canadian imported lumber. What better way to support geographically relevant lumber than by specifying and building with locally grown, harvested and milled SPFs lumber? BPD – Jeff Easterling is president of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (www.nelma.org).
SPFs LUMBER, grown in the United States, is the perfect construction grade choice.
WHY CHOOSE SELECT CUT®?
RUGBY Architectural Building Products’ new 48,000sq. ft. customer service center in Winston-Salem, N.C., features expanded product inventory, a comprehensive showroom, and a well-stocked sample room.
RUGBY OPENS EXPANDED CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IN NC
Rugby Architectural Building Products opened its newest and largest customer service center in Winston-Salem.
This strategic expansion consolidates existing facilities in Kernersville and Charlotte into one more efficient operation, positioning Rugby for significant growth and enhanced service capabilities across North Carolina.
The new 48,000-sq. ft. facility features 27-ft.-high ceilings, four loading docks, and four all-weather loading doors. Its prime location and advanced automation systems will optimize operational efficiency, enabling Rugby Winston-Salem to maintain a deeper and more diverse inventory for its customers.
“This new distribution center represents a substantial investment in the North Carolina market and strengthens our strategic service footprint across the Southeast,” said Rod Beason, regional VP. “WinstonSalem was the ideal choice for this expansion, and we’re excited to offer an unparalleled level of service, product selection, and convenience to our customers.”
The facility provides a bright, modern work environment for Rugby employees, a comprehensive showroom showcasing the company’s product line, and a well-stocked sample room featuring a complete selection of the high-quality products that are available. An efficient will-call area ensures quick and easy order pick-up for local customers.
Rugby committed to ensuring a seamless transition for its customers, with business operations continuing uninterrupted during the
relocation. The Charlotte facility remained operational through March 31. Combined with the existing customer service center in Wilmington, this new facility strengthens Rugby’s North Carolina presence, providing next-day service to customers throughout the region.
Based in Concord, N.H., Rugby Architectural Building Products has a distribution network of 26 regional customer service centers, which operate under five regional brand names. Rugby distributes an extensive assortment of high-value decorative materials, doors and windows, cabinets, hardware, millwork and mouldings, and adhesives.
Rugby is a division of ADENTRA Inc., one of North America’s largest distributors. The company currently operates a network of 85 regional customer service centers across the U.S. and Canada under six brands— Hardwoods, Rugby, Paxton Lumber, Novo Building Products, Mid-Am Supply, and Woolf Distributing—plus a specification division, DesignOneSource.
G-P UPGRADING SC PLYWOOD MILL
Georgia-Pacific continues its investment in its plywood mill in Prosperity, S.C., through $14 million worth of upgrades and improvements to mill operations.
One of the major focuses of the project will be to upgrade the existing boiler, which will increase fuel efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and help boost the local economy through the jobs the project will create during the renovation.
According to Prosperity Plywood plant manager Kevin Livingston, “By enhancing the boiler at the mill, we are continuing to show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Prosperity, and the surrounding community. Along with this upgrade to the boiler, we are investing millions of dollars in other improvements across the mill. These improvements will help us focus on being an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill that continues to provide great jobs to people in our area.”
Built in 1975, the mill produces some of G-P’s flagship plywood products, such as Plytanium Plywood and Ply-Bead sanded panels.
VALU Home Centers is closing stores in North Buffalo, Lockport and Orchard Park, N.Y., reducing the chain to 24 locations.
MCS Home Center, Columbia, Ms., added a Hattiesburg, Ms., branch on March 1 (Miranda Applewhite, mgr.).
McCoy’s Building Supply held a board cutting and grand opening on March 6 at its new Abilene, Tx., yard.
Manatee Lumber has placed its Bradenton, Fl., property up for lease, though it remains in business.
Acadiana Home Center, Carencro, La., held a grand opening event on March 22.
Westlake Ace opened its third store in Columbia, Mo., on March 14 (Jeff Brown, GM) and will open an 18,000-sq. ft. branch in Papillion, Ne., in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Lewisburg Builder Supply Co., Lewisburg, Pa., closed its doors March 28 after 84 years.
Arnold Lumber & Concrete is adding a new building at its Malone, N.Y., lumberyard.
84 Lumber has added a 1,350sq. ft. Andersen window and door showroom in Annapolis, Md.—its third in the region.
Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, Elgin, Il., is closing.
Benge’s Ace Hardware is opening later this year in Anderson, In.
Curt’s Ace Hardware broke ground on a new store in Knoxville, Tn.
Aubuchon Co. has agreed to purchase Rand’s Hardware, Plymouth, N.H., from Steve Rand and Glenn Dion, and will rebrand it as Rand’s Ace Hardware
White Cap acquired Kris-Con Supply & Fasteners, Houston and Round Rock, Tx.
Home Depot is close to completing a new store in Anna, Tx.
Menards will add a store in South Charleston, W.V.
Spahn & Rose Lumber Co., Dubuque, Ia., was honored for best cabinet shop in the Tri-States Community Choice Awards.
Habitat for Humanity opened a ReStore discount outlet in Leland, N.C., and moved its ReStore in Mount Vernon, Oh., to larger quarters.
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WILSON ACQUIRES NASHVILLE LUMBER
Wilson Lumber Co., Huntsville, Al., has acquired Nashville Lumber, a well-established supplier of lumber and building materials located near Nashville, Tn.
The deal expands Wilson Lumber’s ability to serve builders, contractors and construction professionals in the region, while maintaining the exceptional service and quality products that both firms are known for.
Wilson Lumber Co., a family-owned company for three generations, has been a trusted partner in the building industry since 1949. With this acquisition, Wilson Lumber Co. will expand its market footprint to better serve customers in Tennessee.
“For 75 years, Wilson Lumber Co. has been committed to providing on-time, in-full deliveries and superior customer service,” said Josh Hendrickson, president of Wilson Lumber Co. “Nashville Lumber has built a strong reputation in the industry, and we look forward to combining our expertise to continue meeting the needs of our customers.”
Nashville Lumber’s customers will now have access to Wilson Lumber Co.’s expanded services and manufacturing capabilities, including LBM, truss manufacturing, window manufacturing, millwork, doors, and reliable delivery and logistics.
With the deal finalized, Nashville Lumber’s location has begun operating under the Wilson Lumber name.
Founded in 1949 and proudly family-owned for three generations, Wilson Lumber has been a cornerstone of the Huntsville area, supplying homebuilders and building material consumers with quality products and exceptional service. Today, with over 300 employees, the company remains committed to its legacy of growth, innovation, and community impact under the leadership of the Wilson family.
EASTERN ENGINEERED WOOD SELECTS SOUTH CAROLINA FOR DC
Eastern Engineered Wood Products, a wholesale distributor of engineered wood products, has selected Anderson County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $18.7 million investment will create 31 new jobs.
Founded in Pennsylvania in 1998, Eastern supplies engineered wood products to building materials dealers and lumberyards across the East Coast. The company also provides technical support to customers including product placement drawings, product specification assistance and sales education.
Eastern’s new distribution center, to be located in Belton, S.C., will service lumber dealers and component manufacturers in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Operations are expected to start later this year with full completion of the project in early 2026.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $100,000 Set-Aside grant to Anderson County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.
“Establishing this new location in Anderson County, S.C., is an exciting next step in our growth and expan-
sion strategy,” said EEWP president Todd Lindsy. “We have long recognized the need for our products and services in the Southeast, and the Upstate of South Carolina is the ideal area from which to support that need. Support from the state and local authorities has been tremendous, and we look forward to working together as we grow our operation.”
------------| SUPPLIER BRIEFS
The Trump Administration mandated additional 25% tariffs on lumber imported from Canada and Mexico that, as of presstime, were set to go into effect April 2.
Roseburg Forest Products is ramping up production at its new Roanoke Valley Lumber sawmill in Weldon, N.C. Opened in February, the $200-million pine mill has already added a second shift with plans for a third shift in the future.
Hankins Lumber suffered damage to its Elliott, Ms., sawmill in a March 11 blaze.
Springfield Lumber Co., Springfield, Ma., leased a 57,000-sq. ft. building, more than doubling its total space.
Lincoln Lumber, Lincoln, Ne., suffered damage, including loss of a lumber shed, in a March 11 fire. Investigators are seeking the cause.
Patriot Rail Co., Jacksonville, Fl., is teaming with Canadian Pacific Kansas City to establish a new multi-commodity transload facility on CPKC’s network in Denton, Tx.
Beacon opened branches in Lafayette, In.; La Crosse, Wi.; St. Augustine, Fl.; and Frisco, Tx.
Doman Lumber, Plumerville, Ar., lost a lumberdrying building in an early-morning fire on Feb. 21.
The Pau Lope Co., Cape Canaveral, Fl., has added garapa and red balau to its 30-year Limited Warranty Program.
L&W Supply has acquired the assets of Drywall Supply, Wichita, Ks.
IWT-Moldrup is introducing a unique results-based, third-party certification system for thermally modified wood. Certification is for Use Classes 2, 3.1 (typically cladding), and 3.2 (typically decking), providing endusers with exact information on the TMW’s properties.
Johns Manville will add a new Climate Pro blowing wool production line in Winder, Ga., by mid-2027.
Wausau Supply is now carrying Deckorators products, including decking, railings and privacy screens, at its 22 locations, including in key markets in Ohio, lower Michigan, and Indiana.
Do it Best is expanding Milwaukee and Diablo power tools and accessories to its True Value distribution centers.
Wholesale Wood Products is now distributing Roseburg Armorite exterior trim out of its Dothan and Birmingham, Al., locations.
USG Corp., Chicago, Il., earned Great Place to Work Certification for its operations in North America.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Jim Olson has been promoted to vice president of sales, marketing & transportation for Hunt Forest Products, Ruston, La., and its joint ventures with Tolko, LaSalle Lumber Co. and Bienville Lumber Co. Tony Butler, sales mgr. for Hunt, is retiring.
Andy Goodman has been named president of Sherwood Lumber, Melville, N.Y., succeeding his father, Andy
Juliana Villa has been named e-commerce mgr. at Niehaus Lumber Co., Vincennes, In.
Bill Phillips, ex-ECMD, is a new territory mgr. for Charles Grey, Winston-Salem, N.C. Bobby Black was promoted to railing specialist.
Ken Popenhagen, mgr. ,Spahn & Rose Lumber, West Union, Ia., retired after 50+ years in the industry. Mike Roe was promoted to assistant GM in Edgewood and Monticello, Ia.
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Richard Schoettler was promoted to branch mgr. of Curtis Lumber, Schuylerville, N.Y.
Theresa Dean, ex-Arnold Lumber, is new to millwork sales at Riverhead Building Supply, Cumberland, R.I.
Juan Segura is new to inside sales at Klumb Forest Products, Gulfport, Ms.
Craig Decato, ex-Andersen, is new to US LBM, Raleigh, N.C., as a window/ door specialist.
Greg DeMint, ex-Spahn & Rose, has been appointed vice president of manufacturing for Brown Lumber & Building Supply, Columbiana, Al.
Jeff Cargill was named general mgr of Kruse Lumber, Rochester, Mn.
Chris Lewis-Jones, ex-Weyerhaeuser, has joined BlueLinx, Hickory, N.C., as regional product specialist, concentrating on MoistureShield decking and railing in the Southeast.
Alda Opfer is now in outside builder sales-kitchen & bath for Mans Lumber & Home, Birmingham, Mi.
Bill Taylor has been named sales mgr. for Advent Windows & Doors, Aurora, Tx.
Esmeralda Lane has been added to the sales department at Lodge Lumber, Houston, Tx.
Damon Jones, ex-Palmer-Donavin, has moved into sales at ABC Supply, Somerset, Ky. Also new to outside sales for ABC are Ben Hayden in Springfield, Va., and Susie Case in Rogers, Mn.
Steven Marson is now sales coordinator for Contract Lumber, Waller, Tx.
Gavin Allen has hired on as general mgr. of Pella Windows & Doors of Dayton, Oh.
Matt Loprest and Tim Pieper were appointed directors of operations for Do it Best Corp., Fort Wayne, In. Scott Morrison is new as member operational excellence mgr.
Christopher Egan has been named global supply chain coordinator for International Forest Products, Foxborough, Ma.
Ryan Kemp has been named executive vice president of Deckorators, a division of UFP Retail Solutions, Grand Rapids, Mi.
Hilary Barnett is the new marketing director for Kebony North America.
Kidron Elmquist, ex-Makita USA, is now Charleston, S.C.-based territory sales mgr. for PrimeSource
Building Products. Nick Kremchek, ex-Hilti, is a new PrimeSource account mgr. in Cleveland, Oh.
Gina Beredo was appointed executive VP, chief administrative officer, and general counsel of Owens Corning, Toledo, Oh.
Doug Jones, president, Hines Supply, Buffalo Grove, Il., was named 2025 Lumberman of the Year by the Illinois Lumber & Material Dealers Association.
Michael O’Brien has retired as president and CEO of the Window & Door Manufacturers Association after 40 years in the industry.
Brett Kerr, ex-Snavely, is new to LP Building Solutions as Pittsburgh, Pa., territory sales mgr. Kelly Barrett, former Home Depot exec, was appointed to LP’s board of directors. Wanda Headley, Hayward, Wi., LP’s most tenured female employee with nearly 40 years of service, was named a 2025 Women MAKE Awards Honoree by the Manufacturing Institute.
Otto Moe Beale is a new driver for Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus
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HANCOCK EXPANDING BRUNSWICK YARD
Hancock Lumber is rebuilding its Brunswick, Me., location to 30,000 sq. ft. by November.
The new structure will contain a hardware store, indoor drive-thru lumberyard, kitchen design showroom, and offices.
The project also includes doubling the size of its millwork warehouse, adding another 20,000 sq. ft. of covered outdoor lumber storage, and increasing parking.
The store will remain open for business during construction.
OLDCASTLE PURCHASES VINYL FENCING/ RAILING PLANTS
Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, acquired two vinyl fence and rail manufacturing facilities from Eastern Wholesale Fence. This strategic acquisition expands Oldcastle APG’s geographical footprint and capabilities on the Eastern Seaboard while adding to APG’s growing fence, rail and deck portfolio.
“We are pleased to welcome the employees and customers of Eastern Wholesale Fence’s EverStrong Profiles business to the Oldcastle APG family,” said Tim Ortman, president, Oldcastle APG. “By leveraging the vinyl extrusion facilities of EverStrong Profiles, we will be in an even stronger position to provide top-quality service and products to our new and existing customers in key markets along the east coast.”
With extrusion operations located in Calverton, N.Y., and Salisbury, N.C., EverStrong Profiles manufactures a diverse collection of vinyl fencing and railing to suit customer design needs and meet customized specifications. Moving forward, Oldcastle APG will serve as the primary supplier of rail and fence profiles to Eastern Wholesale Fence’s distribution business, which is being retained by Center Rock Capital Partners.
The acquisition is another step in Oldcastle’s strategy to provide end-to-end outdoor living solutions to customers across the country. The integration of EverStrong Profiles into Oldcastle’s fence, rail and decking business expands the visibility and accessibility of these product lines to customers.
US LBM ACQUIRES SC MILLWORK SUPPLIER
US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has acquired Beach Window and Door, Calabash, N.C.
Serving the Myrtle Beach area since 2010, Beach Window and Door provides a wide range of exterior and interior doors, windows and specialty building products to homeowners, builders and contractors. Harvey Sutton and David McPherson, who founded Beach Window and Door, will continue running day-to-day operations.
“We’re excited to partner with US LBM,” said Sutton and McPherson. “Our team at Beach Window and Door brings over 75 years of combined experience in the industry. Now, as part of the US LBM family of companies, we can provide our communities with even more resources and products.”
“It’s been an honor working alongside Harvey and David to bring the partnership with US LBM to fruition,” said Michael Parrish of Global Growth Partners, who served as the sell-side M&A advisor to Beach Window and Door.
Beach Window and Door will operate as part of US LBM’s Professional Builders Supply division.
“The team at Beach Window and Door has a strong reputation for providing top-quality products and service,” said US LBM president and CEO L.T. Gibson. “The Carolinas continue to be a growth market for new construction, and the addition of Beach Window and Door enhances our operations and the support of builders in the region.”
WESTLAKE ACE OPENING MORE STORES IN CHARLOTTE AREA
Westlake Ace Hardware signed lease agreements to open two new stores in the greater Charlotte, N.C., area.
A 9,000-sq. ft. store will be developed in the Ballantyne Commons East Shopping Center. Renovations to the space will begin this spring, with an anticipated soft opening during late summer 2025.
A new store in the Village Commons at Wesley Chapel shopping center in Wesley Chapel, N.C., is tentatively scheduled to open in early 2026. Construction of the 15,000-sq. ft. store begins early this year.
Westlake Ace currently owns and operates 14 stores in North Carolina under the Westlake Ace and Outer Banks Ace brands. A new Westlake Ace location in Charlotte’s Rozzelle Crossing Shopping Center opened its doors on Feb. 28.
“We are excited to open two new locations in the greater Charlotte area and deepen our relationship with the community as a friend, a trusted neighbor, and an employer,” said Joe Jeffries, president and CEO of Ace Retail Holdings, parent company of Westlake Ace. “We look forward to serving our new neighbors and showcase how we live the Ace Helpful Promise daily through reliable service, helpful advice, and the products our customers need to get their projects done right.”
Westlake Ace has been part of the Ace Hardware Cooperative since 1959. From its headquarters in the Kansas City area, the company currently owns and operates more than 170 stores in 13 states.
ADDITIONS COMING to Hancock Lumber’s Brunswick, Me., location include a new hardware store, indoor drive-thru lumberyard, kitchen design showroom, and offices, plus more room for storage and parking.
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SRS DISTRIBUTION ACQUIRES IOWA’S RISING
STAR WHOLESALE
SRS Distribution Inc. acquired Rising Star Wholesale, a distributor of siding, windows, doors and other complementary products based in Des Moines, Ia. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Founded in 2001, Rising Star was owned and operated by Bob Myers. The company employs a team of 17 people. Corey Myers, Bob’s son, and Amber Twohig, a longtime employee of Rising Star, will lead the business going forward.
Dan Tinker, president and CEO of SRS, said, “We are delighted to welcome Bob and the rest of the Rising Star team to the SRS family. The company’s siding, window and door expertise will be an outstanding complement to our existing roofing-focused operation in the market.”
Former owner Myers said, “We are so pleased to have found a like-minded partner in SRS. It was clear from our very first conversation that they share our passion for treating employees like family and prioritizing the needs of our customers. I couldn’t imagine a better home for Rising Star and am thrilled by the growth opportunities my people will have with SRS’ added resources and capital.”
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in McKinney, Tx., SRS Distribution currently operates under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 780 locations across 48 states. SRS Distribution is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot, Inc.
WESTLAKE BUYS CHICAGO’S EDGEBROOK
Westlake Ace Hardware agreed to acquire Edgebrook Ace Hardware, a family-owned retailer based in Chicago, Il. The 8,700-sq. ft. store will keep its Ace branding and will retain much of its current product mix and personnel. It is anticipated the deal will close on June 1.
The Edgebrook location has served the northwest Chicago community as a hardware store for several decades. Mary Beth and Lou Manfredini purchased the hardware store in 2005 and rebranded it as Edgebrook Ace Hardware.
“This store is more than just a place to buy paint, tools, nuts, and bolts—it’s a trusted resource where neighbors find solutions, guidance, and a helping hand, always with a smile,” said Mary Beth and Lou Manfredini. “We are deeply grateful to our customers and are thrilled that Edgebrook Ace will continue serving the community under Westlake Ace’s leadership.”
The sale also marks the retirement of longtime store manager Ed Coren and his wife Sue, front-end manager. The Corens, who joined the business nearly 40 years ago, have become beloved fixtures in the community.
“For the past 20 years, Lou and Mary Beth Manfredini have continued the decades-long tradition of steadfast community support and service at Edgebrook Ace,” said Joe Jeffries, president and CEO of Ace Retail Holdings, parent company of Westlake Ace. “It’s an honor to carry on their legacy. We look forward to showing our new friends, neighbors, and customers in Edgebrook how we live the Ace Helpful Promise daily through world-class service, helpful advice, and the leading products they need to get their projects done right.”
ACE HARDWARE LAUNCHES NEW SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE FOR YARD CARE
Ace Hardware is rolling out Ace YardRx, a subscription service designed to deliver personalized yard care solutions directly to customers’ homes.
Customers log into their Ace Rewards account, enter their address at Ace YardRx and receive a personalized package based on their location, yard size, and grass type. Product recommendations include treatments for patch and repair, fertilizer, weed control, insect control, and general seeding. Customers can also modify their program to address specific issues such as fungus, certain insects, or weeds.
Once signed up, each seasonal product delivery includes the right products to achieve greener grass, less weeds, and fewer bugs, guaranteed at Ace’s best price of the season.
FORTILINE BUYS BELAIR ROAD SUPPLY
Belair Road Supply, Baltimore, Md., has been acquired by 80-branch waterworks supplier Fortiline.
Fortiline plans to operate Belair’s five branches in Baltimore, Westminster and White Plains, Md., and Frankford and Middletown, De., under the Fortiline Waterworks name. Founded in 1917, Belair has 78 employees.
Belair president Stephanie Germano will remain with the company through the ownership transition, after which Belair Road Supply’s Robbie Robinson will serve as regional sales manager and Andy Evans will become regional operations manager. Both will report to Keith Young, regional VP of Fortiline.
Fortiline is a division of Australia-based plumbing and HVAC distributor Reece Inc., which has 900 branches around the world. Its North American headquarters are in Dallas, Tx.
LEZZER HONORS “ELITE” LOCATION
Lezzer Lumber has selected its Reading, Pa., location as the winner of the first-ever Elite Location Award.
The award recognizes excellence in operations, facility organization and performance. From showroom upgrades to top-tier yard efficiency, the Reading branch, led by Kaethe Huber, set a new standard.
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PROS READY FOR COMPLETELY ELECTRIC JOBSITES
DeWalt has released the results of its 2025 Power Pulse Survey, revealing a strong desire by contractors to transition to electric-powered tools. Roughly 66% of construction managers and 59% of skilled workers surveyed said complete electrification on jobsites may be just two years away.
While a significant number of the pros surveyed cited power
supply (39%) and tool durability (35%) as possible concerns, these qualms have decreased compared to last year’s survey (44% and 39% respectively). Moreover, 72% of respondents who switched to electrified tools on jobsites say the change has allowed them to complete projects up to two to three times faster compared to gas-powered tools. What’s more, 93% of respondents
believe that electric-powered tools will have a positive impact on the environment compared to gas-powered tools.
Other key findings include:
• Key Benefits of Electric: Compared to gas-powered tools, 45% of construction management cited safety (i.e., fewer gas tanks on jobsite, limiting tripping hazards, etc.) and ease of use as the most significant benefits of using electricpowered tools.
• Sustainably-Minded Business Development: About 90% of construction managers agreed that adopting more sustainable building solutions would help win more business for their company.
• Reducing Stress and Strain on the Job: Safety concerns are the biggest stressor across jobsites, as cited by 45% of skilled workers. Also high on their list is the physical strain from using heavy equipment and performance issues with the tools and equipment (36% each).
• The Future of the Jobsite: Approximately 94% of construction professionals are confident that their construction sites are ade-
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quately fitted for the transition to fully electric-powered tools, a meaningful increase from the 89% that expressed confidence last year.
Stanley Black & Decker/DeWalt commissioned Atomik Research to conduct the online survey of 2,201 workers in the construction industry.
CME GROUP LAUNCHES SYP CONTRACT
Fastmarkets has been selected as the price-reporting agency for the new CME Group cash-settled lumber futures contract. Designed to support North America’s fastest-growing lumber-producing region, southern yellow pine futures began trading on March 31.
The new lumber contract leverages Fastmarkets’ Random Lengths Southern Yellow Pine #2&Btr 2x4 (eastside) daily price. Unlike traditional futures contracts reliant on physical delivery, this contract will be settled based on the difference between the contract price and the market price published at the expiration of each contract.
Southern pine is one of North America’s largest sources of lumber supply, representing over 36% of North American softwood lumber production. The species’ growth in the U.S., combined with trade challenges such as tariffs on Canadian lumber, underscored the need for a dedicated futures contract aligned with the U.S. supply chain.
“Demand for southern yellow pine has increased as North American lumber production shifts southeast, creating new hedging needs for the industry,” said John
Ricci, managing director and global head of agriculture products at CME Group. “We are pleased to introduce the new Fastmarkets-settled southern yellow pine futures, which are complementary to our SPF futures and will allow participants across the value chain to manage their price exposure more effectively.”
The tailored risk management solution aligns with current market trends and addresses such needs as hedging, improved accuracy and confidence, and adaptability to shifting domestic supply.
LBM COMPANIES EARN SPOTS ON SUSTAINABILITY LIST
Several building materials companies were included in Barron’s 2025 ranking of the 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies, led by Owens Corning, which ranked #4 overall.
Other industry firms on the list were Trex (#48), PPG Industries (#62), AZEK (#68), and Stanley Black & Decker (#78).
Barron’s, a leading financial publication, annually identifies and honors companies that demonstrate outstanding leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. For its eight annual ranking, Barron’s engaged Calvert Research and Management to score the 1,000 largest publicly traded companies across 230 performance indicators.
Trex’s, which moved up 20 spots since the year prior, secured its spot on the list thanks to its commitment to sustainability, innovation and corporate responsibility.
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MOBILE JOBSITE ORGANIZER
A mobile jobsite desk specifically designed for use during the entire rough framing stage of construction has been introduced by Green Flash Industries. The Green Flash provides a portable, durable work surface that can withstand the demands of a construction site, while keeping important documents handy and organized. It features solid steel construction and an arm that clamps onto a 2x4 or 2x6 framing member, then telescopes for easy storage in a vehicle or bag. Sturdy tethered magnets hold work to the desk surface.
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NEXT GENERATION OF BOND
Sika USA is rebranding and upgrading two resilient flooring adhesives for the interior installation of luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl plank, vinyl sheet goods, fiberglass-backed sheet vinyl, carpet tile, rubber flooring, and more for residential and commercial applications.
Formerly known as DriTac 5900 MegaBond and DriTac 5800 ToughBond, SikaBond-5900 and SikaBond-5800 are proven product formulas that offer high moisture resistance and an increased shelf life from one to two years. Both adhesives tout easy spread capabilities, low odor, and easy clean up wet or dry.
SikaBond-5900 is the premium-grade option that can also install WPC, SPC and rigid core products.
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PVC LAP SIDING
AZEK Lap Siding offers simplified installation and elevated aesthetics without the burdens of persistent maintenance, rot and decay.
Made of cellular PVC, Lap Siding is available in six UV-resistant colors, and 4.5” and 7.5” reveal lap profiles, in 16’ lengths.
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COMPACT THERMAL MODIFICATION
A new smaller compact unit for thermal modification with an annual capacity of a half-million bd. ft. has been developed by IWT-Moldrup.
The plant uses Moldrup-TMT’s unique hygrothermal process with design temperatures up to 455˚ and for both wet and dry processes. It provides cycle times of 23 hours or less, results in less brittleness and redundancy, consumes 50% less energy compared to other processes, and reduces CO2 emissions by at least 50%.
Represented in the U.S. by American Wood Technology, the unit can be adapted for a wide range of treatment processes for softwoods and hardwoods.
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PREMIUM PAINTER’S TAPE
Shurtape’s new FrogTape Advanced Painter’s Tape offers elevated performance for super sharp paint lines, conformability around curves, and removal without tearing or shredding.
The premium tape is treated with PaintBlock Technology to seal tape edges and prevent paint bleed. It offers 28-day indoor clean removal with nanotechnology, which protects against the weakening of the bond between the adhesive and backing. Its washi paper backing is thin, yet two times stronger than crepe paper painter’s tape for better conformability, shred resistance, and tear-free removal.
SHURTAPETECH.COM (888) 442-8273
TRANQUIL-TONED DECKING
Meridian, MoistureShield’s composite decking featuring a woodgrain texture, is now available in a new color—Shoal.
Shoal is a tranquil, driftwood tan, bridging warm and cool tones.
Meridian decking is available in 1x6 boards—12', 16' and 20' long—in square edge and grooved profiles.
MOISTURESHIELD.COM (866) 729-2378
TOP-SHELF T&G DECKING
Dak Deck, Dakeryn’s 2x6 T&G decking, is designed to warm and enhance exposed ceilings and floors.
Profiled from top-most appearance (J-Grade) lumber for a sublime finish, the product uses a certified western spruce or Douglas fir substrate to provide superior stability and strength.
It comes in two profiles (WC200 V2E/Flush Back and S1S V4E resawn one face), in lengths from 8 to 20 ft.
DAKERYN.COM (604) 986-0323
NEW TONES FOR FAUX STONE
Westlake Royal Building Products is expanding its Versetta Stone siding offerings with the addition of three new colors.
Featuring a panelized format that simply hangs with screws, Versetta Stone provides the beauty and texture of authentic stone masonry without the added time required for installation.
The new colors are Granite Peak (dark gray stone), Lunar Drift (modern white stone), and Glen Canyon (warm, earthy tones).
They are available in two profiles—Tight-Cut, a rugged texture with purposeful irregularity and a wellworn look that suggests years in the elements, and Ledgestone, offering the traditional look of quarried limestone fitted tightly together to emulate rural 19th-century American architecture.
WESTLAKEROYALBUILDINGPRODUCTS.COM (855) 769-2585
OUT-OF-SIGHT DECK CLIPS
Discreetly secure deck boards without visible screws using Deckorators StealthLock Universal Deck Clips featuring innovation by CAMO.
These pre-assembled, one-pass fasteners work seamlessly with CAMO tools for efficient installation with grooved Surestone, composite, PVC and hardwood deck boards.
They are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
DECKORATORS.COM (800) 556-8449
PREFINISHED CLADDING
Kebony North America has introduced Kebony Textured with Color, its first-ever prefinished cladding product line. It was developed in response to customer demand for a uniform and unique cladding finish in an off-the-shelf offering.
Kebony TWC saves cladding contractors’ time and labor with its factory-applied stains, which are Stormy Gray and the darker Midnight Sky, and ensure uniform color throughout the modified-wood façade.
US.KEBONY.COM (833) 795-8660 ARE YOU ABOUT TO INTRODUCE A NEW PRODUCT? LET US KNOW! Email DKoenig@526mediagroup.com
TIMELESS TRIM
Westlake Royal Building Products has expanded its Grove Collection of architectural PVC trim and mouldings to include column wraps with caps and bases, a nickel gap profile, and flat trim.
The line combines the timeless charm and rich look of stained wood with the performance benefits of cellular PVC, making it perfect for outdoor living spaces, porch ceilings, and soffits.
Available in 6”x6” and 8”x8” sizes in 10’ lengths, column wraps easily slip over existing columns, delivering an instant, modern upgrade to porches and exteriors.
The new 6” nickel gap profile provides clean, contemporary lines on walls and ceilings.
Flat trim is offered in 5⁄8”x4”, 1”x8”, and 1”x12” sizes.
WESTLAKEROYALBUILDINGPRODUCTS.COM (855) 769-2585
ROOFTOP VINYL DECKING
Long popular in Canada for rooftop decks, balconies, porches and surfaces that require waterproofing, Continental’s vinyl deck membranes are now available in the U.S.
Designed for ease of use, membranes come in a variety of patterns and finishes. They are virtually maintenance-free, highly durable, slip-resistant, and produced with selvege edge, providing superior seam strength.
CONTINENTAL-INDUSTRY.COM (800) 336-9882
SUNNY SHINGLES
GAF Energy has launched Timberline Solar ES 2, the latest evolution of the world’s first nailable solar shingle originally introduced in 2022. The ES 2 delivers 23% more power than its predecessor and easier to install.
ES 2 features markedly more area than a traditional asphalt shingle, quickening installation. The enhanced StrikeZone makes installation more efficienct.
Shingles are compatible with the complete GAF Timberline shingle collection.
Their refined aesthetics include a sleek-looking depth of less than a quarter-inch, plus smaller transition boxes and simplified wiring.
GAF.COM (877) 423-7663
THOUSANDS SWAMP NEW ORLEANS FOR ORGILL DEALER MARKET
Judging by the crowd of retailers gathered opening morning at the doors of New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center awaiting the start of Orgill’s 2025 Dealer Market, anticipation and expectations for the event were at an all-time high.
Thousands of retailers spent Feb. 20-22 exploring nearly 1 million sq. ft. of products and inspirational ideas.
The in-person show coincided with Orgill’s online Spring Buying Event, which ran Feb. 17 to March 2. Almost all of the products on display in New Orleans were also available via Orgill.com.
“With the rapid pace of change in the home improvement industry right now, we want to do everything we can to provide our customers with the products, services and support they need to be successful,” said Boyden Moore, Orgill president and CEO. “Hosting our 2025 Dealer Market concurrently with our online Buying Event helps remove any friction for our customers in accessing the tools they need to build their businesses and remain competitive within their trading areas.”
Exhibitors—whether long-time vendors or suppliers new to the show—put their best foot forward to offer dealers special market-only pricing and promotions.
“I give a tremendous amount of credit to our vendors who understand how important these events are for our customers. The exhibi-
tors here know that this event plays a key role in helping the retailers we serve plan their promotional buying for the year, and the market allows them to maximize their margin potential by taking advantage of show specials,” said Clay Jackson, executive VP and COO.
Some of the biggest opportunities for retailers to leverage show specials were found in the Seasonal Door Buster promotional areas, pallet buy areas, and among the Flash Market deals.
“The promotional buying is a huge value of the show,” said Darrell Baker, VP of marketing & merchandising for W.E. Aubuchon Co. “The tens of thousands of core items available at discounts with dating always make the time investment worthwhile. Then you have the Door Buster booking, which just tees up the promotional year. After that, the coupons, (planogram) discounts, and new item showcase discounts are always valuable. And those are just the warehouse programs.”
Along with the opportunity to interact with industry-leading vendors, see the latest in products and assortments, and cash in on special buying opportunities, attendees are also using the show to gather ideas and inspiration from two fully merchandised concept stores, take part in dozens of educational sessions and hear the latest about the host of helpful retail services available to them through Orgill and its partners.
“We've got a detailed list of vendors we will meet with at the show,” Koopman Lumber's Matt Nichols said during the show “The concept stores are our first stop Thursday morning, and we've budgeted two hours with our sales representative to walk them and hopefully take back some fresh ideas.”
Orgill again organized several of its most popular product and assortment presentations into special Showcase areas that allow attendees to see a curated selection of merchandise and programs all in one place. Those included:
• Smart Start, a 10,000+-sq. ft. area featuring product assortments within specific categories.
• Rental, 750-sq. ft. devoted to rental items.
• Impulse, a 4,800-sq. ft. collection of impulse products.
• Exclusively Orgill, a 36,000-sq. ft. showcase of private-label and captive brand merchandise.
• Frattallone’s Hardware & Garden, a 15,000-sq. ft. traditional hardware store concept based off of the actual Minnesota-based Frattallone’s Hardware & Garden chain.
Visitors could see how Frattalone’s spotlights high-traffic areas like its paint department alongside seasonal flex areas for outdoor living, outdoor power equipment and more. The store also featured promotional endcaps, signage, and a fully functional Epicor POS system integrated with Orgill’s FanBuilder customer loyalty program.
• Pinehaven Lumber, a 3,600-sq. ft. contractor/pro store.
“The concept stores are the best place to see all manufacturers in one place. You get to see products and merchandising as they would show up in your store. There’s also great merchandising concepts to explore. I always carve out time to dwell in the concept stores,” noted Aubuchon’s Baker.
Dealers could also attend dozens of different educational workshops, including the annual Technology Symposium, which takes place the day prior to the actual start of the main event. This year, symposium attendees got to hear what technology is cooking in the Orgill retail “lab” CNRG, digital marketing strategies, and how to leverage customer loyalty programs beyond retail customers for pros. BPD
DEALERS beginning storming the show floor at Orgill's 2025 Dealer Market in New Orleans, La.
Like the foods we buy, when it comes to decking, we want natural and real. Redwood is always available in abundance of options. So stock the shelves! Unlike mass-produced and inferior products, Redwood is strong, reliable and possesses many qualities not found in artificial products. They maintain temperatures that are comfortable in all climates.
Redwood Empire stocks several grades and sizing options of Redwood.
LMC ANNUAL REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
LMC PROUDLY hosted its milestone celebration, the 2025 Annual, from March 6-8 in Phoenix, Az., drawing a record number of dealers and vendors. As one of the most anticipated events in the LBM industry, 70% of LMC’s dealer network gathered to commemorate nine decades of industry leadership and prepare for a thriving future.
During the event, dealers connected with industry peers and top suppliers from across the country, gained strategic industry insights through expert-led sessions, and explored cutting-edge products from leading suppliers. The theme, “Celebrating 90 Years Strong,” honored LMC's evolution from its 1935 founding to its status as an industry powerhouse, emphasizing its enduring commitment to dealer success and innovation.
The event kicked off with a full day of educational experiences, including 19 diverse training sessions. These included specialized networking opportunities for kitchen and bath professionals and the highly anticipated presentation, “The Changing North American Lumber Basket,” where LMC experts analyzed critical shifts in lumber markets. The show floor buzzed with energy during the Welcome Reception, a signature networking event where dealers, suppliers, and the LMC team connected. To
commemorate LMC’s 90th anniversary, attendees enjoyed a special 90-Minute Prize Giveaway featuring high-value prizes throughout the evening.
The second day opened with LMC president & CEO Paul Ryan delivering a comprehensive review of 2024 achievements and outlining the company’s future direction.
Keynote speaker Erik Wahl, a renowned artist and business strategist, followed with his presentation, “The Art of Vision, Leadership & Creativity.” Wahl’s dynamic session, incorporating a live art demonstration, inspired attendees with fresh perspectives on navigating business change.
A new addition this year was the Innovation Theater, hosted by LMC’s Technology Department and featuring product demonstrations showcasing groundbreaking advancements in the LBM industry, providing attendees with hands-on experiences with new materials and tools.
The exhibition floor was a hub of activity as dealers met with key suppliers and industry innovators to prepare for the upcoming peak building season. Exclusive show specials provided significant cost savings on essential inventory.
LMC also celebrated dealer achievements, recognizing 41 dealers for milestone anniversaries.
The New Products Area drew significant attention, with dealers voting for the most innovative products in the industry. Out of 20 entries, the first place was awarded to Weyerhaeuser’s Gator Bar, second to DeWalt’s Grabber Lifter Tool, and third to Zahbuilt’s Cooler Cabinet. Looking ahead, the next LMC Annual will take place in Chicago from March 10-12, 2026.
LMC DREW record attendance to its recent annual meeting in Phoenix, Az., with two-thirds of its dealer members attending and an all-time high number of suppliers exhibiting. [1] LMC president and CEO points out the good news. [2] John Campos, Joe Armour, Susan Cho, Steve Firko. [3] Ryan Arata, Clint Darnell, Miles Fitch. [4] Chuck Casey, Lisa Martin. [5] Emily Thornhill, Josh Stanford, Cory Boisoneau. [6] Damien Fallin, Sean Culligan. (More photos on next two pages)
LMC exhibitors stepped up to the plate (continued from prior page): [7] Joe Burgoyne, Jennifer Ring, Craig Flynn, Lindsey Grove, Brian Vinniski, Dave Rogers. [8] Sondra Jones. [9] Caitlin Tate, Chuck Lencheck. [10] Roberta Schoyen, Patrick Glazier, Melissa Ponder. [11] Curt Allen, Tim Madigan. [12] Chris Brown, Brad Marks, Bill Johnston. [13] Frank Forward, Russ Gold. [14]
Travis Maddox, Andy Faircloth. [15] Brian Simon, Jason Eastman. [16] Duffy McCarthy, Jay McCarthy, Aaron Booth, Mark Stover [17] Jeff Tank, Craig Mellinger, Chad Adler, Chloe Jacobson, Conner Martin, Stokes Wallace. [18] Mark Swinth, Leslie Southwick, Aaron Fleming. [19] Crislyn Everall, AJ LaBranche, Doc Smith, Craig Crafton. (More photos on next page)
LMC ANNUAL meeting, held March 6-8 in Phoenix, celebrated the group’s 90th anniversary (continued from previous pages): [20] Troy Wilson, Bob Doty, Stephen Caballero, Roxanne Celentano, Chris TaylorBorn. [21] Dan Semsak, Blake Keitzman. [22] Darwin Waite, Mike Parker.
[23] Dave Davenport, Sara Corya. [24] Bill Schlottman, Rylie Joachim.
[25] Jordan Lynch, Cindy McCarville. [26] Jamie Moulton, Ian Penney.
[27] Winston Strawn, Kevin Brewer, Dave Schaefer, Josh Coyne. [28] Andrew Tate, Taylor Richardson. [29] Preston Warren, Brandon Davis.
[ 30 ] Candy Gerace, Jim Olson, Holly Bridwell. [ 31 ] Andrew Marden, John Bumby, Todd Greer. [32] Rick Kost, Jim Bradley. [33] Ryan Lutton.
[34] Kelly Matthews, Wayne Miller.
Building Products Digest will celebrate LMC’s milestone anniversary with a special section in our upcoming June issue!
IBS DRAWS RECORD ATTENDANCE
MORE THAN 81,000 builders, remodelers, dealers, distributors and other industry professionals filled the exhibit halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center Feb. 2527, as the National Association of Home Builders hosted the 81st NAHB International Builders’ Show, the largest annual light construction show in the world. This marked the largest IBS in 17 years.
Attendees visited more than 1,800 exhibitors—including 750 new exhibitors—over 728,000 net sq. ft., exploring innovative building products and technology to advance the industry and enhance new homes.
“This year’s show surpassed our high expectations for attendance, exhibit space and educational opportunities,” said NAHB chief revenue officer Geoff Cassidy. “Attendees saw the latest trends in home technology and resilience, and the latest advancements in building techniques.”
“There are a lot more people here this year, and they really did a good job of organizing like-vendors together
to make it easier to check out the same kind of products,” said Texas home builder Josh Deal.
“Traffic has been incredible. We’re having great conversations, and everyone’s been super engaged,” noted Sarah Caperton, director of siding innovation and commercialization at LP Building Products.
This year also marked the 12th anniversary of Design & Construction Week, the co-location of IBS and the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. DCW drew over 124,000 attendees, and nearly 2,500 exhibitors occupied over 1.2 million net sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor exhibits.
IBS attendees enhanced their industry knowledge by attending any of more than 120 education sessions led by experts on a wide range of industry topics, including artificial intelligence, building technology, research and trends. Two demo zones featured live demonstrations of trending topics in residential construction, allowing building profes-
IBS EXHIBITORS [1] Mike Feraci, Sumner Adams, Kyle Porter. [2] Heather & Jim Sweeney, Bobby Parks, Pat & Julie Noonan. [ 3] Chase Morrison,
Katherine Williams, John Morrison. [4] Kevin Daugherty, John Stahl, Jack Thornton. [5] Liam Godfrey, Dean Gregg. (More photos on next two pages)
sionals to learn best practices for building more durable, efficient, higher-quality homes.
Attendees also took advantage of numerous networking events throughout the week and visited The New American Home that showcased cutting-edge building techniques, high-performance design, and the latest products and trends.
During the event, NAHB named the winners of its 12th annual Best of IBS Awards, including:
• Best in Show: Clopay VertiStack Avante
• Best Business Solution: JobTread Software
• Best Energy-Efficient Product: Whole Home Electrification: SPAN Panel MLO 48
• Best Home Technology Product: Frontline Wildfire Defense System 2
• Best Indoor Product: Delta Electronics’ FRS200HT with 30-200 CFM Smart Sensing Supply Fan
• Best Outdoor Product: NCP Industries’ Adorn Stone ECO2Luxe powered by CaptureCrete
• Best Window & Door Product: Clopay VertiStack Avante
• Most Innovative Building Material: Typar Clear Acrylic Flashing
• Most Innovative Construction Tool (tie): Work IQ Tools’ IQ Vise System and Legend Valve’s ClearLOC
First-time IBS attendee Ryan Darmetko, sales manager at Eastwood Homes, Charlotte, N.C., noted, “We knew the show was going to be big and busy, but it was all very well organized and 100% worth the investment of coming.”
Next year, IBS will take place Feb. 17-19 in Orlando. BPD
CATCHING EYES AT IBS: [6] Dan Pettit demonstrates how lighting can bring a privacy wall to life. He and fellow builder Kevin Choquette constructed the fiber-optic lighting display of an African savanah using in-lite lighting and Eva-Last composite decking. [7] Ed Watkins, Darin Dalry, Troy Welsh, Travis Owens. [8] Andrea Stratton, Craig Crafton, Devin Stuart. [9] James Webb,
Rob Mitchell, Jamie Valencia, Kalvin Eden, Bruce McLean. [10] Tim Schultz, Zane Swanepoel, Lori Worthington, Steve Miller, Silas Betz. [11] Michelle Von Hatten, Olivia Marcinkowski. [12] Terry Haddix, Steve Getsiv. [13] Jeff Lee, Samantha Hanson. [14] Darren Brown, Kaylia Gumm, James Russell. [15] David Miller, Avy Kaplan. (More photos on next page)
MORE BUILDERS ’ SHOW (continued from previous pages) : [ 16 ] Bill Naumann, Mark Edmondson, Matt Rossi, Dan Smith, Rick Kapres, Matt Cullen, Jeff Dahdah [ 17 ] Jack Medford, Randy Freed. [ 18 ] Noah Johnson, Chris Johnson . [ 19 ] Mara Allen, Joe Hamon, Chad Adler, Jeff Falke, Jamie Ristey, John Brantley, Sean French . [ 20 ] Michael Noble, Peyton Brown, Andrew Ellis, Mark Guthrie, Lee Edelman, Gavin Pedrotty. [21] Cliff Pfingston, Doug Budell, Gary Maulin. [22] Michael
Shoemaker, Hillary Barnett, John Hedges. [ 23 ] Karla Randle, David Smith, Dana Linz, Chris Knowles, Cari Junker. [24] Lou Bradner, Bill Rieger, Andri Smith, Ben Gremel, Gary Schweizer, Jeff Mielcusny, Raj Honnavara, Carolyn Atkinson, Dave Lee, Mike Rasmussen . [ 25 ] Richard Lam, Carlos Quiroz. [26] Brad Parsons, Karleena Duerr, Jeff Law. [27] John Bozeman, Nick Dugan. [28] Mitch Stadt, John Horenkamp, Clayton Grimm. [29] Mike Kunard, Mike Mitchell.
BOOK
Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.
Florida Building Material Alliance – April 2-4, education conference, Margaritaville Resort, Kissimmee, Fl.; www.fbma.org.
Frame Building Expo – April 2-4, Knoxville, Tn.; www.nfba.org.
BLD Connection – April 8, intro to building material sales, Wisconsin Dells, Wi.; April 10, Minnesota; members.bldconnection.org.
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. – April 8, spring leadership conference, Palm Beach Garden, Fl.; www.kcma.org.
Montreal Wood Convention – April 8-10, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec; www.montrealwoodconvention.com.
Mid-States Distributing – April 9-16, owners meeting, Waimea, Hi.; www.msdist.com.
Wallace Distribution Co. – April 10-11, spring dealer market, Sevierville, Tn.; www.wallacehardware.com.
Associated Building Material Distributors – April 10-13, annual member/supplier meeting, Sawgrass Marriott Golf & Spa, Ponte Vedra, Fl.; www.abmda.com.
Peak Auctions – April 10-14, Midwest online LBM auction; April 12, LBM auction, Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea, Oh.; peakauction.com.
Composite Panel Association – April 13-16, spring meeting, Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort, Dana Point, Ca.; www.compositepanel.org.
BLD Connection – April 14-16, Pinnacle roundtable, Bloomington, Mn.; www.members.bldconnection.org.
National Wood Flooring Expo – April 15-17, Charlotte, N.C.; www. nwfaexpo.org.
Construction Suppliers Association – April 16-18, roundtable, Boise, Id.; April 23-25, Truss 1 seminar, Denver, Co.; www.gocsa.com.
Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association –April 17, Swing into Spring, Topgolf, Canton, Ma.; www.nrla.org.
BLD Connection – April 23-25, Legacy roundtable, Minneapolis, Mn.; www.members.bldconnection.org.
Peak Auctions – April 26, Cabarrus Arena & Event Center, Concord, N.C.; www.peakauction.com.
Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association – April 26-30, annual convention, JW Marriott, Tampa, Fl.; www.mheda.org.
North American Wholesale Lumber Association – April 27-May 2, executive management institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Il.; www.nawla.org.
Construction Suppliers Association – April 28-30, Next Gen 5, Charleston, S.C.; www.gocsa.com.
BLD Connection – April 29-May 1, Estimating 1-2-3, Inver Grove Heights, Mn.; members.bldconnection.org.
Wood Industry Conference – April 29-May 1, Fairmont Princess, Scottsdale, Az.; www.woodworkingindustryconference.com.
Coverings – April 29-May 2, Orlando, Fl.; www.coverings.com.
Hardlines Distribution Alliance – May 5-8, group merchandising conference, Covington, Ky.; www.hdaworks.com.
North American Wholesale Lumber Association – May 5-9, Spring Wood Basics, Vancouver, B.C.; www.nawla.org.
Construction Suppliers Association – May 7-9, roundtable, McLemore Resort, Rising Fawn, Ga.; www.gocsa.com.
North American Rail Shippers Association – May 7-9, annual meeting, Chicago, Il.; www.railshippers.com.
North American Young Lumber Employees – May 7-9, spring leadership conference, Portland, Me.; www.nrla.org.
Virginia Forestry Summit – May 7-9, Hotel Roanoke, Va.; www. forestrysummit.com.
International Hardware Fair Italy – May 8-9, Milan, Italy; www. hardwarefair-italy.com.
Peak Auctions – May 10, LBM auction, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Md.; www.peakauction.com.
Western Red Cedar Lumber Association – May 10-16, Cedar School, Vancouver/Kelowna, B.C.; www.realcedar.com.
Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Association – May 12, golf outing, Powelton Club, Newburgh, N.Y.; www.nrla.org.
Transload Distribution Association – May 12-14, annual conference, Westin River North, Chicago, Il.; www.tdana.com.
Northeastern Retail Lumber Association – May 13, spring leadership conference, NRLA Hq., Rensselaer, N.Y.; www.nrla.org.
Decorative Hardwoods Association – May 13-15, spring conference & annual meeting, Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, Tx.; www. decorativehardwoods.org.
Western Red Cedar Lumber Assn. – May 14-16, Cedar Summit, Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna, B.C.; www.realcedar.com.
Retail Lumber Dealers Assn. of Maine – May 15, board meeting & tour, Huber Engineered Wood, Easton, Me.; www.nrla.org.
Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo – May 16-17, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor, Me.; www.northernlogger.com.
New Hampshire Retail Lumber Dealers Assn. – May 20, Granite States Games–Round 1, Rugged Axe, Manchester, N.H.; www.nrla.org.
SFI – May 20-23, annual conference, Minneapolis, Mn.; www.forest.org.
LIGNA – May 26-30, Hannover, Germany; www.ligna.de.
Peak Auctions – May 31, Washtenaw County Fairgrounds, Saline, Mi.; www.peakauction.com.
Rates: $1.20 per word (25 word minimum). Phone number counts as 1 word, address as 6. Centered copy/headline, $9 per line. Border, $9. Column inch rate: $65 per inch Deadline: 10th of the previous month. Questions? Call (714) 486-2735.
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• 25+ years Reload Experience (704) 872-3148 • Fax (704) 872-3146 Email Tom Lakeman shavers.reload@gmail.com
------------| IN MEMORIAM
Robert Charles Balfour III, retired owner of Balfour Lumber Co., Thomasville, Ga., died on Feb. 21 at the age of 97.
Bob spent two years at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., before transferring to the University of Georgia, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1948.
In the early 1960s, he purchased his father’s lumber mill and spent his career running it. He later formed Balfour Pulpwood Co., which in time he renamed Balfour Timber.
Bob was a founding member of the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, a director of the Southern Pine Association (now the Southern Forest Products Association), and board chairman and longtime trustee of Tall Timbers Research Inc.
Robert Stenerson, 94, former owner of Stenerson Lumber, Moorhead, Mn., died on Feb. 22.
He joined the family business at the age of 14 in 1944 and spent his entire career with the family business, remaining active until his final days. Working in the hardware department, drafting, sales and management, his only time away from
WANTED TO BUY
WANTED TO BUY
the company was to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He took over ownership from his father, Gorden Stenerson, and upon retirement turned it over to his two sons, John and Leslie.
Herbert Ivan Reid, 93, longtime owner of Village Lumber Co., Corpus Christi, Tx., passed away on March 1.
As a teenager in Milton, Ma., Herb worked for Blacker & Holland Lumber Co. After serving in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s, he joined Wm. Cameron & Co., Harlingen, Tx, transferring to its Corpus Christi yard in 1966.
In 1976, he and his wife purchased Village Lumber. They operated it, rarely taking a day off, until 2002, when Herb retired at age 70.
Bobby Mahlon Thomas, 78, owner of Thomas Lumber Co., Cumming, Ga., died of cancer on Jan. 6.
Bobby graduated from Georgia Tech in 1969 with a degree in industrial engineering, then served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Soon after, he entered the family lumber business that his grandfather started in 1927. Bobby bought the company in 1973 and, by the
mid-1980s, had grown it into the top manufacturer of western red cedar products in the Southeast. He worked for Thomas Lumber up until the day of his death. Even in his last minutes of life, Bobby talked about Thomas Lumber celebrating 100 years of business in the same location since 1927.
Terry Drew Huffman, 81, formerly with Huffman Wood Preserving & Lumber, Broken Bow, Ok., died Feb. 1.
A graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Terry was involved in the family lumber business from his early years.
Bob Kierlin, 85, co-founder of Fastenal, Winona, Mn., passed away on Feb. 10.
A University of Minnesota grad, Bob teamed with Jack Remick, Van McConnon, and Steve Slaggie to launch Fastenal in 1967. After taking the company public in 1987, he would expand it to over 1,100 locations. He served as Fastenal’s first president until 2001, first CEO until 2002, and first chairman until retiring in 2014.
Bob was also a Minnesota State Senator from 1999 to 2007.
FLASHBACK: MODEL OPPORTUNITY
DESCRIBED AS “the most ambitious business-building program for lumber dealers ever sponsored by a manufacturer,” Masonite Corp. launched an epic model-home sponsorship promotion 67 years ago this month in the April 1958 issue of BPD sister publication The California Lumber Merchant
For their part, dealers would build a model home on site at their lumberyard or on a nearby residential lot, using national name-brand building materials and furnishings. These would all be brands the dealer sold—in addition to selling plans for the home itself.
“Surveys have shown that about 80% of the people visiting a model house are looking for ideas to incorporate in their present homes. The balance are interested primarily in building a new home,” shared Paul B. Shoemaker, Masonite VP of sales. “With the lumber dealer as the promoter of a high-grade model home, he’s in a wonderful position to benefit himself, local builders, the community, and the economy as a whole.”
Shoemaker pointed out that the model home is virtually “self-liquidating,” that the lumber dealer would not be competing with builders but rather supporting them, and that the products can be customized to the dealer’s clientele and inventory (so long as the home featured Masonite exterior siding).
Masonite had an architectural firm create seven different house designs for the Showcase of Famous Brands promotion. Shoemaker described them as “imaginative in concept, interesting in detail, rich in local merchandising value, comfortable and convenient in keeping with modern living concepts, and very salable.”
To ensure the program’s success, Masonite offered participating dealers a full kit of promotional materials and ideas, including a planning booklet covering selecting the basic plan, choosing the lot and location, financing, decorating and landscaping suggestions, getting publicity, staging an open house, getting new home prospects and remodeling leads, attracting new builder accounts, and organizing special tie-in promotions.
Other materials included newspaper ad layouts, giveaway brochures, radio and TV ad copy, direct mailers, wall banners, prospect cards, directional signage, and inclusion in national Masonite ads. BPD
The April 1958 front cover announced the integration of Gordon-MacBeath Hardwood into L.J. Carr & Co.’s hardwood division.
MASONITE VP Paul B. Shoemaker (left) and president John M. Coates review floor plans and home designs for a new lumber dealer promotion.
Has anyone actually ever seen the backside of D-Blaze®?*
*Okay, legally we have to say: there’s not actually a firefighter standing behind every piece of D-Blaze lumber, ready to defend it... (but D-Blaze is so good at its job, you’d think that there was).
