LUMBER 411

A Special Series from Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association

Why wood you choose anything else?

Since the dawn of time—or, well, since the early 1900s at least, wood associations like the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association have been promoting the use of natural, renewable, beautiful wood to lumber dealer and retailers nationwide.

And the reasons why are crystal clear: Wood is LEGENDARY. No other structural material, natural or man-made, combines the utility and lasting quality of wood. No other building material requires so little care and maintenance. And it’s been this way for ages!

The Stone Age Was Really the Wood Age

Our earliest recorded history shows that when Man first emerged from his cave, he looked to wood to build a primary shelter. Wood was used for fire and heat. Wood was used to build travois to carry things. Cavemen knew then the power of wood… and we still know it today!

Viva la Revolution!

Take a look around what were once the original 13 colonies and you see nothing but beautiful old wooden structures. These Colonial homes and mills and businesses stand as a strong reminder of both wood’s role in the founding of this great country and the incomparable durability of the product itself. Many of these structures still retain the original wood sashes, siding, and exterior trim after hundreds and hundreds of years.

Since then, our great nation has expanded from one coast to the other, all while building with easily accessible, locally grown, beautiful, renewable wood. Ask any historian where our country would be without wood as a basic raw material; we’ll hazard a guess the answer would be “nowhere.”

Was it Gold Wood??

Decades ago, while digging near Ankara, Turkey, in an area adjacent to the tomb of King Midas, archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania discovered massive wooden beams that had survived for (wait for it…) about 2,700 years.

The beams were found in the tomb of King Gordius, father to King Midas, with the wood from which the beams were formed identified as a species similar to our pine. The wood had received no special treatment and survived for that long. The beams themselves were hand-hewn, beautifully sanded and smoothed, and so expertly fitted that, even after thousands of years, the joints were practically invisible.

Repeat After Us: Wood Is the Best

We have a theory, that if wood didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it. Civilization as we know it could not exist without wood. So why must be constantly be reminded of the features and benefits of using real wood?

Because any traditional material can be placed at a serious disadvantage in the tempo of modern life. We become preoccupied with what’s new and shiny and fun; we get swept away by products claiming to make our lives “easier”—but at what cost? Dig deeper into many of these new “wood alternatives” and you won’t like what you see.

Don’t be led astray by the excitement of newness. Too many of these suddenly glamorous materials are pushed into uses for which they are not adapted. In this situation, sometimes the traditional material becomes the victim of a misinformation campaign filled with very few facts. How many negative things have you heard about using wood to build? Consider the source. Superstitious old wives tales perpetuate themselves and wood is not immune to popular misconceptions.

How to Sell Wood Better

The story of and for wood is one worth telling and sharing. A pamphlet first published in 1960 entitled A Case for Wood was originally targeted specifically at lumber dealers to educate them on the ways to best sell wood. The pamphlet specifically addresses multiple misconceptions about wood and attacks them head on. Topics included The Myth of “Dry Rot,” Insects: Fact & Fiction, Fire Safety, Paint Performance, and Dimensional Stability.

Each topic was summarily dismantled with facts, once again proving that wood is the premier building product choice. And yet—here we are in 2021, still reading (and rolling our eyes) and ongoing misinformation aimed at wood focusing on these same topics!

The thing is, arguments and facts in defense of wood stand the test of time and still hold true today. How many other building products can say that? – Jeff Easterling is president of Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. Reach him at info@nelma.org.

US LBM has added two new businesses to the fold—its first roofing and siding location in Delaware and a truss plant in Minnesota.

In New Castle, De., US LBM opened a Universal Supply branch—its eleventh roofing and siding-focused greenfield added since 2018 and first in the state.

In Eagan, Mn., just outside of St. Paul, US LBM acquired Villaume Industries, a manufacturer of wood trusses for new residential and commercial construction and of custom wood crating, boxes and pallets.

With the addition of Villaume, US LBM now operates 21 locations in Minnesota through its network of divisions in the state, which include Lampert Lumber, NexGen and Lyman Companies. Villaume will operate as part of its Lyman Companies division.

RP Acquires First Iowa Yard

Dick-N-Sons Lumber, Blue Grass, Ia., has been acquired by 71-unit R.P. Lumber Co., Edwardsville, Il., as its first location in Iowa.

Founded in 1901, Dick-N-Sons is one of the oldest lumberyards in the state. It will convert to the R.P. banner.

“We are excited to enhance and grow our service to the people of eastern Iowa from this new facility,” said R.P. president and CEO Robert Plummer. “The VanDeWalle family have built a great company and we could not be more pleased to welcome the Dick-N-Sons team to the R.P. Lumber family.”

Ohio Dealer Changes Hands

After 75 years, Lima Lumber Co., Lima, Oh., is getting a new owner and a new name.

Effective March 1, Mike Steiner and Kevin Gratz—owners for the past 38 years—are retiring and have sold the business to Doug Bruns. He will operate as Lima Lumber Brick & Block and add to the product mix outdoor pavers, brick, stone and more.

Interfor Purchasing SC Mill

Interfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., has agreed to acquire WestRock Co.’s sawmill located in Summerville, S.C., for $59 million.

Last year, the mill produced 125 million bd. ft. of lumber. A new permit was received in 2020 that allows for the production of up to approximately 200 million bd. ft. of lumber per year and Interfor has identified a number of operational and capital investment initiatives to optimize and increase production going forward.

The facility is located 65 miles southwest of Interfor’s Georgetown, S.C., mill and 115 miles northeast of its Meldrim, Ga., mill. This strategic positioning will allow for log sort optimization and procurement synergies across all three mills.

As part of the deal, Interfor will enter into a long-term chip and biomass supply agreement with WestRock’s Charleston, S.C., paper mill.

With the purchase set to close in first quarter 2021, Interfor’s total annual lumber production capacity will increase to 3.2 billion bd. ft.—55% of it in the U.S. South.

Duralife Doubling Production

DuraLife by Barrette Outdoor Living recently announced a multimillion dollar investment in upgrades at its Biddeford, Me., facility to double the production of composite decking materials in 2021.

The significant investment in equipment and manpower will help ensure that all customer needs will be met within a two-week distribution lead-time.

As part of these upgrades, new state-of-the-art automated equipment and multiple extrusion lines have been added in the plant to optimize efficiencies in the production process, allowing for faster production of deck boards. This new equipment will also offer operators the ability to more efficiently monitor and track line performance ensuring there is no compromise to quality.

DuraLife has also added 65,000 sq. ft. to its supply yard to provide storage for the additional volume of decking being produced. Operations at the plant have also moved to 24/7—increasing shifts from two to three, seven days a week. This extra manpower has not only contributed to increased production, it has also created more than 30 new jobs in Biddeford and the surrounding area.

“The investment in our DuraLife facility is significant and enables us to achieve faster speed without compromising the quality of our decking products and the addition of manpower to our workforce is a win-win for our company and for the local community,” said VP Sylvain Bellemare.

Hahn Lumber, Harmony, Mn., has been purchased by longtime employees Gary and Will Nolan.

Now renamed Nolan Lumber, the business has employed father Gary as yardman/delivery driver for 42 years and son Will since he was 21.

R.P. Lumber suffered damage to a storage facility at its Edwardsville, Il., yard due to a Feb. 15 fire.

Rothbury Hardware/Oceana Builders Supply is adding a new Ace Hardware branch in May in Whitehall Township, Mi.

Brown Lumber, Columbiana, Al., acquired a nearby site to use as an additional warehouse location.

Ace Hardware, Statesboro, Ga., has been opened by Victor Patel.

Goyer’s Ace Hardware, Fort

Atkinson, Wi., was acquired by Bryan Spangler, owner of McFarland Ace Harware, McFarland, Wi.

Jim and Donna Goyer, owners since 2002, are retiring.

Westlake Ace Hardware

signed a lease to open a new 16,600sq. ft. store in Derby, Ks., in July.

True Value Hardware ,

Brushfork, W.V., will be opened this spring by Phil Akers, Jr.

Woodside Ace Hardware ,

Winthrop, Ma., has been purchased by longtime employee Lauren Murphy from Paul Levy, owner for the past 23 years.

M&B Group is buying and will renovate Bisett Building Center & True Value, Bradford, Pa.

Maple Street Woodworking,

Cedarville, Oh., opened a hardwood lumber showroom in Hellertown, Pa.

Gemmen’s Home &

Hardware , Hudsonville, Mi., was presented a Coolest Hardware Store Award by Ace Hardware Corp.

Home Depot has added a 1.5-million-sq. ft. distribution center in Dallas, Tx.

FIRST TRUSS rolls off the line at 84 Lumber’s new Richmond, Va., facility.

84 Adds Richmond Truss Plant

To help fi ll the increasing demand for engineered and manufactured wood products throughout the Mid-Atlantic, 84 Lumber this month is bringing on line a new truss plant in Richmond, Va.

The new component plant, which will primarily manufacture wall panels, roof and floor trusses, is fully automated, outfitted with the latest design software, computerized saws, a trackless gantry system, and laser projection equipment. It has hired 25 associates to start, with plans to grow to 60 employees within the next year.

The company has invested substantially in opening new component facilities and upgrading equipment at existing locations over the past fi ve years. As it continues to increase its presence westward, it expects to create component facilities within a number of planned new 84 Lumber stores.

ILLUMINATED BALUSTRADE products are coming to the U.S.

Illuminated Glass Railing Panels Take a Shine to the US

Illuminated Balustrade Australia has formed a U.S. partnership with Spartan Railing, Minneapolis, Mn., to facilitate the introduction of its patented frameless glass railing system into the U.S. The companies are seeking domestic distribution partners and resellers in the construction community.

Illuminated Balustrade’s minimalist hardware design favors every architectural style, while integrating perfectly diff used lighting into its base design. Low Iron glass panels are secured into the spigot to create an amazing transfer of 15 diff erent light color options.

Spartan Railing is currently in discussion with building material distributors and glass wholesalers throughout the U.S. and Canada to find the right partners to bring Illuminated Balustrade through the supply channel. “We’ve had so much enthusiasm throughout North America from wholesalers, glass suppliers, and top-level contractors wanting to distribute this product after just one look,” co-owner Mike Kunard said. “We are looking forward to making this product easy to buy in 2021 and are confi dent it will be well received by the professional installer.”

Spartan Railing was formed by Pat Noonan and Kunard to support the go-to market strategy of Illuminated Balustrade. Noonan is an award-winning deck builder and operator of Minneapolis dealer Pro Deck Supply. Kunard has helped build such building material brands as Trex, AZEK, Sherwin-Williams, and Wausau Supply.

“I am thrilled to partner with Pat Noonan and Mike Kunard, who together have over 40 years of experience in the industry building award winning decks as well as working with No. 1 branded manufacturers to set up distribution in the outdoor living space,” said Mark Behnecke, CEO, Illuminated Balustrade Australia.

“Mark is a motivated entrepreneur who understands the process from engineering to marketing,” Noonan said. “Timing couldn’t be better as demand for reliable lighting elements, unobstructed views, and installer-friendly products are at an all-time high.”

NEWS Briefs

Wausau Supply Co. has opened new distribution facilities in West Unity, Oh., and Murfreesboro, Tn.

Harrigan Lumber, Monroeville, Al., in the 4th quarter will install a new trimmer line that includes a double trimmer unscrambler, ElectraTong lug loader with MillTrak-controlled backlog, Multi-Track fence, clamshell-style LineShaft trimmer, dual articulating Smart Gate, 62-bin Pusher lug sorter, WinTally sorter management system, and Stick-NFork stacker system.

Jordan Forest Products, Barnesville, Ga., is modernizing its merchandising line with a USNR bucking optimization system. Installation begins this fall.

Suburban Wholesale & Supply has moved to

larger quarters in Davenport, Ia.

Koppers sold its chemical manufacturing facility in Follansbee, W.V., to Petro Empire Liquids & Storage.

Keystone Building Products, Selinsgrove, Pa., is the new exclusive distributor of Arcitell’s Qora Cladding to the manufactured home segment in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

CAMO is partnering with Fiberon to offer Fiberon Edge, EdgeX and Starter Clips to the decking manufacturer’s entire dealer network.

Parksite has expanded distribution of Versetta Stone mortarless stone veneer to its Lakeland, Fl., branch.

Trex Co., Winchester, Va., was named to Forbes’ 2021 List of America’s Best Mid-Size Companies, as #12.

United Treating & Distribution, Muscle Shoals,

THE POSSIBILITIES KEEP GROWING:

Nature’s majestic pillars.

Redwood is one of the strongest and fastest growing softwood species. It thrives in some of the most productive timberlands in the world. Redwood is known for its timeless durability without the use of chemicals. Due to its flawless formation, there has never been a Redwood recall. There is a grade of Redwood forevery application, every budget, and every customer. “Growingbeyond measure.”

Call or visit us today. Our family of Redwood timberland owners will continue to be your reputable and reliable source of Redwood.

Call us at 707.894.4241

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