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THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982
OUTDOOR LIVING SPECIAL ISSUE • EWP • TREATED WOOD SALES TRAINING
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CONTENTS
November 2019 Volume 38 n Number 11
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Feature Story
Features
Departments
10 OUTDOOR LIVING 2020
12 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
8 ACROSS THE BOARD 22 COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE 24 OLSEN ON SALES 26 THE REVENUE GROWTH HABIT 28 TRANSFORMING TEAMS 30 LUMBER 411 38 MOVERS & SHAKERS 44 NEW PRODUCTS 58 ASSOCIATION UPDATE 59 DATE BOOK 60 CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE 60 IN MEMORIAM 61 ADVERTISERS INDEX 62 FLASHBACK
GET ON BOARD EARLY WITH THE HOTTEST TRENDS IN DECKING, RAILING AND FENCING FOR THE COMING YEAR.
FENCING FOR SOUND MINIMIZATION
14 INDUSTRY TRENDS
DECKING RETAILER DRIVES INNOVATION USING AUTO INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY
16 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
OPTIMIZE VIEWS WITH CABLE RAILING
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18 MARGIN BUILDERS Building Products Digest
NOVEMBER 2019
TREATED WOOD TRAINING AMPLIFIED
THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982
OUTDOOR LIVING SPECIAL ISSUE • EWP • TREATED WOOD SALES TRAINING
20 INDUSTRY TRENDS
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR EWP?
36 THINKING AHEAD
KEYS TO EARNING THE CORNER OFFICE
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BC WOOD GLOBAL BUYERS MISSION
54 EVENT RECAP
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ACROSS the Board By Patrick Adams
Be careful what you ask for s I finally walked up to our front door at about 10:30 on Friday night returning from my eleventh trip in as many weeks, my wife opened the front door with that smile I fell in love with. She simply said, “Tired?” I just smiled and with that sparkle in her eye, she responded, “Be careful what you ask for, honey, you just might get it.” Indeed, that says it all. As you may know, we recently acquired another company. Not to say I went into it blindly or naïve, but it occurred to me on my exhausted flight home how much our current satisfaction is based on the expectations that we blindly set up front. Simply put, if you expect to have the best time of your life during your first trip to the ocean, you will probably be let down. Most things that you go into without expectations end up being pleasant “surprises.” This isn’t my first rodeo and we did a lot of due diligence. They have an amazing team, amazing publications, and an amazing reputation. But that said, in hindsight, I went into it very excited about all of the assets, resources and expertise that it would bring to our organization. It would have taken something very big to jump out and scare me away. Well, of course, not everything is “perfect,” but also that doesn’t mean that it’s “bad.” It makes me consider how often we do this and how it affects our lives and happiness. With our friends, our employees, our relationships. How often are we to blame for our own dissatisfaction and unhappiness? We put a lot of time into thinking about how we’re disappointed, but how much time do we think about whether our initial expectations were reasonable or even logical? Isn’t this the most important (and overlooked) thing we can do to assure our own happiness? Of course, there is an awkward balance here. I think my kids would love it if I had no expectations and were pleasantly surprised when they simply didn’t burn the house down each day! But, what if we refined our expectations a bit? Rather than focusing on “deliverables,” what if we focused on things like values? Instead of measuring whether the kids’ rooms were perfectly clean each day, maybe instead it’s about whether they cared enough to even try? Instead of running the perfect race, did they try their hardest? Relationships, whether they be with employees or your spouse, I believe are the hardest things in life to
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successfully manage. I suppose that’s why when someone asks me if I’m “successful,” my immediate reply is “yes” because I try to live a life focused on values—loyalty, hard work, responsibility, empathy, generosity and standing up for those who need help. Based on this, am I “successful”? While my team may not perfectly execute every strategy I dream up, they are the hardest working, most loyal, and caring team I have ever worked with. My family often drives me crazy, but looking more closely perhaps it’s my own OCD nature of expectations that leads to half of it and in the end, all that matters is that I would move heaven and earth to make them happy and I’m honored to serve them. And friends, the few that I have I know that no matter how tough the battle is, all I have to do is call and they will be by my side until the end. So, my wife is right as always: be careful what you ask for. Spend as much time being thoughtful about exactly what you ask for and the expectations behind it, and if you’re as blessed as I am, you just might get it! As always, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve this great industry. I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and is ready to close out the year in strong fashion!
Patrick S. Adams Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com
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FEATURE Story By Jase DeBoer
DECKING PRODUCTS that add contemporary style while maximizing outdoor living space are highly sought after by consumers. (All photos by Deckorators)
Get on board 2020’s hottest deck trends ew decking industry research has confirmed just how much homeowners trust the professional opinion of their contractors when it comes to designing a lowmaintenance deck. Research from Principia Consulting, a leading research and consulting firm focused on the building materials and construction industry, reportedly found that the top three decision drivers for homeowners selecting a woodalternative deck are aesthetics (style, color and size), contractor selection or recommendation, and availability of decking material when needed. This powerful influence that deck builders have with homeowners makes it essential for lumber and building materials dealers to offer contractors products that go with the latest design trends, instill confidence, and improve the installation experience. Following are five 2020 deck trends that lumberyards and dealers should consider as they develop their stocking strategies for the upcoming deck-building season.
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Creative contractors can find ways to turn straight lines into fresh designs. These include using contrasting decking colors and styles for picture framing, accents and inlays; double picture framing with complementary hues; and using deck boards as horizontal deck skirting. The addition of a contemporary railing style such as cable rail can further enhance the clean-line aesthetics.
1. Clean-line designs
While curvature through deck board bending continues to occupy a niche in composite deck design, straight, clean lines aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they are surging in popularity as homeowners seek out sleek and modern looks.
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WITH THE TREND toward multiple-width decking, Deckorators recently expanded its line of Voyage decking to include varied-plank decking, now in widths of 3-1/2”, 5-1/2”, and 7-1/4”. Building-Products.com
2. Varied-plank decking
The interior design trend of mixing widths of hardwood flooring is migrating outdoors. More composite decking manufacturers are offering low-maintenance decking in varied widths to give contractors and their clients an insideout vibe and design versatility. Builders are coming up with creative uses for combining different widths and colors of decking, from wide picture frame boards to narrow top rails to benches and privacy wall applications.
3. Enhanced slip resistance
“Is it slippery?” is one of the most common questions homeowners ask contractors about composite decking. Manufacturers continue working to add more surface grip to their capped deck boards to give builders and their clients the peace of mind of enhanced safety underfoot in both wet and dry conditions.
PREASSEMBLED railing systems arrive at the jobsite with the top rail, bottom rail, and balusters already installed.
systems that come to the site with the top rail, bottom rail and balusters already installed together; and low-voltage lighting offering simple wiring. Entering 2020, homeowners are beginning to think about creating a beautiful and personalized outdoor space in the year ahead. By addressing trends like these in their stocking strategies, LBM dealers can prepare to best serve the contractors whose recommendations those homeowners so deeply respect. – Jase DeBoer is senior category marketing manager for Deckorators, a Universal Forest Products, Inc. brand and an industry leader in composite decking, railings, balusters, post caps, and related products. For more information, visit www.pro. deckorators.com.
BEST-IN-CLASS traction is provided by slip-resistant decking, such as Deckorators Voyage.
4. Getting the most out of space
Homeowners now view their living area as something that extends beyond the four walls of their home, running from property line to property line. They want to make the very most of that exterior space—especially if the area is in an urban setting or modest in size. There are a number of products available that can help contractors and their clients maximize space utilization, including: • Deck board railing connectors that make it easy to attach a deck board to a railing top for more space to display décor or rest drinks. • Aluminum deck rail tables that attach to railings to add tabletop space to the deck, and can be removed when not in use. • Low-voltage lighting, which enables enjoyment of the outdoor space day or night.
5. Labor-friendly components
As a shortage of qualified workers continues to challenge the decking industry, the value of any labor savingsolution is elevated. Decking manufacturers are working to incorporate ease of installation into products that are also aesthetically on-trend. Examples of attractive products that speed up installation include stronger, lighter deck boards; pre-assembled railing Building-Products.com
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PRODUCT Spotlight By Doug Mucher
A FENCE doesn’t have to be a brick wall to block noise. Wood, vinyl and polymer can also dampen sounds. (All photos by CertainTeed)
Selling fencing for sound minimization ot only does a good fence frame the yard and add to a home’s curb appeal, but it also can provide an element of privacy and safety, including noise reduction. Sound minimization is becoming especially prevalent as more houses are being built on the same acreage as previously built developments, according to the Census Bureau’s 2018 Characteristics of New Housing data. Neighborhoods are packed tighter as more people flock to city centers to be in good school districts. This means more noise and less privacy—unless a home has a great fence around the perimeter, that is. You might have to be creative to construct a useful sound barrier on a property. Here are some factors to consider when recommending fence products:
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Material and structure
The heavier the fence, the fewer disturbances that will make their way into a yard. Different materials will interact with sound differently, but generally speaking, the more rigid a material, the better it will handle sound. Brick or stone masonry are clearly the most “rigid” choice, but can be cumbersome and expensive. Products reinforced with steel or other materials are also a good bet for blocking sound. When the sound has more layers to go through, the fence material is less likely to vibrate and amplify the sound waves when they hit it. However, a fence doesn’t have to be a brick wall to be impervious to noise. Materials such as layered wood, vinyl and polymer are also effective at dampening or blocking noise, assuming the fence provides coverage from the ground up and there aren’t any gaps or slats for soundwaves to slip through. Hedging and shrubbery can also help to absorb sounds if planted in front of the fence inside the yard. Landscaping features with running water, like fountains or constructed waterfalls, can help drown out some noise, too.
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A taller fence also blocks more sound, but be sure to check zoning or HOA regulations for height restrictions before recommending a product. Solid sound barriers 8 to 12 ft. in height can reduce ambient noise by up to 10 decibels, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, which will sound like half as much noise.
Proximity to the sound’s source
In most neighborhoods, the loudest sounds come from the road or a nearby highway. The trick is to build the sound barrier as close to those sources as possible—without violating any codes. The closer the sound barrier is to the source, the sooner the sound waves are absorbed or deflected, depending on the material. In neighborhoods where zoning prevents building too close to the road, recommend a fence as heavy and as tall as allowed, and add some landscaping, such as hedges or trees, to help absorb the noise.
Curb appeal
Building an effective sound barrier doesn’t mean sacrificing style. If a classical stone wall will look like an eyesore next to a contemporary home, a steel-reinforced vinyl or polymer that’s molded to look like stone is sleeker and will still effectively reduce noise. Plus, vinyl is much easier and less expensive to install and maintain over the years. Vinyl fences come in a variety of heights, textures, colors and styles—from classic to traditional to contemporary—to complement all different types of architecture. And if a homeowner wants to maximize or personalize curb appeal, adding accents and other design elements—such as spindles, lattices, gates, post caps or solar lights—can liven up the look without forfeiting its practicality. – Doug Mucher is product manager for CertainTeed. Building-Products.com
No brag, just fact. The greatest thing since‌well you get the idea: the world’s first manufacturer-treated LVL Protects against fungal rot, decay and insects, and has a 25-year warranty,* 50-year life expectancy No-gradient, uniformly treated, 2X PTI retentions required for UC3B And, of course, all of the advantages of PWT LVL Find out more at pacificwoodtech.com/treated
*Excludes industrial applications, such as scaffold plank and concrete forming
INDUSTRY Trends By David Koenig
Decking retailer drives innovation using auto industry technology ost composite decking manufacturers now offer a capstock line, covering their wood-plastic-composite core with an all-plastic outer layer. Tiva Building Products has gone one better—capping its PVC core with ASA (acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile), a tough, rigid plastic known for its heat resistance, color retention, and weatherability. The product comes from a deck builder-turned-retailernow manufacturer. “I started designing and buiding decks in 1986,” said Terry Fangrad, Tiva’s founder and CEO. “As new products evolved and came into the marketplace, we were always carrying samples around. So I thought it would be great to have a place where people could come and see multiple products; hence, I created The Deck Store.”
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CANADIAN DECK retailer The Deck Store is the largest stocking dealer of Tivadek—and shares its ancestry with the innovative product.
TIVADEK in Chestnut Brown was installed by Chuck Kindle, Diversified Contracting, Oxford, Ct.
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The Deck Store’s lone retail showroom in Ontario, Canada, “grew to eight different l ocations a nd eventually, after working with every product on the market, (Terry) decided that he wanted a product that he could really stand behind,” said sales and marketing manager Megan Fangrad. So he decided to make his own. Terry’s wish list was a product that looked beautiful, performed exceptionally Building-Products.com
well, offered a wide selection of colors, and could be backed by a solid warranty. Tiva’s researchers, explained distributor Steve Rhone, Weston Forest Products, “went looking for a proven technology, something that provided greater durability, fade resistance, and richer colors. They ended up stealing a little bit of technology from the automobile industry, which conquered these problems decades ago. Remember the car dashboards of the 1980s, which used to fade, crack and split? The difference today is the development of ACS plastics.” After years of tinkering and testing, the end result is Tivadek, a PVC decking distinct from all others. It utilizes North American-sourced plastics and resins, extruded and molded in China. And the developments continue. Over the last few months, Tiva has used its proprietary technology to introduce: • Charwood, reportedly the first black PVC board, featuring special edition embossing. • Tivadek Fascia, the first PVC fascia on the market that is 3/4” thick. Installers can now screw and plug the fascia for a finished look with no visible fasteners. • Tivadek Riser, the widest riser board on the market, measuring 1/2” x 8-5/8” to allow for custom stair rises and for it to be used as a multipurpose cladding. • Tivadok, a patented, one-of-akind 2x8 PVC dock board with an aluminum reinforced core. The product is rated for 24” O.C. • Tivacoat, a liquid-applied waterproof coating to protect deck substructures from rot and decay, as a cost-effective alternative to joist tape. Tivadek is currently distributed to dealers in the Northeastern U.S. by Sherwood Forest Products, and throughout Canada by Weston Forest Products. Tiva is on the lookout for distribution partners to serve other regions of the U.S. “The market’s response has been exceptional,” Megan noted. “Contractors are drawn to Tiva’s unique story and product innovation. All of our products were inspired by contractor feedback during many years of in-field testing. Tivadek is truly a board made by contractors for contractors.”
Building-Products.com
NEW CAPPED PVC Tivadek is embossed on all four sides to look its best from any vantage point. (Photo by Jeff McNeill, McNeill Photography)
CLOSE-UP of Designer Series Ashwood deck with border in Architectural Series Ebony. (Photo by Tiva Building Products)
POOLSIDE RETREAT features an Ironwood-tone deck with Blackwood border. (Photo by Tiva Building Products) November 2019
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PRODUCT Spotlight By Jim Wahl
Optimize scenic views with cable railing all is a great time to spend time on the deck. Whether you’re overlooking a beach, lakefront, rolling hills with vibrant fall colors, or other scenic vista, getting out on the deck in the cooler autumn temperatures can be downright therapeutic. But regardless of what you’re overlooking, the vista is the focal point, which is one reason that cable railing systems are gaining in popularity. One manufacturer reported that their cable railing system sales were up 300%
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MORE CONSUMERS are demanding railing systems that will not stretch or sag over time. (All photos by Superior Aluminum Products)
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over the prior year. Here are some of the reasons that consumers are increasingly turning towards cable railing over other railing systems. Naturally, any option considered must meet applicable safety criteria (OSHA, ADA and ICC Building Code). Railing systems, after all, are a barrier to keep people and pets from falling off the deck. Aesthetics. It’s all about the view. While some may suggest wooden railing to match a wooden deck, the sheer view-blocking bulk of the cross bars could compromise the outdoor living experience. There are other options that work well with all kinds of deck architecture, offering an aesthetically pleasing, modern look which is ideal for many high-end deck projects. Cable railing, which offers a virtually unobstructed views without the daily maintenance of glass railing systems, is becoming increasingly popular. Stainless steel cables combine with aluminum posts and rail assemblies to form a strong, durable, maintenance-free system that will last for a lifetime. But not all cable systems are the same—those with bulky turnbuckle systems for tightening the cables or with mid-rail vertical support pickets added are falling out of favor with consumers who’d prefer to the see the view that those items obstruct. A major component of cable railing systems is (drumroll please...) the cable. Smart consumers demand those that will not stretch or sag over time, especially on the lower rungs, which make inviting footrests. While many cables are maintenance-free, it’s important to confirm that before installation. No homeowner wants to buy a chore or ongoing maintenance of their railing. One step at a time. When extending cable railing down steps, it is important to communicate the exact slope for step railing prior to fabrication. That way, pre-drilled holes can be elongated to accommodate the angle and ensure that the cable runs in a straight line down the side of the steps. Ease of installation is important to both consumers and contractors, but for different reasons. Railing systems that are pre-assembled to exact project specifications make on-site installation fast and easy. That is especially important on new construction projects which always seem to be under tight completion timeframes. Finish elements Building-Products.com
like railing, flooring and trim, which offer quick installation, are much preferred to comparable elements which require on-site construction. Consumers appreciate preassembled railing systems not only for the ease of installation, but for the ease on the wallet, as they are not charged for time-consuming cutting, fitting, joining and other details by the contractor on-site. They also appreciate the speedy installation of preassembled projects—especially as they approach closing and move-in day. Surface finish is another item to confirm beforehand. Maintenancefree aluminum railing systems come painted, anodized, or with duranodic finishes in a variety of colors to provide years of maintenance-free service. It’s always best to confirm your finish before specifying. And finally, back to the view. Whether you choose cable railing with a square post or a round pipe framework, ask for a system that locates the fasteners inside of the posts to enhance the aesthetics of your project, and keep the focus on the vista beyond. With features that appeal to both homeowners and contractors alike, it’s
TRENDING: Contemprary designs that fit well into modern architecture styles are becoming increasingly popular.
easy to see why cable railing systems are becoming increasingly popular for residential and commercial deck projects of all sizes and types. With their clean, contemporary, modern look and unique styling, the weather
won’t be the only cool thing on decks as autumn approaches. – Jim Wahl oversees communications at Superior Aluminum Products Co., Russia, Oh. (www.superioraluminum.com).
Deck Building Solutions • 866-767-1850 • www.suredrive.com • sales@suredrive.com Building-Products.com
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MARGIN Builders By Butch Bernhardt
Treated wood training gets amplified n an effort to make online education more dynamic, the Western Wood Preservers Institute has released a new narrated version of its preserved wood training course. The course, Preservative-Treated Wood: Specification and Use, has
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been online since April 2018 as a downloadable PDF. The new version runs in a browser and includes narration as well as video. Hosted by online education service AEC Daily, the preserved wood course is one of the first the service
WWPI’S ONLINE preserved wood training course is now offered in a narrated version including video. (Image by WWPI)
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has offered featuring narration and video. The course takes about an hour to review and there are test questions throughout the presentation users must answer before proceeding. Like in the PDF version, the course features sections detailing how wood is preservative treated, how to specify using AWPA Use Categories, Best Management Practices for aquatic uses and the environmental benefits of preserved wood. Users who take the course can earn CEUs from more than 20 associations, including American Institute of Architects, Landscape Architecture Continuing Education, the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. In addition to preserved wood, WWPI also offers an online course on fire-retardant-treated wood products. Work is now underway to produce an narrated version of the fire retardant wood program. The courses have been successful in reaching out to the important architect and specifier audiences. They’re also useful in training building material salespeople about preserved- and fireretardant-treated wood products. In all, nearly 1,500 have taken the courses and earned CEUS. To review the courses, go to AECDaily.com and search for “preserved wood.” You must complete the free registration to download courses. To receive CEU credits, users must complete a 10-question test at the end of the course. – Butch Bernhardt is senior program manager for the Western Wood Preservers Institute. Reach him at butch@wwpi.org. Building-Products.com
MESH RAILING
GLASS RAILING
Every project deserves a signature. Available in a range of elegant neutrals and backed with the durability of aluminum, Trex Signature® Railing is a testament to the refined beauty of negative space. Blend into your surroundings with our sleek metal balusters. Make a statement with the industrial design of our mesh railings. Or, shatter expectations with our stunning glass rail options. No matter which style your customers choose, our wide selection of modern railings will turn any project into an eye-catching masterpiece. To learn more, visit trex.com.
© 2019 Trex Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Trex® is a federally registered trademark of Trex Company, Inc., Winchester, Virginia
INDUSTRY Trends By Tim Debelius
What’s on the horizon for engineered wood products? ngineered wood products have ancient ancient origins, with evidence of laminated wood found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. The concept that boards could be sliced and bonded to produce a product that was better than the original wood was revolutionary. Plywood was patented in the U.S. as a construction material at the close of the Civil War, which led to industrial advances including glued laminated (glulam) timber, wood I-joists, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and other EWP products. Today, builders are increasing their reliance on EWP to provide unique solutions for single-family home construction, as well as for apartments, schools, warehouses, restaurants, hotels and other multi-story structures. EWP continues to evolve as an attractive material for projects once exclusively constructed from steel and concrete. Here are some important trends that demonstrate a bright future for EWP:
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More Applications for EWP
U.S. building codes acknowledge EWP as a trusted solution in four- and five-story wood-frame construction for applications such as apartment complexes, condos, hotels and commercial retail buildings. However, significant opportunities are occurring in codes across North America that are making it possible for builders to design taller structures utilizing mass timber and other EWP products. Thanks to a recent change to Oregon’s building codes, the state recently became the first in the country to allow timber high-rise buildings taller than six stories without special consideration. In British Columbia, Canada, where EWP is viewed as an economic and environmental alternative to concrete, building codes were recently adjusted to allow 12-story wood buildings. The International Code Council (ICC) is proposing several code changes that would create three new categories of wood building construction and set the fire safety, height and area requirements for tall mass timber buildings up to 18 stories tall. This would incorporate the use of all products permitted in Type IV construction, including cross-laminated timber (CLT), structural composite lumber (SCL), glulam and large-section sawn lumber, opening the door to new design opportunities. Builders and developers are considering mass timber for several important reasons. During fires, exposed wood forms an insulating char layer while the core retains its design values. The high strength-to-weight ratio of mass
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ICC is proposing several code changes that would create three new categories of wood building construction that would incorporate the use of all products permitted in Type IV construction, including CLT, SCL, glulam and large-section sawn lumber. (Photos courtesy Boise Cascade)
timber allows architects to efficiently design earthquake-resistant structures. Representatives of a recently built heavy timber office building in Minnesota estimated that heavy timber had one-fifth the weight of comparable concrete buildings, resulting in decreased foundation and transportation costs.
Taller Walls & Longer Spans
Recent engineering advances in EWP have made it a preferred choice for buildings with large open spaces, such as airports, arenas, gymnasiums, lobbies and large corridors, which require tall walls and minimal intermediate supports. The newly redesigned Mactan–Cebu International Airport features the first roof structure in Asia made completely from glulam. It represents an example of EWP being used to create inviting architecture with the capacity to support glass and other interior materials that rely on dimensional stability. In fact, the airport utilized 14,764 cubic ft. of glulam to Building-Products.com
EWP can be cut to length prior to delivery. Unlike steel and concrete, it can be trimmed onsite in the event that field conditions vary from the construction documents.
achieve the barrel shape of its roof structure, with a height of 49 ft. and a span of 98 ft. According to the American Wood Council, glulam can be manufactured to achieve spans as long as 100 ft. and walls up to 20 ft. tall. As architects push creative boundaries, EWP offers the potential for environmentally sustainable spaces to reflect their vision.
Supply Chain & Software Improvements
In addition to EWP being strong and lighter than steel and concrete, it’s also extremely versatile. EWP can be cut to length prior to delivery. Unlike steel and concrete, EWP can be trimmed onsite in the event that field conditions vary from the construction documents.
Building-Products.com
This flexibility facilitates shorter construction timelines by reducing the space needed for material staging. In addition, fewer building products need to be handled during construction, increasing accuracy and jobsite safety. This speed and customization has been achieved thanks to some EWP manufacturers investing significant time and capital to develop tools that help customers process their projects faster and utilize EWP at the jobsite more efficiently. For example, SawTek, a complete EWP processing system developed by Boise Cascade, allows lumberyards to optimize material usage, cut joists to desired lengths, and accurately route holes for plumbing, electrical and HVAC. SawTek has in-line printers to make product identification easier for framers—labels match the framing layouts. Product lengths are stacked based on framer preferences so that job packs can be offloaded in the order of assembly. Offsite construction of panelized roof and wall sections offer additional improvements for builders. BMC’s ReadyFrame system helps contractors frame faster by delivering pre-cut wall and roof sections that are assembled on site. EWP manufacturers have also invested in software to help customers manage project workflow, visualize floor performance, and efficiently design beams, joists, columns and tall walls. Architects, builders, code officials, and designers are becoming more aware of EWP’s time, cost and labor savings. Looking ahead, engineered wood is poised to become an even-more-sought-after solution in the building materials channel. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider EWP’s expanded opportunities. – Tim Debelius is division marketing director, wood products, for Boise Cascade, Boise, Id. (www.bc.com).
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COMPETITIVE Intelligence By Carla Waldemar
The best little hardwarehouse in Texas
ooten’s Hardware LLC proves that the guy who promised, “If you build it, they will come” gave pretty good advice. Although the outfit anchors a beyond-tiny town in East Texas called Emory (“population on paper: 1,500,” says GM Kirk Reams), it serves a 30-mile radius of customers
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who apparently can’t spend their money fast enough when it comes to construction—“new homes, second homes, additions, repairs, all of the above,” he lists. Ask him what he carries, and he begins a roll-call almost as long as a Senate filibuster: a full line of lumber products, metal building materials, agricultural
LUMBER AND building materials are just the beginning at Hooten’s Hardware, Emory, Tx.
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requirements, guns, knives, outdoor power equipment, a “huge” lawn & garden department, and multitudes of housewares—appliances to clothing: “home décor you can’t find in other stores, that makes customers go, ‘Cool!’” “One stop shopping?” a reporter offers a summary. “You could call it that,” Kirk replies in a not-typicallyTexan understatement. “The husband comes in with his wife. She looks at housewares and spends $50. He goes over to the nuts and bolts, and he picks up another $50 of stuff.” The enterprise was launched in 1994 when owner Lance Hooten built a small shop—repairs and such— which has now morphed into 40,000 sq. ft., which Kirk has overseen since signing on at the outset. “I worked in another town 20 miles away, in a place served by the same True Value rep. We got to talking, and he mentioned that Lance was fixing to build a hardware store.” That was 25 years ago when Kirk was barely old enough to shave. (He’s now a seasoned 40.) Building-Products.com
HOOTEN’S sprawling 25-acre site also features a fully stocked 40,000-sq. ft. hardware store, appliances, sporting goods, outdoor power equipment and repair, ag and farm supplies, trailer parts, newly expanded lawn and garden center, metal building components, sheet metal, and much more.
His customer mix is, in a word, “everyone.” Both contractors and walk-ins populate the place because, says Kirk, “The economy’s good. East Texas is the exception to the rule: really prosperous. People are building homes, barns, shops. There’s also a lot of farming needs.” “What really keeps us going,” he continues, “is our situation close to two well-known lakes (one famous for catfish, the other for trophy fishing). People come for the weekend and stop by the store. There are a lot of vacation homes, plus people constantly remodeling, updating. And new-home construction is going wild around here.” Pros receive special treatment, starting with a dedicated contractors’ counter with five registers and a spacious surface where they can lay out their plans. Three employees are specifically dedicated to sit down with them. “We offer them delivery—usually within 24 hours—with a fleet of six trucks. We offer special pricing. We really get to know them, seeing them four or five times a day.” Why do they remain loyal? “We try to give them fair prices and quick delivery, so they’re not held up at the job. We make it pretty easy to do business here; we’re accommodating and understanding about returns. We know our customers’ needs.” And that includes the special needs of women shoppers. Hooten’s offers sales designed to capture this audience at vendor-sponsored events that feature eats, demos, and 20%-off normal prices. And why does the staff—presently 52 of them—stay on? As Kirk sees it, “we pay well, treat them fairly and provide a happy work environment, including time off. Our values are, in this order: One, God. Two, family. And three, work.” But certainly it must be tough to find good new hires in a town of 1,500? Wrong. Many, including Kirk, do not actually live in Emory. “I, myself, to be honest, drive 25, 30 miles a day to work, as do half of our employees. And when it comes to hiring, we’ve kind of built a network. I get 15, 20 applications a week.” What he’s looking for in a potential staffer is… experience. “And I don’t mean in fast food. Plus, they’ve got to be outgoing and like working with people, because you see 1,500 a day. You’ve gotta smile, cut up with them. You’ve also got to want to work, to earn your paycheck, not just get paid.” Building-Products.com
To announce job openings, Kirk turns to Facebook. Customers also receive mailers in their monthly statements and emails notifying them of specials—“plus, there’s a big electronic board out front,” says the GM. It’s designed to lure potential customers to turn in off the highway rather than continuing their journey to the nearest competition, a big box 25 miles distant (“though that’s not far to drive for someone from Texas,” Kirk allows). He beats or equals their prices through Orgill’s help in “aggressively setting our retail prices.” Hooten’s boasts an unusual niche market: a welding operation launched 13 years ago, with an eight-bay shop and 20 employees geared to manufacture or repair items, such as a custom-designed gate or feeders of several types, which a designated outside rep sells throughout a sevenstate area. Well, then, anything that didn’t pan out? “At one time, we had an in-house Radio Shack, but when people starting buying online, we closed it up and moved on to different subjects,” says Kirk. This man’s proud to admit it: He loves his job. “I’ve been in the hardware business since I was 17, so it’s in my blood. I love working with people; it’s fun. But,” he allows, “there’s a good side and a bad side to that. There can be a certain customer who’s hard to handle, or an employee to discipline once in a while. But the thing is, I leave that stuff at the door. I go home and don’t stress because it’ll be there when I get back in the morning.” He also has no need to worry about micro-managing from the owner. “The Hootens are handsoff—their kids are in college with different career plans. Lance is easy to work for, and I know what he expects. Dave Renshaw, who’s the GM for the lumber side of the operation, and I keep everything rolling.” Carla Waldemar cwaldemar@comcast.net November 2019
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OLSEN on Sales By James Olsen
Slow down and have some fun
project that attitude not only to the buyer, but to everyone at the account; the buyer has the biggest vote, but everyone we talk to at the account has a vote also. Master Sellers can take a detour of friendliness or small talk with customers without losing their place in the sales process part of the call.
Reception
Many sellers “turn on the charm” with the buyer only. This is a mistake. Most sellers treat the receptionist (or anyone at the account who isn’t the buyer) like furniture, or worse. The person answering the phone often has influence, may become the buyer someday, may be related to the current buyer, and sometimes is the owner!
o one wants to push a bag of rocks up a hill or jump off a bridge with us. Unfortunately, many sellers sound like this is what they’re doing or getting ready to do while they’re on a call with a customer. People recognize this attitude when they get less-than-cheerful service, but fail to realize that their sales calls sound and feel very similar. If we don’t enjoy the sales process our customer will feel it and they won’t either. The opposite is also true. All else being equal—and there are a lot of “ties” in this industry at all levels—customers will overwhelmingly go with the pleasant salesperson. Being pleasant is a competitive advantage.
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Nice + Confident = Charming
Many sellers confuse boot licking with “being nice.” We are shooting for charming, which is created at the intersection of nice + confident. If we are only “nice,” we will seem timid. If we are only confident, we will seem like we don’t care. When we combine the two, we are charming, which is hard to say no to and easy to say yes to.
Warm-Up and Pre-Call Prep
Many of us would like to get on the call and then warm up as we go. This doesn’t work. We must be ready to engage everyone we meet with a warm and happy attitude. Our goal is to get people to smile, laugh and relax with us. Many sellers only have a vague idea of how they want the call to go. Just like interpreting a beautiful piece of music, artists cannot put their feelings into the song until they have it memorized. Same with sellers; when we don’t know what we are going to say, we can’t project our most charming self, because we’re thinking about what we are going to say instead of concentrating on the interaction. Master Sellers know exactly how their calls are going to go. Because of this they can take their time, have fun, and
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Overcoming Objections & Closing
Some sellers can be charming until they get to the business part of the call, then they become nervous and lose all the rapport they have built with their customer. Master Sellers smile, laugh, cajole and have fun with the buyer all the way through the selling process. Their attitude is positive. “We may have some things to work out and we will” vs. clamming up and getting nervous. Both feelings are transferred emotionally to the buyer. Who is easier to say yes to? Who do you want to get off the call with first? If the buyer is having fun with us, even in the midst of a hailstorm of objections and counter-objections, they will stay on the call, giving us more of a chance to win their hearts, minds and business. If we aren’t having fun, they won’t be, and the call will end quickly. I had a student of mine say, “I don’t know why we have to work on all this psychology stuff; I just want to sell wood.” “The problem is, John, we aren’t selling wood, we’re selling (to) humans.” The human animal is 99% emotional, so when we keep the emotional connection strong, selling becomes much easier. For many of us being charming is work. So while we are churning out the calls, let’s also work on churning out the charm.
James Olsen Reality Sales Training (503) 544-3572 james@realitysalestraining.com Building-Products.com
THE REVENUE Growth Habit By Alex Goldfayn
Finish the year strong in 5 minutes per day s we speed into the winter months, summer memories are still fresh even while the end of the year and all that it brings draws closer. And so, it is impossible to escape that there are only a few selling weeks left in 2019. For many of us, these coming weeks will determine the sales success of our entire year. A strong finish can be the difference between an excellent year and a middling one. As such, here are my simple but year-determining questions for you: In the coming months, who will you call proactively? Make a list of customers who can buy more from you. Make a list of customers who used to buy, but stopped — for it help them to hear from you. Finally, make a list of customers you have not talked to in six months or more, and reach out to them as well. None of these are cold calls. They are all relationship calls. All of these people know you, and you know them. What additional products and services will you offer your customers? Think through what your top customers are buying from you, and what they are buying elsewhere—which you can help them with. Why should they go to another supplier? You can help them. They would you like more of your help. Why deny them the opportunity to buy more from you? What prospects who are not yet doing business with you will you reach out to? Maybe you have talked to them, but maybe you haven’t. We salespeople spend most of our time speaking with customers, because that’s who calls. In these closing weeks of 2019, call some prospects and tell them you’d like to help them. You’ll be pleased when some of them take you up on it. What quotes and proposals will you follow up on? This is some of your lowest-hanging fruit. The customer asked you for the quote and you wrote it. You sent it. The customer has been quiet. Now, go tell them this business is important to you and you’d like to help them with it. Nobody will tell you no, I don’t want you to make my life easier today. What specific business will you ask for? Make a list of five questions that will help you ask for the business, and then use them on every call. For example: When can I expect the P.O.?
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It Only Takes 5 Minutes Per Day
People look at me like I’m from another planet when I say this, but it takes five minutes per day to grow your sales dramatically and close out the year strong. Not five minutes
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total, and then put your feet up the rest of the day. But five minutes of proactive, intentional communication in the midst of your otherwise reactive day. Five minutes of proactive calls, quote follow-ups, did you know questions, and referral requests. Give me five minutes a day of intentional sales-growth actions—less than 30 minutes per week—and you will dramatically increase your personal sales results. How dramatically? Many clients of mine have increased their personal sales 50% to 100% in the first year. What would this mean to your results? What would it mean for your family in take-home pay? Is this worth five minutes per day? Do you have five minutes per day? Of course you do. It’s the home stretch. Let’s do the work your customers deserve, and finish strong!
Alex Goldfayn Revenue Growth Consultancy alex@evangelistmktg.com (847) 459-6322 Building-Products.com
TRANSFORMING Teams By Michelle Maller and Claudia St. John
Perspectives on marijuana use and pre-employment drug screening Thoughts About Marijuana Use from a College Counselor’s Perspective By Michelle Maller am an internship and education coordinator in the Department of Wood Science and Engineering at Oregon State University. Part of my responsibilities is to place student interns in the wood products industry. About a year ago, I had one of my best students approach me with a situation I had not yet encountered in my career as an internship coordinator. He was a terrific student, a 3.85 GPA, and a Navy veteran. He had accepted an internship with a large wood products company, and they were requiring a drug test to begin work. For this particular student, smoking marijuana was an evening activity at his house. Recreational marijuana is legal in Oregon. He was an excellent candidate for the internship but, because of the drug testing, he was considering backing out of the internship. Rather than have him decline the opportunity, I encouraged him to call his supervisor and ask them what he should do. His supervisor admitted that this was not a situation he had been in before and gave the student an additional 60 days to clean his system to ensure that he passed the drug test. This is not an isolated incident and, since that time, has become a more frequent challenge. Within the last month I consulted with a new hire who was leaving a different sector to join a private wood products industry company. He too had to request additional time to complete his testing. The wood products industry is begging for new and qualified employees and many potential employees are deterred from even applying for a job because they choose to partake in marijuana use when not at work. Since its legalization, Oregonians are using more marijuana than in years prior (Oregonian, 2017). An unintended result of the increased usage is the increased number of failed drug tests in employment screening. For an industry such as the wood products industry, this is an issue that needs to be addressed if we want to continue to bring young people into the industry. Not only is pot legal in Oregon, it is also among the safest marijuana available today in the country. The
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pot industry in Oregon is so heavily regulated that the likelihood of a person imbibing with laced marijuana is significantly decreased from years prior. Essentially, using recreational marijuana in Oregon is the same as having a beer at night after work. Understandably, there is a certain level of caution related to usage of recreational drugs and operating heavy equipment, which can often be the duty for a wood products employee. However, history shows that employees who choose to drink, even heavily, on their own time are able to maintain their employment while employees who make a decision to legally imbibe in marijuana usage on their own time are at risk of losing their job. Using any sort of controlled substance, legal or otherwise, while working is clearly not acceptable, but the fact remains that what employees do in their spare time is their own business. The real issue here is that young people entering the industry are being turned off of the industry because of the drug testing. With the need for new employees being so great, it would be in a company’s best interest to reevaluate their drug testing policies. Consider eliminating marijuana from the panel of testing that is performed as part of the onboarding process. Doing so may be the only hope to continue to attract new blood into an industry that is begging for employees that are more qualified. – Michelle Maller is education & internship coordinator, Dept. of Wood Science & Engineering at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Or. Building-Products.com
Thoughts About Marijuana Policies from an HR Perspective By Claudia St. John s the legalization of marijuana, either medical or recreational, sweeps across the country, companies have struggled to come up with a viable policy to address the changing environment. Many of their concerns are valid—marijuana remains illegal at the federal level and, to date, and, unlike as exists for alcohol and other controlled substances, there exists no fool-proof test to assess whether an individual is actively under the influence of THC. Further complicating this, many companies work in dangerous industries such as those in the demolition, lumber, construction, and automotive industries, while others are required contractually to maintain a drug-free workplace or to comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) or other federal safety standards which prohibit any marijuana use, regardless of state law. So, what’s a company to do? If you are under a DOT or federal safety or drug-free workplace standard, check with an attorney, but generally you should not be required to comply with state marijuana use law. Some of our clients have decided they are going to continue with their practice of testing for marijuana use and deny (or terminate) employment for evidence of pot use regardless of its legal status. The problem with this is twofold: it will only exacerbate the difficulty of hiring qualified talent as Michelle describes above; and it may be illegal to do so depending on state law. Here’s our best advice: consult with an HR or legal professional before you do anything. Generally, we advise those in states with medical marijuana laws to treat pot use like a prescribed controlled substance. This includes, among other things, obtaining medical authorization for use. In states with recreational laws, treat pot use like you would alcohol, i.e., what employees do after work is their own concern. In either case, you are completely within your right to take action against an employee who is high at work. In all circumstances we recommend that you: • Develop a solid marijuana use policy. Make sure it’s compliant in all of the states and cities where you operate. Best to have an attorney give it a seal of approval. • Think carefully about your drug testing practices from a pre-employment, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion basis. Many of our clients in states with some form of legalization have dropped THC from their pre-employment drug panel but still test for it in their other drug panels. • Train managers to spot signs of impairment and, state law permitting, train them on how to conduct onsite THC impairment assessments. • Train all your employees on your marijuana policy to ensure they know what is allowed, what isn’t allowed, and the repercussions for violating the policy. Complying with various state and local marijuana laws is a challenge. But doing so will ensure you stay legally compliant and able to attract qualified candidates for employment.
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Claudia St. John, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, President Affinity HR Group contact@affinityhrgroup.com Building-Products.com
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LUMBER 411
A Special Series from Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
By Kim Drew
The magical disappearing species n October 2016, Norway spruce was approved by the American Lumber Standard Committee for construction use. But where did Norway spruce come from and how did it get to this point? Let’s unpack the story.
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Norway Spruce: The Origin Story
The first thing you need to know: Norway spruce (picea abies) is not a native species to the U.S. According to a 1936 Harvard University study, the first evidence of Norway spruce plantings was recorded at Woods Hole, Ma., in 1860. Believed to have been brought into the U.S. and planted by European immigrants in the 1800s, we fast-forward to the 1930s when FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps began to plant Norway spruce across the Northeast to stabilize abandoned agricultural land. The government’s nurseries provided more than 113 million seedlings to accomplish this project.
Just the Facts
In the forest, Norway spruce is easily recognizable by its large, dramatic, drooping “branchlets.” The species naturally delimbs itself almost to the top of the tree when grown in a plantation setting. While the vast majority of Norway spruce is located throughout New York state (upwards of 50%), the species may also be found in Maine, down into New England, and as far west as Wisconsin. It has very distinctive and visually pleasing characteristics when grown in Christmas tree farms or in general landscaping applications, which is why it’s the most often-chosen species for the grand and glorious Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The 2018
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Rock Center tree was a Norway spruce that hailed from Wallkill, N.Y., while the 2017 Rock Center tree was discovered in State College, Pa. An interesting fact: following the trees’ breathtaking turns in New York City, they are milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.
How It’s Used
Once Norway spruce was accepted into the SprucePine-Fir south (SPFs) construction species grouping category, it basically disappeared in with the other similar species—which was the entire point! Walking into a mill today, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Norway spruce and another spruce species; fact is, even the best graders can’t always tell the difference! Within the SPFs construction category, Norway spruce is cut into dimension lumber for use in home improvement applications such as wall studs, floor and ceiling joists, and industrial applications. Grade-wise, an estimated 65% of Norway spruce is graded at #2 and above, which has made it a high-quality addition to the SPFs category. In mills and dealer yards, Norway spruce is simply part of the SPFs-stamped lumber group.
Sustainability
Will we ever run out of Norway spruce? Not in this lifetime, or that of our children, or even their children. Wood is a naturally renewable resource: it’s not finite, it’s not disappearing. Fact is, there are more forests in the U.S. today than there was when Thomas Jefferson drank tea at Monticello. New York State alone holds enough Norway spruce for 90 years of harvesting at their current rate. Of course, more will be planted as the current crop is harvested, ensuring healthy forests and healthy forest industries for centuries to come. As building products across the board are under intense scrutiny to reveal and share their environmental impact and “greenness,” it’s important to take an accurate look at the lumber industry. According to many sources, the U.S. forest products industry plants, on average, 2.5 to three trees for each one harvested annually. Reforestation efforts vary from region to region, with some areas coming in with a much higher ratio. Our forests—including those of Norway spruce—are growing, expanding and healthy—which is good news to all of us who live among them.
Building-Products.com
US LBM Forges into Ohio
US LBM Holdings has expanded into Ohio with its acquisition of Forge Lumber, which operates locations in Cincinnati and nearby Kentucky. Based in Erlanger, Ky., Forge is a leading building materials supplier and construction subcontractor in the Cincinnati area. It operates a fullservice mill, manufacturing pre-assembled doors and custom stairs, and a floor and roof truss manufacturing plant in Kentucky, along with a large building materials distribution center located in Cincinnati. Additionally, it provides turnkey installation and construction labor services to residential and commercial builders in the region. US LBM acquired Forge Lumber from the Steinman family, and president John Steinman will continue in his current role with the company. This acquisition also expands US LBM’s network in the region, which includes K-I Lumber & Building Materials and its locations in Kentucky and Indiana.
New Owner for New England Yard
Longtime employee Mike Sawvelle has purchased Butler Lumber Co., Maynard, Ma., from Ron and Helga Starr. Sawvelle, 54, who joined the company in 1987, becomes the fourth owner since the operation opened in 1938. The Starrs took over in 1973.
Hardwood Producer Consolidating
MacDonald & Owen Lumber Co. is moving out of its leased facility in Sparta, Wi., and expanding its operations in Luck, Wi., and Brookville, Pa. Lumber processing equipment, including a rip line and pack saw, is being relocated from Sparta to the other mills, which will also receive additional new equipment, upgraded structures, and more storage space. Many from the Sparta operations team will join the teams in either Luck or Brookville. Additionally, MacDonald & Owen is relocating its support staff under one roof at its West Salem, Wi., corporate office. The transition will be complete by the end of the year.
MI Windows Acquiring Milgard
MI Windows & Doors, Gratz, Pa., a leading manufacturer of precision-built vinyl and aluminum windows and sliding patio doors, agreed to purchase Milgard Windows & Doors, Fife, Wa., from parent company Masco Corp. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. The acquisition combines two leading brands in the residential window industry, both born from humble beginnings—MI as an insect screen fabricator and Milgard as a glass shop. Today, MI is well known throughout the eastern and southern United States, while Milgard is one of the most trusted names in the western United States. MI CEO Matt DeSoto said, “This acquisition aligns with our strategies to diversify our product offering, balance the end markets we serve, and expand our presence in growing markets. Milgard’s dedication to manufacturing high-quality, market-preferred windows and doors makes it a natural fit for MI, as both companies share a family-first culture where team member and customer satisfaction are top priorities.” Founded in 1958, Milgard offers a full line of vinyl, wood, fiberglass and aluminum windows and patio doors.
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DEALER Briefs Timberline Enterprises , Gloucester, Ma., has Lumber Co., Braintree, Ma., as its
purchased Braintree fifth location.
MWP Building Supply, Madison, Va., has acquired sister stores Blue Ridge Builders Supply, Crozet, Va., and Blue Ridge Paint & Decorating Store, Charlottesville, Va. They join forces as MWP Blue Ridge Building Supply. McCormack Building Supply, Winslow, Me., will rebuild after losing its main building in an Oct. 11 blaze. Walker Building Supply, Arab, Al., has closed after 43 years, with the retirement of founders Harry and Mary Walker. Russell Building Supply, Al., has opened a 20,000sq. ft. home center with drive-thru lumberyard in Auburn, Al. (Mike Emfinger, general mgr.). Adam’s True Value Hardware, Crookston, Mn., is
remodeling.
Heuser Ace Hardware in Buckwalter Place, Bluffton, S.C., is building a 15,000-sq. ft. sister store on 2.5 acres in Hardeeville, S.C. Alper’s True Value Hardware, Port Washington, N.Y., was recognized for its contributions to the community and the state as the recipient of the 2019 state Senate Empire Award. Bye & Bye Hardware, Lisbon, Oh., has closed after 123 years with the retirement of fourth-generation owner Bob Bye. Pro Hardware, Jamestown, N.Y., has been opened by
Alex Vaillancourt.
Carrollwood Ace Hardware , Tampa, Fl., has been opened by Scott and Tina Andrews, owners of Ace Hardware of Lutz, Lutz, Fl. Queen City Paint, Manchester, N.H., has relocated to a larger facility so it can incorporate a 12,000-sq. ft. hardware store and the new name Queen City Ace Paint & Hardware. Menards is purchasing 80 acres in Uniontown, Pa., for its first location in Pennsylvania. In addition, the chain is considering a site in Council Bluffs, Ia., and has begun construction in Triadelphia, W.V., on a site it purchased four years ago, eyeing a spring completion. McCoy’s Building Supply , San Marcos, Tx., received Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos’ Partners in Service Award. Anniversaries: Beaty Hardware, Cleveland, Tn., 80th Will Cook Ace Hardware, Homer Glen, Il., 40th ... American Cedar & Millwork, Lewes, De., 35th. ...
Building-Products.com
WHAT’S GREEN, HAS 18 WHEELS AND COMES WITH A SOLID HANDSHAKE? WEYERHAEUSER DISTRIBUTION Your customers never stop building. That’s why we distribute everything you count on to get the job done right. With thousands of in-stock products ready to ship, you can rely on Weyerhaeuser Distribution to deliver what you need, on time, with a solid handshake. Call 888.453.8358 or go to Weyerhaeuser.com/distribution to find your closest distributor and product offerin
Weyerhaeuser is a registered trademark of Weyerhaeuser NR. © 2019 Weyerhaeuser NR Company. All rights reserved.
LP Invests Big in Prefinishing
Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Nashville, Tn., has acquired the prefinishing assets of BlueLinx’s Granite City, Il., prefinish facility near St. Louis, Mo. “The prefinish siding market continues to grow, and we aim to capture more of that growth in our siding business,” said Neil Sherman, LP’s executive VP for siding. “In addition to acquiring these new assets, we are also investing in building LP SmartSide strand prefinishing capabilities at our siding facility in Roaring River, N.C.” Sherman noted that these moves, along with the earlier purchase of
Prefinished Staining Products, Green Bay, Wi., will provide LP “with the facilities, capabilities and expertise to grow this market.”
Texas Chain Keeps Growing
Keith Ace Hardware, McGregor, Tx., has purchased Parco Home Center, Georgetown, Tx., as its sixteenth location. The store will liquidate its inventory through December to make room for Ace Hardware merchandise. It will then close to be remodeled and reopen in February under the Keith Ace Hardware banner.
SUPPLIER Briefs Texas Cross Laminated Timber , Magnolia, Ar., reportedly is negotiating to expand operations to the long-shuttered LouisianaPacific plywood mill in Jasper, Tx. Facility reconstruction is expected to begin in February.
RoyOMartin , Alexandria, La., will invest $30 million over the next 18 months to further modernize its Oakdale, La., OSB and Chopin, La., plywood and solid wood products manufacturing facilities. Adams Lumber Co., Nathalie, Va., lost an office building in an Oct. 3 fire. The yard and mill were spared. BlueLinx has expanded its distribution of MoistureShield composite decking and railing from its distribution center in Lakeland, Fl., to its DCs in Miami and Jacksonville, Fl. The Forest Products Group, Columbus, Oh., agreed to distribute Barrette Outdoor Living’s DuraLife decking in
Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina. FPG has already been carrying Barrette’s RDI railing products.
Contractor’s Truss Systems, American Construction Source. Cotter, Ar., was acquired by
Conner Industries , Fort Worth, Tx., unveiled a new 87,000-sq. ft. industrial wood and packing plant Nov. 1 in Montgomery, Al. Weyerhaeuser Co. , Seattle, Wa., agreed to sell its 555,000 acres of Michigan timberlands to Lyme Timber Co. LP for $300 million. WernerCo is moving to a new corporate headquarters in Itasca, Il. Dur-A-Flex, East Hartford, Ct., relocated its Midwest distribution center from Bensenville, Il., to a larger 15,000-sq. ft. facility in Roselle, Il. Louisiana-Pacific’s LP Legacy subflooring has earned a Structural I rating from APA. Atlantis Rail , Plymouth, Ma., has redesigned and enhanced its website at www.atlantisrail.com. 34
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YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine is sought after by all the best builders, especially those with leather tails, buck teeth and nature’s highest building standards. Our proven reputation for having high quality products drives demand for the Yella Tag. The five-star service and unrivaled support of the YellaWood® brand puts dealers in position to meet their customer’s specific needs. See how the YellaWood® brand delivers at YellaWood.com.
IF IT DOESN’T HAVE THIS YELLA TAG, YOU DON’T WANT IT.
YellaWood® brand pressure treated products are treated with preservatives (the “Preservatives”) and preservative methods, and technologies of unrelated third parties. For details regarding the Preservatives, methods, and technologies used by Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated, see www.yellawood.com/preservative or write us at P.O. Box 610, Abbeville, AL 36310. Ask dealer for warranty details. For warranty or for important handling and other information concerning our products including the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS), please visit us at www.yellawood.com/warranties or write us at P.O. Box 610, Abbeville, AL 36310. YellaWood® and the yellow tag are federally registered trademarks of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are used with their permission.
THINKING Ahead By Tom Le Vere
The “keys” to the corner office
our decades have passed, and I still have the stub from the very first paycheck I earned in the building materials industry—for $4.25 an hour! The year was 1979, when I punched the clock as an entry-level warehouse worker for Wickes Lumber. I tucked that first stub away for the future, so I could pull it out and proudly show it to my children when the time was right. I’ve done just that, with both of my girls, as they’ve graduated and entered the workforce. It’s basically a reminder to them—and an affirmation to me—that you have to work your way up, whatever industry you choose. You don’t start with the corner office. I certainly didn’t. I graduated from pushing a broom in the warehouse to inside sales to management and went from there to corporate operations, eventually landing in the executive suite. I reached these levels only with a lot of hard work, a lot of help by way of association resources, and a
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lot of knowledge passed on from the seasoned veterans who taught me the business. Those same components are available today to anyone with the ambition to elevate themselves through the industry. Here’s how they paid off for me and how they can help others.
Hard Work
The beautiful thing about this industry is that while you don’t start at the top, only you can stop yourself from getting there. There is no glass ceiling to speak of, even without a college degree. I worked toward a bachelor’s until the middle of my senior year, when I realized that wildlife biology really wasn’t for me. I veered in a new direction, without that piece of paper to validate me, and still made a name for myself in this field. I’m certainly not advocating that people just skip post-secondary education—no matter what the
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major is, it’s an achievement to be proud of, something that confirms you had the “stick-to-it-ness” to stay committed for four years and see it through. It’s an accomplishment to be proud of and, in hindsight, I regret that I didn’t finish out that last year. What I am suggesting, though, is that not having a diploma doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker in our business, if you make up for it in all the other ways that matter most. This industry appreciates people who have a strong work ethic and who really put their nose to the grindstone. With that in mind, it’s critical to understand that work doesn’t necessarily start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. It’s also important too, if you happen to be married, to try to get your spouse and children interested and involved in what you do. That work/life balance that matters so much is going to be difficult to achieve if you don’t. There are going to be a lot of missed birthdays, anniversaries, ball games, school dances, and the like.
Resources
You will dedicate many nights and weekends, for example, to nurturing your personal network. Business with personal relationships is much stronger than just plain business, and many of those affiliations lead to lifelong friendships as well. One of the greatest resources throughout my career has been membership and Building-Products.com
A Special Series from North American Wholesale Lumber Association involvement in NAWLA, which has been instrumental in helping me to form these strong ties and otherwise contributing to my growth and development. When I joined a wholesale distributor called Schultz, Snyder & Steele Lumber Co. in 1995, my boss—former NAWLA chair Bill Sheathelm—wasted no time in sending me to the association’s Executive Management Institute (EMI), then housed at the University of Virginia. That intensive training—probably the most difficult courses I’ve ever taken—honed my leadership and management skills while also introducing me to a group of fellow students who continue to be a support circle and some of my closest friends after more than 20 years. It’s kind of like having an external board of directors. If I have a question and can’t figure out what to do, or have a problem, or simply want somebody else’s opinion, I just pick up the phone and call up one of these guys and get great advice. And they certainly know they can call me for the same.
About NAWLA North American Wholesale Lumber Association is the association that delivers unparalleled access to relationships and resources that improve business strategy and performance through sales growth, cost savings, and operational efficiencies for wholesalers and manufacturers of forest products and other building materials that conduct business in North America. Learn more about how NAWLA can help your business at www.nawla.org.
Steve Weekes, the founder of Weekes Forest Products (also a past NAWLA chairman), got me involved in NAWLA’s education committee. Sitting on the various committees is another great gateway into making the personal and business connections that will follow you wherever you go and help your career. I eventually went on to chair the education committee for a time and also served on NAWLA’s board of directors, which I will chair in the coming year. We’re looking to blow the dust off the dormant EMI initiative, grow the Young Emerging Lumber Professionals (YELP) group, rebrand NAWLA to attract new members and appeal to a younger audience, and take other steps to give members of this industry a leg up.
in 2007-08. From what I understand, we lost more than 650,000 jobs in the construction trades—and a lot of those people never came back. We lost so much experience but, in doing so, opened up some new opportunities. If you have an unending thirst for knowledge and you commit to educating yourself in the products, goods and services of our industry, you can really carve out a nice niche for yourself. Also, more and more these days, a lot of people my age are starting to retire. I can’t help but think every time someone walks out the door on their last day that they’re taking decades of knowledge with them. So for someone coming into the industry, my best advice is to read everything you can get your hands on about our industry and surround yourself with people smarter than you. And when they talk, listen!
Why Wood?
Young professionals who heed that advice will have an opportunity to fill a need that’s been created over the last decade. They’ll also have the chance to work in what is, contrary to the common misconception, one of the coolest industries on the planet. Where else can you rise to become president or CEO with no college degree? Where else can you trade tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of product on a verbal contract? This is an industry that helps fulfill the American dream of homeownership; that is highly sustainable; and that is eager for greater participation from women, minorities and young professionals. If you want more than just a job—if you want a career, where this is the last position you’ll ever have to take, with no limits on your earnings potential and no limits on your upward mobility, then this industry is worth serious consideration. If you want to work in a fastpaced, constantly changing environment where being entrepreneurial is encouraged, then this is the right place for you. All it takes is hard work, resourcefulness and knowledge. – Tom Le Vere is president/shareholder of Weekes Forest Products, St. Paul, Mn., and 2020 NAWLA board chairman.
Knowledge
NAWLA, for me, was also a great way to gain more knowledge; and knowledge is power. It’s always been that way but, today, somebody that’s willing to go the extra mile and become the “problem solver” or the “answer person” will own his or her market. A huge void was created when people in our business exited the industry during the last economic downturn that started
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MOVERS & Shakers Ralph Ruggiero, ex-Weyerhaeuser, has joined BlueLinx as business development mgr. for the North Atlantic/New England, based in Bronxville, N.Y. Paul Wainman, CFO, Hancock Lumber, Casco, Me., will add the title of president in January. He succeeds Kevin Hancock, who will continue as CEO and board chair. Leo Colantuono, ex-Biewer Lumber, is now sales & purchasing mgr. for Grove Wholesale Lumber, Maple Grove, Mn. Chris Rodriguez has been appointed store mgr. for McCoy’s Building Supply, Midland, Tx. He succeeds Brian Oney, who is now store mgr. in Orange, Tx. Tyler Louis is now store mgr. in Palestine, Tx. Tom Palmer has opened an offfice in Chesapeake, Va., for Eagle Forest Products, Eagle, Id. Mark Echols has been named general mgr. of BlueLinx’s newly formed national moulding and millwork team. Nick Burckel, ex-ITW Paslode, has joined Pan American Screw Fastener Group, Conover, N.C., as national sales mgr. for its Sure Drive USA business segment. Clint West has been appointed chief executive officer of MacDonald & Owen Lumber Co., Sparta, Wi. Patti Fitchett, sales mgr., Varn Wood Products, Hoboken, Ga., has retired after 30+ years with the company. Finola Kozak, ex-Heath Lumber, is new to inside sales at Tague Lumber, Philadelphia, Pa.
Roy O. Martin III has been elected chairman, chief executive officer, and chief financial officer of RoyOMartin, Alexandria, La. E. Scott Poole is now president and chief operating officer, and Terry Secrest, Jr. is executive VP of manufacturing & product sales. David Perry and Katie Bruton have joined the lumber sales team at Hood Industries, Hattiesburg, Ms. Reese Hardy is new to sales at Angelina Forest Products, Lufkin, Tx. Craig W. Gray is now general mgr. of planer mills for Kykenkee Inc., Vance, Al. Antonio DiDomenico, 84 Lumber, Newport News, Va., has transferred to manage the Washington, D.C., yard. George Akers has retired after 70 years with Dye Lumber & Home Improvement Center, Monticello, Il. Jason King, ex-Home Depot, has moved to Beacon Roofing Supply, Pittsburgh, Pa., as assistant branch mgr. Barry Buchman, ex-PrimeSource Building Products, was named branch mgr. of Gulfeagle Supply, St. Louis, Mo. Matt Bruce, ex-Royal Building Products, has joined MoistureShield, Atlanta, Ga., as VP of sales. Cory Conley, ex-BlueLinx, has been named a director of US LBM Holdings, Buffalo Grove, Il. Shane Burnworth was promoted to power tools merchandise mgr., and Lyndsey Steffen to store design planner for Do it Best Corp., Fort Wayne, In. New are Randy Betton, millwork specialist; Kendall Cooper; associate merchandise mgr.; Jason Bauman, systems administrator; Amber Baumgartner, consumer marketing specialist; Kindra Blackburn, process improvement specialist; Jennye Klopfenstein, IT scheduler; Macenzie Lane, copywriter; Melissa Smith, stock representative; Kathy Voigt, scheduler/computer operator; and Landon Wendel, application developer. Joseph Langford has been promoted to plant mgr. at Hood Industries, Beaumont, Ms. Kristy Olshan has been appointed chief financial officer for Superior Plastic Products, New Holland, Pa. Mike Kunard, Wausau Supply, Waconia, Mn., has been appointed channel development mgr. for its Diamond Kote Building Products division. Conor Cooper has been promoted to president of Oldcastle APG Anchor business, Red Bank, N.J. Jarrett Deschenes is new to Kingspan Insulation North America, in district sales from Charlotte, N.C. R. David Banyard was named president of MasterBrand Cabinets by parent Fortune Brands, Deerfield, Il. He replaces David Randich, who is retiring. Scott M. Deakin has been appointed VP and CFO for GMS Inc., Tucker, Ga. Jordan Gilbert has been promoted to production technician at Chelsea Building Products, Oakmont, Pa., managing the Everlast extrusion equipment. Chris Degnan, director of commodities & home improvement warehouse for Weyerhaeuser Co., Seattle, Wa., has joined the board of trustees of APA – The Engineered Wood Association, Tacoma, Wa.
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Erik Heikel has moved to Windows & Doors by Brownell, Burlington, Vt., as installed sales mgr. Eric Vachon was appointed president, CEO and a director of Stella-Jones, Inc., succeeding Brian McManus. Gayle Force is now selling storm doors at Mungus Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.
Northwest Hardwoods Idling Mills
Effective Nov. 20, Northwest Hardwoods, Tacoma, Wa., will halt operations at two of its 28 locations. Approximately 100 employees will be indefinitely laid off when the facilities in Maury River, Va., and Mount Vernon, Wa., are shuttered.
Windows, Doors on the Rise
U.S. demand for windows and doors is forecast to rise 3.8% per year from $27.6 billion in 2018 to $33.3 billion in 2023, according to a new report by the Freedonia Group. Increases in new residential and commercial construction
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activity will support demand for windows and doors as more homes and commercial structures are erected. The replacement market will also see solid growth as consumers look to upgrade the energy performance of their buildings by installing new, energy-efficient windows and doors.
Do it Best Streamlines Website
Do it Best has launched a new company website, offering an engaging, informative and user-friendly experience to a broad range of audiences. The new doitbestonline.com serves as an informational hub and key gateway for current and prospective members, prospective employees, vendors and the public with a clean, intuitive design and concise content making it easy to access and navigate. It brings together the best of the former doitbestcorp.com and independentsdoitbest.com and integrates doitbestcareers.com. “For prospective members and employees in particular, we know their first impression of Do it Best can often be shaped by the experiences they have with our digital presence, which is a big part of why we’re so thrilled to unveil this new site,” said Rich Lynch, VP of marketing.
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US Plywood Producers Claim Certifiers Giving Imports a Pass
Ten domestic plywood producers have banded together as the “U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition” to file a Lanham Act claim of false labeling against three U.S. certification agencies: PFS TECO, Timber Products Inspection, and International Accreditation Service. The group claims that structural plywood panels produced in South America are being fraudulently certified and stamped as compliant with U.S. Product Standard PS1-09 for Structural Plywood, when the panels allegedly do not meet the country’s minimum structural requirements for stiffness and deflection. The testing agencies are standing by their certifications of the products, with Timber Products Inspection calling the allegations “absolutley false.” Contending otherwise are Coastal Plywood Co., Freres Lumber, Hardel Mutual Plywood Corp., Hunt Forest Products, Murphy Co., Scotch Plywood Co., SDS Lumber, Southern Veneer Products, Southern Veneer Specialty Products, and Swanson Group. They say Brazilian structural plywood panels have flooded America’s domestic market over the last few years due to the strong U.S. dollar, lax environmental standards in the countries of origination, and a concerted effort by the Brazilian government to encourage wanton harvest. In the last two years, the imports allegedly have taken over about 25% of the U.S. market. The U.S. producers charge that “a large portion of the volume of panels are manufactured using wood species harvested from large-scale plantations that were once rainforests. These plantations were planted in loblolly pine,
slash pine, and other North American species that are used in manufacturing across the Southern U.S. However, when these species are planted in regions they have never naturally grown, the tree’s fiber no longer behaves like those grown in their natural regions. The temperate climate and full-year growing season in Brazil lead to fiber that has very little stiffness or strength when used in plywood.” Last year, U.S. wood products distributors were notified by APA Product Advisory SP-1185, which showed that imported panels from seven Brazilian panel manufacturers failed in panel bending stiffness by a margin of 23% to 55%. Recent testing reportedly showed little change in the panels’ performance. “The product standards for American plywood have serious real-world implications for all homes constructed using wood panel products,” said Tyler Freres, VP of sales for Freres Lumber. “Inferior products can endanger the health and safety of everyone who depends upon their homes to provide shelter and security for their families and loved ones. It is incumbent upon engineered wood products manufacturers to ensure that we meet all codes and that U.S. certification agencies have consumers’ health and safety as their primary concern when providing their certifications.” Timber Products Inspection countered that “despite the claims of the plaintiffs, our experience and testing indicate that Brazilian plywood meets all objective industry and regulatory standards outlined by the PS 1-09 standard. Clients in Brazil and elsewhere who do not consistently meet the applicable standard do not remain as TP clients.” TP also pointed to the “clearly defined resolution process for these types of disputes” and welcomed “the opportunity to subject any of our clients’ plywood, including Brazilian plywood, to the oulined resolution process.”
– Serving the industry for over 30 years – Phone:
800-763-0139
• Fax: 864-699-3101
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LMC Gathers Top Dealers in Chicago Leading dealers from around the country gathered in Chicago for three days of learning with the theme “Reaching Higher to Create the Perfect Customer Experience” as part of LMC’s fifth Annual Leadership Summit. Held from Sept. 10-13, the annual event brought together leaders in the LMC dealer network to learn from each other and from professionals in other industries. It kicked off at Loyola University where Professor Kevin Lee explained the “Customer Life Cycle.” Attendees learned the skills to work strategically and cross-functionally in conducting internal and external client needs assessments. Afterwards, they headed to the corporate headquarters of Michuda Construction, a leader in the construction field that was established over 100 years ago. Attendees were treated to an inside look at how the company is innovating and preparing for the future
while meeting and exceeding their customers’ expectations. Day two began with a session from Loyola’s Carol Fitzgibbons entitled “Thoughtful Leadership and Leading a Multigenerational Workforce.” In this session, the attendees were led through a discussion of leadership styles, and strategies for thoughtfully flexing your individual leadership style. The afternoon sessions were held at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. David Schonthal led sessions on “The Power of Why” and “Jobs to Be Done,” which focused on the process of discovering consumer insight. Later that evening, attendees boarded Chicago’s First Lady for cocktails and dinner while taking in a scenic architectural river cruise through downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. The Leadership Summit ended with an Experiential Workshop at Second City Works, an arm of the Second City improvisational comedy theater.
LMC SUMMIT in Chicago included (upper) a river cruise through downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan and (lower) —no joke—professional development at Second City.
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Attendees learned the improv methods that Second City pioneered on its stages to create professional development. The group participated in handson learning on the topics of active listening, adapting communication style, leading with empathy, being present, responding in the moment, and leveraging the skills of a diverse team. Held annually, the Summit addresses the unique aspects of leading in the LBM business. By providing education in cutting-edge thinking regarding the customer experience, members can build on their legacies while preparing for the challenges of the future.
Weather Barriers Trending in Residential Market
Housewrap preferences are gradually evolving, according to a recent presentation at the Housewrap 2019 conference on builder and consumer practices by Ed Hudson, Home Innovation Research Labs. Hudson shared that about 60% of all housewrap and weatherresistant barrier (WRB) material is installed on new homes; the remainder is installed primarily on homes being re-sided. DuPont’s Tyvek continues to dominate with nearly half the housewrap and WRB installations in new homes. DuPont established leadership in technology and education early and have maintained that leadership for decades. Traditional mechanicallyattached housewraps still make up more than two-thirds of all housewrap and WRB materials installed, but alternatives are making inroads. Combination WRB and structural sheathing panels, such as Huber’s ZIP System and Georgia-Pacific’s ForceField, now make up about 10% of this market among new homes. Self-adhered membranes are now approaching 10% of the market, as well. Fluid-applied membranes now constitute about 3% of new home housewrap/WRB installations. Alternatives to traditional housewrap are found more extensively on higher-end homes and multifamily buildings. Building-Products.com
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NEW Products
Take Control of Multiple Openers Screws for Clamping Power Fastap Screws’ FWH Harsh Environment Utility Screw is the company’s latest exterior fastener that’s a perfect fit for applications where countersinking is not an option but clamping power is. The screw features a flat washer style head for clamping power and robust #20 wire size to handle higher shear loads. n FASTAPSCREWS.COM (800) 847-4714
Overhead Door has introduced its 4-Button Universal Remote, allowing customers to operate garage door openers and gate receivers from a variety of brands and models. The remote pairs and controls openers from the most popular brands. Each button comes pre-programmed with a different manufacturer’s code that can be individually re-programmed to support any combination of other compatible manufacturers. n OVERHEADDOOR.COM (800) 929-3667
Tough Storage Boxes DeWalt’s new ToughCase + Accessory Storage Sets are the latest addition to the brand’s accessory storage, with premium features to help keep drilling and fastening bits organized. The system includes four container sizes: the Small Bulk Storage Container, Small ToughCase + Container, Medium ToughCase + Container, and Large ToughCase + Container for unlimited configurations. n DEWALT.COM (800) 433-9258
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Sound-Reducing Windows Crystal Window & Door Systems has added a new sound reduction window—the AC85 Acoustic Casement Window—to its ever-growing product line. The window delivers superior sound attenuation and is popular in buildings situated near airports, rail lines, highways, heavy-traffic city streets, or other demanding high-noise locations. n CRYSTALWINDOWS.COM (800) 472-9988
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Standout Tape Measures Klein Tools’ new Tough Blade Tape Measures deliver greater performance and durability on the job. The devices feature a 13-ft. standout of wide, tough and durable blade and uncluttered, easy-to-read bold lines. Their heavy-duty, tough, durable nylon-coating protects blade printing and delivers longer blade life, while the retraction speed brake controls blade speed and protects fingers from touching the blade. n KLEINTOOLS.COM (847) 821-5500
High-End Light Show Amerlux’s easily configurable Slots & Dots track light system creates visual ambience for highend residential, hotel, restaurant and commercial spaces. The lighting gives designers the ability to add visual elements and to move them at will. n AMERLUX.COM (973) 850-4342 Building-Products.com
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Cable Stair Stabilizer Atlantis Rail Systems’ new aluminum stair stabilizer provides a more affordable option for stabilizing stair railings with cable infill. Made from aluminum and powder coated in black, white, bronze or metallic, it is designed to be field cut to size and surface mounted using the supplied #10 wood screws for easy installation. Each kit (A0908-XX60-ST) includes universal stabilizer, base kit, square bracket, and all necessary hardware and fasteners for installation. n ATLANTISRAIL.COM (508) 732-1017
Reversible Shiplap/Nickel Gap Siding Boral Building Products is adding a reversible shiplap-nickel gap siding profile to its TruExterior Siding & Trim poly-ash line. The new profile comes with either smooth nickel gap on one side and woodgrain shiplap on the other, or with woodgrain nickel gap on one side and smooth shiplap on the other. A rabbeted edge ensures panels fit together perfectly to create the authentic spacing. It comes in four widths and two standard lengths. Previously, contractors had to choose between TruExterior profiles in non-reversible smooth or woodgrain shiplap, and smooth nickel gap. n TRUEXTERIOR.COM (800) 521-8486
Clip Out the Moisture Nova USA Wood Products has designed ExoClad Rainscreen QuickClips to accommodate the natural swelling and shrinkage of wood siding throughout each of the four seasons despite the amount of moisture or dryness. This includes compressing the wood to absorb board expansion when the humidity is high and then moving the siding back into place as the wood dries out during colder, cooler months. Designed with marine-grade extruded aluminum and fastened with #10 pan head screws, the clips work equally well with hardwoods such as batu, ipe and cumaru hardwood siding, as well as softwoods like cedar, redwood and Douglas fir. They also provide a 3/4” stand-off from the structure and can be drilled right into the studs over the housewrap. This eliminates the added need to buy, cut and install furring strips, while ensuring fast, easy installations.
Quick & Light Track Loaders
n NOVAUSAWOOD.COM (503) 729-7879
n ASVI.COM (800) 205-9913
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ASV Holdings’ new compact RT-50 Posi-Track loader includes best-in-class ground pressure, ground clearance, serviceability and performance. The nimble machine features serious performance for its weight and is easy transportability, making it an ideal compact track loader for rental houses, commercial businesses, weekend warriors or as an addition to landscape, construction or snow-clearing contractors’ fleets.
Building-Products.com
Fast-Drying Primer PPG TrueFinish’s Aquacron 270 Series waterborne acrylic sanding primer is a fast-drying, single-component primer/sealer for interior wood, wood-related and plastic products. Designed for conventional, HVLP (high-volume, low-pressure) and commercial airless spray systems, the waterborne sanding primer offers good hardness and adhesion and excellent sanding properties in a convenient, ready-to-spray product. Due to its water-based formulation, it also has low volatile organic compound (VOC) content.
New Generation of Hardwood Floors AHF Products is introducing new engineered and solid hardwood flooring collections from Bruce– American Honor, Next Frontier, Early Canterbury and Blacksmith’s Forge engineered floors, and the newly refreshed Natural Choice solid hardwood. The new collections feature the well-known precision craftsmanship and premium materials. n AHFPRODUCTS.COM (718) 859-6766
n PPGTRUEFINISH.COM (866) 774-8783
Softwood Plywood Manufactured Just For You. Timber Products Company has a longstanding reputation for manufacturing the highest quality commodity and industrial softwood plywood. We use veneer from our own timberlands and carefully control the production process from start to finish. Tell us what you need, and we can make it happen.
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Choose Your Opening
Behr Paint’s newly reimagined paint can is designed to make the painting process simpler and cleaner—no paint key or tools required to open the container. In addition, the company’s new 100% recyclable design features a first-of-its-kind Simple Pour plastic lid that eliminates mess and rust and keeps paint fresher longer.
The Marvin Elevate Collection now offers the option to select different finishes on the frame and sash of the window. The new design flexibility allows homeowners to mix and match four different finishes on their Marvin Elevate windows, including bare pine, clear coat, designer black, and prefinished white. Windows arrive finished or painted and ready to install, with the consistent quality and aesthetics that come from a carefully-perfected factory finishing process.
n BEHR.COM (800) 854-0133
n MARVIN.COM (888) 537-7828
Spout Off
Specialty Products Made to Order. When you need a specialty softwood plywood product, Timber Products Company can help. We have a team of production managers who will work with you to get exactly what you need, when you need it. As a fully integrated company, we can control the product process from start to finish. For all your softwood plywood needs, think Timber Products Company.
1-800-547-9520 timberproducts.com Building-Products.com
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[A] Attendees rode a gondola up to the mountain-top Roundhouse Lodge for a welcome reception overlooking the slopes of Whistler.
[B] Stacks of lush wood products greeted visitors to the Whistler Conference Center.
Global Buyers Mission adds value for BC producers
BC Wood welcomed more than 800 delegates from around the world to Whistler, B.C., for its 16th annual Global Buyers Mission. The invitation-only affair gave qualified international buyers the opportunity to meet with a wide variety of Canadian suppliers and manufacturers of value-added wood products, through receptions and a two-day networking tradeshow. This year, buyers flew in from Australia, Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Hong
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Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. Among the Canadian-made products on display were timber frame structures, engineered wood products, treated lumber, reclaimed wood, windows and countless other valueadded wood building products. BC Wood organizers estimated that over the next 12 months exhibiting Canadian manufacturers would net more than $37 million in incremental
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AT THE GLOBAL Buyers Mission, [1] Brian Hawrysh, CEO of organizer BC Wood, with keynote speaker Doug Donaldson, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Develoments. [2] Fareed Amir, Muhammad Amir, Mo Amir. [3] Dai
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sales thanks to their participation in this year’s event. Held Sept. 11-13 at the Whistler Conference Center, the Global Buyers Mission was kicked off with an address by Doug Donaldson, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Develoments. To create extra interest on the show floor, space was given to Design BC @ The GBM, a showcase of unique furniture and other creative pieces crafted from British Columbia woods.
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Ona, David Farley, Johnny Matak. [4] Trent Gustafson, Jim Tyrer, Don McGregor, Graeme Lusk. [5] Brodie Jewer, Trevor Dyck. [6] Sasha Sandur, Radhika Sandur. (More photos on next two pages) Building-Products.com
C [C] BC Wood board chair Greg Stewart, Sinclar Group, welcomed delegates at the grand opening breakfast.
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[D] Design BC @ The GBM highlighted work such as the Solid Sphere sculpture by Brent Comber Originals, a studio that designs urban forms from ancient natural sources.
[E] Straight Lines Designs creates one-of-akind furniture pieces in whimsical, seemingly impossible shapes.
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EXHIBITORS (continued from previous page) included [7] Noah Li. [8] Robin Hayward, Diana Radonjic. [9] Jaron & Denesha Doman, Haiya Yu, Gordon Doman. [10] Gigi Zhou, Jenny Qian. [11] Ted Matter, Mike Chong, Chris Boyd, Ross Ward. [12] Robert Tsumura, Matt Arnold, Chris Yang. [13] David Chiew, Carl Dobler, Steve Downie. [14] Sven Building-Products.com
Photos by BPD
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Gustavsson. [15] Archie Rafter, Brent Comber. [16] Chuck Casey, Mike Innes. [17] Parm Binning, Jon Feng, Rav Binning. [18] Kalayna Crook, Cam Stevens. [19] Danielle Skalnik, James Sangara. [20] Paul Mackie, Brian Kapuscinski. (More photos on next page) November 2019
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BC WOOD Photos by BPD
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BC WOOD (continued from previous two pages): [21] Kevin Rasmussen, Matt Wittschiebe, Phil Schumoch, David Sandur, Landon Erbenich. [22] Rob Tam, Robert Sandve. [23] Rachel Xu, Jasper Zhan, Michael Siuucha. [24] Laurence Taylor, Cody Kwak, Trevor MacKay. [25] Rick Palmiter, Cameron Cook. [26] Samuel Hui, William Li, Glenn Mattice, Griffith Augustin, Jun Sekine. [27] Sam Bath, Guy Hemphill. [28] Rana
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Barn, David Jeffers, Chris Martin, Mark Whorrall. [29] Zach Leverington, Dean Gregg, Oisin Gallagher. [30] Allen Xu, Karl Garrett. [31] Justin Porter, Mike Porter. [32] Chris Caviggia, John Brissette. [33] Theo Middleton III, Shikai Xu. [34] Benjamin Yang, Ly Lya. [35] Helena Jehnichen, Tara Milosavljevic, Randi Walker, JC Lee, Bonnie Tobin, Brenda Lee. Building-Products.com
NELMA returns to Vermont for 86th annual meeting The Woodstock Inn, Woodstock, Vt., hosted the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association’s 86th annual meeting, bringing together 140 representatives of the Northeastern and Great Lakes softwood lumber industry. A picture-perfect day welcomed 52 golfers on the morning for the pre-event golf scramble. First place team-gross score went to the Seaboard International foursome, Jim Dermody, Ricky Leclerc, Blake Boudreau, and Eric McCoy. First place team-net score went to the team of Alex Darrah, Dan Wetmore, Matt Duprey, and Keegan Holt. At the first day’s welcome reception and day two’s industry breakfast, 15 vendors displayed the latest milling and drying technology, along with printing and lumber industry software, all for casual interaction with attendees. Day two’s business sessions kicked off with a general meeting led by chairman Scott Brown and presentation of safety awards for 2018 mill performance. For combined sawmill and planer mill operations, 1st place awards went to Brojack Lumber, Hammond Lumber, Pleasant River Pine, Limington Lumber, and King Forest Industries. NELMA president Jeff Easterling gave a State of the Association address highlighting programs completed and underway on behalf of membership. It concluded with the nomination of officers and directors. New chair is Alden Robbins, Robbins Lumber; 1st vice-chair Chris Brochu, Pleasant River Lumber; 2nd vice-chair Susan Coulombe, Irving Forest Products; and treasurer B. Manning, Durgin & Crowell. New to the board is Alex Darrah, Durgin & Crowell, and re-elected was Bob Mai, PotlatchDeltic. At-large rep on the advisory committee is Robert Moses, Britton Lumber. NELMA’s marketing team of Easterling, John Rooks (SOAP Marketing Agency), and Kim Drew (Drew Public Relations) shared details of the 2019 marketing outreach program, followed by a presentation of the Rich Quitadamo Sustainable Versatility Design Award. Marketing chair Dan
Paige, Sandy Neck Traders, described this year’s design criteria, titled “Solve,” which directed architecture students to look within their community to design a structure that would alleviate a local need, such as lack of temporary housing. The 2019 winner was New Jersey Institute of Technology senior Samantha Pires, with her project “Shelter(ed).” It turned the stereotypical homelessness shelter on its head with a refreshing, modern and warm design using eastern white pine extensively. Her award of $1,000 will be matched with a contribution to the existing Help Center in Newark, N.J. “In Search of the Elusive Lumber Customer” was the focus for the remainder of the talks, providing insight into the forces contributing to lumber buyers’ and specifiers’ decisionmaking processes. Dr. Rubin Shmulsky, Mississippi State University, spoke on “Is the Stress-Class System the Future for Lumber Specifications by Customers?” and “The Pros & Cons of CLT Construction;” architects Scott McCullough and Jessica Cook on “Choosing Wood Species in Custom Residential Architecture;” Karen Jordan, “Demystifying Online Media Tactics Used to Find Customers;” and FEA’s Paul Jannke, “Lumber Markets in a Time of Change.” Next year’s annual meeting is set for Sept. 16-18, 2020, at the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in Portsmouth, N.H.
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NELMA TEAM [1] Meg Parkinson, Ken Sweet, Barbara Williams, Jeff Easterling, Matt Pomeroy. [2] Association leaders (front) Scott Brown, Alden Robbins, Susan Coulombe, Alex Darrah; (rear) Bob Moses, Matt
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Duprey, Bob Mai, Jim Dermody. [3] Jerome Pelletier, Madison Breen, Susan Coulombe, Jim St. John. [4] Jeremy Howard, Ginny Pray, Jethro Poulin, Nathan Cyr. [5] Rob Hoffman, B Manning. [6] Jessica Darrah, Tracy Crowell. Building-Products.
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20 NELMA ANNUAL meeting attendees (continued from previous page): [7] Kenzie Hand, Greg Porcero, Nick Merckx, Chris Cournyer, Jamie Kissack. [8] Tom Merkert, Scott Brown. [9] Sylvain Lefebvre, Geoff Gannon. [10] Robert St. Laurent, Bryan Hunt, Prisco & Phyllis DiPrizio. [11] Peter Crowell, Jean-Paul Cyr. [12] John Moses, Bill Edwards, Bob Moses. [13] Dan Paige, Tom Herbert, Alex Darrah, Chris LaCourse. Building-Products.com
Photos by BPD
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21 [14] Chris & Ashley Brochu, Amy & Alden Robbins. [15] Matt Pomeroy, Rose LeBarron, Bob Mai. [16] Evelyn & Hal Smith. [17] Chuck Gaede, Henry Lamothe, Meghan Brewer. [18] Kate & John Rooks, Zaid Agloria, Kim Drew. [19] John Krueger. [20] Dan Wetmore, Matt Duprey, Jeff Easterling, Ken Sweet. [21] Jim Dermody, Jeff Hardy, Ryan Satterfield.
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Hoo-Hoos hobnob in BC
Steve Allison, co-founder of Texasbased software development company Even Game, was installed as the 108th Snark of the Universe at lumber fraternity Hoo-Hoo International’s recent annual convention. The event, hosted by Vancouver Hoo-Hoo Club, took place Sept. 10-14 at The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, B.C., bringing together Hoo-Hoo members from all over the world for activities like BBQs, steak dinners, business meetings, and club updates. The convention was timed to coordinate with the annual BC Wood Global Buyers mission, allowing the two groups to kick off the proceedings with a joint welcome reception.
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FLOCK OF SNARKS: [1] Raymond Lamari, David Jones, Robyn Beckett Young, Gary Gamble, Mary Moynihan, Jack Miller, David Kahle, Kent Bond. [2] Gary Gamble, Shawn Zant. [3] Bob & Bernice Chandonnet. [4] Robin Beckett Young, Mary Moynihan, Jan Bradford. [5] Stirling Angus, Bryan Ortner. [6] Chris Bouchard, Jake Power. [7] John Taylor, Kent Bond. [8] Jim Miller, Harvey Strack. [9] Paul Beltgens, Anna Bell. [10] Lindy Zant, Barb Zant. [11] Stacey Jones, Cindy Bond, Deanna Hoff, David Dahlen, Mary Moynihan. [12] Jim Lewman, Chad Dagais, Brandon Bennett. [13] Ron Sangara, David Trytko, Raymond Lamari, Matthew Burke. [14] Sandra & Steve Bernardi. Building-Products.com
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ASSOCIATION Update National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association honored Scott Engquist, Engquist Lumber Co., Harcourt, Ia., with the Chairman’s Award during its recent Industry Summit in Colorado Springs, Co. Max Guetz, Alpine Lumber Co., Westminster, Co., received the Distinguished Service Award. The 2020 summit is set for Oct. 7-9 in San Antonio, Tx. Mid-America Lumbermens Association will present seminars on leadership, sales and OSHA compliance during its annual Fall Fling Nov. 5-6 at the InterContinental, Kansas City, Mo. MLA also is lining up an Estimating 1-2-3 class for Dec. 4-6 at Forest Products Supply, Brentwood, Mo. Construction Suppliers Association is hosting several roundtables this month, including Nov. 10 in Statesboro, Ga.; and Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 14-15 in Acworth, Ga. Northwestern Lumber Association is hosting a marketing & PR boot camp Nov. 13 at BATC Housing First Minnesota, St. Paul, Mn. Attendees will be able to plug into ideas that will light up their company’s brand—and its sales. The association is also offering a fleet management course Dec. 3 at Fargo Glass & Paint Co., Fargo, N.D.; yard & delivery workshop Dec. 4-5
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Rhode Island Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association’s holiday party is Nov. 22 at Providence Downtown Marriott, Providence, R.I.; Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Association’s annual meeting and trade show Dec. 3, Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; an NRLA roundtable Dec. 9-11, Courtyard Boston, Stoughton, Ma.; and Western New York Lumber Dealers Association board meeting/holiday dinner Dec. 13, Tony D’s, Rochester, N.Y.
at Hampton Inn & Suites, Alexandria, Mn.; and Estimating 1-2-3 class Dec. 9-11 in Omaha, Ne. Building Material Suppliers Association is staging a marketing & PR boot camp Nov. 19 in Charlotte, N.C. Roundtables will be held Nov. 6-8 in Raleigh, N.C.; Nov. 7-8 in Charlotte for operations managers; Nov. 13-15 in Asheville, N.C., for purchasing managers; and Dec. 4-6 in Charlotte.
Wood Component Manufacturers Association elected a new board of directors during the group’s recent fall meeting in New Orleans, La. New president is Leon Osborne, Osborne Wood Products; VP Frank Fitts, Fitts Industries; treasurer Mark Elliott, Elliott Woodworking; and immediate past president Steve Mashl, Valley Custom Door. Directors are Mark Paisley, Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers; Tim Becker, A Cut Above Wood Components/5Acre Mill; Todd Breitenfeldt, Kretz Lumber Co.; Manoo Mahmoodi, Art for Everyday; and Phil Menzner, Menzner Lumber & Supply Co. Kirk Spillman, Eagle Machinery & Supply, is the ex-officio technology partner on the board. The fall meeting was held in conjunction with the Moulding & Millwork Producers Association.
Florida Building Material Association is sponsoring a blueprint reading seminar Nov. 5 at its office in Mount Dora, Fl. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association affiliates will stay busy through the fall. Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers Association will hold its annual meeting Nov. 8 at Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo, N.Y., followed by Lumber Dealers Association of Connecticut’s Millwork Product College Nov. 12 at Courtyard by Marriott, Waterbury, Ct. On Nov. 15, New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association has a board meeting at Coastal Forest Products, Bow, N.H., while Northern New York Lumber Dealers Association holds its 21st annual bowling tournament at Market Lanes, Potsdam, N.Y. Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Association plans a board meeting and education seminar for Nov. 19 at Courtyard by Marriott, Fishkill, N.Y.
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North American Wholesale Lumber Association just wrapped its annual NAWLA Traders Market in San Antonio, Tx. Look for coverage in next month’s BPD.
3 NORTH AMERICAN Wholesale Lumber Association held its Northeast regional meeting Sept. 17 in Woodstock, Vt. [1] Scott Parker, Anthony Muck, Alden Robbins. [2] Ryan Satterfield, Chuck Gaede. [3] Jim St. John, Tonia Tibbetts, Matt Pomeroy. [4] Ingo Wallocha, Robert St. Laurent. [5] Alex Darrah, John Moses, B Manning.
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DATE Book Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend. Florida Building Material Association – Nov. 5, blueprint reading seminar, Mt. Dora, Fl.; www.fbma.org. Mid-America Lumbermens Assn. – Nov. 5-6, Fall Fling, InterContinental at the Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Mo.; www.themla.com. Lumber Dealers Assn. of Connecticut – Nov. 5, LBM Product College; Nov. 12, Millwork Product College, Courtyard by Marriott, Waterbury, Ct.; www.nrla.org. Northwestern Lumber Association – Nov. 5, yard safety class; Nov. 6, sales seminar, Oshkosh, Wi.; www.nlassn.org. Building Material Suppliers Association – Nov. 6-8, roundtable, Raleigh, N.C.; Nov. 7-8, operations manager roundtable, Charlotte, N.C.; Nov. 13-15, purchasing manager roundtable, Asheville, N.C.; www.mybmsa.org. Remodeling Show & DeckExpo – Nov. 6-8, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, Ky.; www.remodelingdeck.com. Central New York Retail/Western New York Lumber Dealers Associations – Nov. 8, joint annual meeting, Del Lago Resort & Casino, Tyre, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Construction Suppliers Association – Nov. 10, roundtable, Statesboro, Ga.; Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 14-15, store manager roundtables, Acworth, Ga.; www.gocsa.com. Northwestern Lumber Association – Nov. 13, marketing & PR boot camp, St. Paul, Mn.; www.nlassn.org. Northern New York Lumber Dealers Assn. – Nov. 15, 21st annual bowling tournament, Market Lanes, Potsdam, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Building Material Suppliers Association – Nov. 19, marketing & PR boot camp, Charlotte, N.C.; www.mybmsa.org. Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Assn. – Nov. 19, board meeting & education seminar, Courtyard by Marriott, Fishkill, N.Y.; nrla.org. North American Building Material Distribution Association – Nov. 19-22, annual convention, New Orleans, La.; www. Greenbuild – Nov. 20-22, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; www.greenbuildexpo.com LMC – Nov. 20-22, expo, Philadelphia, Pa.; www.lmc.net. Structural Insulated Panel Association – Nov. 20-22, annual conference, Philadelphia, Pa.; www.sips.org. Rhode Island Lumber & Building Material Dealers Assn. – Nov. 22, holiday party, Downtown Marriott, Providence, R.I.; www.nrla.org. Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Assn. – Dec. 3, annual meeting & trade show, Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Northwestern Lumber Association – Dec. 3, fleet management & DOT class, Fargo, N.D.; Dec. 4-5, yard & delivery workshop, Alexandria, Mn.; www.nlassn.org. Building Material Suppliers Association – Dec. 4-6, roundtable, Charlotte, N.C.; www.mybmsa.org. Construction Suppliers Association – Dec. 4-6, roundtable, Sandersville, Ga.; www.gocsa.com. Mid-America Lumbermens Assn. – Dec. 4-6, Estimating 1-2-3, Forest Products Supply, Brentwood, Mo.; www.themla.com. Construction Suppliers Association – Dec. 9-10, Next Gen roundtable, New Orleans, La.; www.gocsa.com. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association – Dec. 9-11, roundtable, Courtyard Boston, Stoughton, Ma.; www.nrla.org. Northwestern Lumber Association – Dec. 9-11, Estimating 1-2-3, Omaha, Ne.; www.nlassn.org. Western New York Lumber Dealers Association – Dec. 13, board meeting & holiday dinner, Tony D’s, Rochester, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Building-Products.com
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CLASSIFIED Marketplace 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. Private box, $15. Column inch rate: $55 if art furnished “camera-ready” (advertiser sets type), $65 if we set type. Send ad to dkoenig@526mediagroup.com. Checks payable to 526 Media Group. Deadline: 18th of previous month. Questions? Call (714) 486-2735.
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Distributors and retired this past April, a year after selling the business to Boise Cascade. William Rand Almond, 67, coowner of Almond Brothers Lumber Co., Coushatta, La., passed away Sept. 22. A fifth-generation lumberman, William had been involved in his father’s sawmill since boyhood. After graduating from Northwestern State University in 1973, he began running the company alongside his brother Ardis and cousin Tremmell, expanding the business into one of the nation’s largest exporters of southern yellow pine. An active member of the Southern Forest Products Association, he served on its board of directors from 2010 to 2018 and on its executive committee from 2013 through 2018, as treasurer, vice-chair, board chair, and two terms as immediate past chair. Ronald W. “Ron” Cyr, 83, cofounder of Cyr Lumber Co., Windham, N.H., died Oct. 12 in Windham. After graduating from Dean Junior College in 1956, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He then went to work for his uncle in construction before spending 26 years as VP at his father’s oil company. In 1984 with the sale of his father’s business, Ron and his wife, Rachel, started Cyr Lumber. Stanley Virgil “Stan” Kiser, 68, fouth-generation owner of V.P. Kiser Lumber Co., Bowman, S.C., was killed in a boating accident Sept. 21. A graduate of the University of South Carolina and past president of Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, he helped run the famiily business for over 40 years.
IN Memoriam Jonathan Ellis Martin, chairman of RoyOMartin, Alexandria, La., died Sept. 20 in Alexandria. He was 70. After earning a degree in engineering from Louisiana State University in 1971, he joined his father’s Roy O. Martin Lumber Co. as plant manager in Ringgold, La. He quickly rose to companywide leadership—directing the design and construction of the South’s first OSB plant in 1981, an adjacent hardwood sawmill in 1984, a plywood plant in 1995, and a new OSB plant and plywood mill expansion in 2006. As chairman of Martin Sustainable Resources, he capped his career in 2018
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with the completion of an OSB mill in Corrigan, Tx. Recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Gulf Coast region, Martin also served as president and director of the Hardwood Manufacturer’s Association, and board member and 2004 chairman of APA. John Ward “Leo” Moore Jr., 89, founder of Lumberman’s Wholesale Distributors, Nashville, Tn., passed away Sept. 10 in Nashville. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, he played semi-pro baseball for the Army. In 1955, he joined A.J. Smith Co. in lumber sales. In 1969, he formed Lumberman’s Wholesale
November 2019
William L. “Bill” Hostetler, 86, founder of West Liberty Lumber Co., West Liberty, Oh., died Oct. 3. Following his discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, he spent 30 years as a contractor with Hostetler Construction, before opening his lumberyard in 1985. Edward Randolph Tilman, Sr., 93 former owner of Tilman Lumber Co., Powhatan, Va., died Oct. 3 in Powhatan. Glen Ray Hollis, 92, former coowner and operator of Hollis Lumber Co., Granite City, Il., died Oct. 7. He and his father ran the lumberyard from 1947 to 1964. He then worked with as a construction project manager and retired in 2001 as a building and zoning administrator with the city. Building-Products.com
ADVERTISERS Index Page
www.stella-jones.com
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BlueLinx www.bluelinxco.com
45
MCL Wood Products www.mid-columbialumber.com
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Building-Products.com www.building-products.com
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Norbord www.norbord.com
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C&C Wood Products www.ccresourcesinc.com
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CMPC www.selex.cl
North American Wholesale Lumber Assn. www.nawla.org
Cover III
Northern Crossarm Co. www.crossarm.com
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Crumpler Plastic Pipe www.cpp-pipe.com
41 OHC
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Deckorators www.deckorators.com
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Everwood Treatment Co. www.everwoodtreatment.com
57
526 Media Group www.building-products.com
7
Fortress Wood Products www.fortresswood.com
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Great Southern Wood Preserving www.yellawood.com
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Jordan Lumber www.jordanlumber.com
Cover II
Lonza Wood Protection www.wolmanizedwood.com
Cover I
Madison Wood Preservers www.madwood.com
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Manufacturers Reserve Supply www.mrslumber.com
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McFarland Cascade
www.ohc.net 13
Pacific Woodtech www.pacificwoodtech.com
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ProWood www.prowoodlumber.com
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Redwood Empire www.buyredwood.com
Cover IV
Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com
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Spartanburg Forest Products www.spartanburgforestproducts.com Stella-Jones www.stella-jones.com
Deck Building Solutions • 866-767-1850 • www.suredrive.com • sales@suredrive.com
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Sure Drive www.suredrive.com
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Swanson Group Sales Co. www.swansongroupinc.com
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Timber Products Co. www.timberproducts.com
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Trex Co. www.trex.com
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UC-Coatings www.uccoatings.com
Welcome Aboard!
BPD is excited to introduce our readers to two new advertisers, McFarland Cascade/Stella-Jones and Northern Crossarm Co. Based in the Great Lakes region, Northern Crossarm Co. provides quality pressure treated wood products everywhere east of the Rockies. Specializing in KDAT treated wood in both green and in brown, it has 6 million bd. ft. on the ground ready to ship.
Building-Products.com
Century-old wood treater McFarland Cascade was acquired by Stella-Jones in 2012 and is now taking on the Stella-Jones name itself. Consider Stella-Jones and Northern Crossarm the next time you’re looking for a source of quality pressure treated wood.
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FLASHBack 70 Years Ago This Month
S
eventy years ago, the November 1949 edition of BPD’s sister publication, The California Lumber Merchant, studied the possible effect on the industry of President Truman signing into law a hike in the national minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents per hour. The rate hike was expected to have minimal effect in the short term, since sawmills nationwide were already paying well in excess of 75 cents per hour (the average rate of pay at mills in the Pacific Northwest was $2.10 per hour, and $2.35 per hour for logging crews). There was trepidation, however, in the South, where the industry fretted over what would happen in the event of another recession. “During the 1930s, literally thousands of Southern sawmills operated on a hand-tomouth basis for no reason other than to keep their men employed and to furnish them with a sustistence wage. All such operations were run at a loss, and the mills sacrificed their valuable timber in order to help their men. Should such times come again, the mills could have no choice but to close down.” In other coverage of 70 years ago: • Night school was becoming a hit with Northern California lumbermen. Hundreds of forest products workers reportedly were attending after-work classes at Fresno State College, Santa Rosa Junior College, and Hartnell College in Salinas, Ca., sponsored by the Lumber Merchants Association of Northern California and taught by representatives of LMA and area lumber firms. Classes covered lumber terminology, grades, blueprint reading, millwork, estimating, sales, material handling, and specific products (fir, pine, redwood, hardwoods and plywoods). • United States Plywood Corp. put together a “Woods of the World” exhibit in New York, showing off more than 100 rare veneers for architects, interior decorators, and the press. Displayed at the Weldwood Building on 44th Street, the exhibit emphasized the importance of wall paneling and fine interiors in modern architecture. Lawrence Ottinger, president of US Plywood, pointed out that there was increasing demand for made-to-order hardwood panels for special purposes where beauty of graining and texture were essential. “This exhibit,” he said, “shows to architects and others interested the tremendous possibilities for unique designs and flexible uses that were hitherto thought impossible.” • Cavanaugh Lumber Co., Tacoma, Wa., achieved “a seeming miracle in warehouse construction” by erecting a 5,000-sq. ft. storage facility in six hours. As The Merchant reported, “Passersby who had seen no building at 8:00 a.m. saw an almost finished structure late that afternoon.” The walls and roof framing for the 20-ft.-high, 50- by 100-ft. building had actually been pre-assembled the week before and were lifted in place by a crane on to a previously completed concrete foundation.
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LOS ANGELES’ Western Hardwood Lumber Co. heavily marketed Philippine mahogany brought in by its Westhard Importing division.
• Moore Dry Kiln Co., North Portland, Or., mailed out the 70th Anniversary Issue of Moore Facts, celebrating the first Moore dry kiln built by “Dry Kiln” Moore in 1879. • The California redwood industry “staged a friendly and peaceable invasion of Texas,” sending a delegation of 14 executives to promote its products to wholesalers and dealers in the Lone Star State. The group, primarily from San Francisco and Chicago, spent two days each in Dallas and Houston, giving presentations sponsored by the California Redwood Association, Delegates came from the California Redwood Association, Pacific Lumber Co., Hammond Lumber, Union Lumber Co., Arcata Redwood, Redwood Sales Co., Dolbeer & Carson Lumber, Rounds Trading Co., and Northern Redwood Co. The Dallas session opened at Cowser & Co.’s distribution yard for wholesalers to inspect various grades of redwood lumber close-up. A sample car of redwood, shipped in by the Union Lumber, was unloaded, pieces stacked on end and displayed by grade pattern and size. A CRA field rep then lectured on redwood grading, manufacturing and utilization. In the afternoon, CRA’s advertising and PR program was outlined. The next day, retail lumber dealers, architects and other specifiers of building materials, gathered in a hotel ballroom to listent to case histories of redwood utllization. A brief history of the development of the redwood industry looked back at the species’ first commercial production in 1832 through the modern practices such as reforestation, selective cutting, elimination of waste, and proper utilization. CRA also showed a new educational film, Sempervirens, and a slide show, Box Score, dealing with the properties of redwood. The next two days followed a familiar pattern, starting at Shroeder Lumber Co. for day one, and finishing at a local hotel for day two. The event was wrapped up by Merchant Magazine publisher Jack Dionne, who lived in Houston and was called on to tell a few of his favorite stories.
Building-Products.com
Offer the most reliable option in pressure treated wood:
KDAT PTW
Kiln Dried After Treatment, or KDAT, is a process that removes excess moisture from lumber, minimizing the natural characteristics of wood to shrink, cup and warp. KDAT minimizes shrinkage and promotes stability in the system. Kiln drying decreases the finished weight of the system 30% to 40% as compared to leaving it wet. KDAT material is: • Lighter weight & easier to handle • More resistant to warping & twisting • Easier to saw & plane • KDAT improves the holding power of nails & screws
Northern Crossarm has 6 million BF on the ground ready to ship anywhere East of the Rockies
Northern Crossarm Co. offers KDAT PTW in 2 colors–Green or Brown.
Brown treated wood provides a finished look of beautiful, natural wood tones upon project completion. • End uses include interior & exterior above ground, ground contact, & fresh water immersion. • Better corrosion resistance for exterior code approved fasteners & hardware • No need to wait 6 – 12 months before staining.
Northern Crossarm is also looking for new distributors throughout the U.S.
Chippewa Falls, WI
715-723-4100
sales @crossarm.com
www.crossarm.com
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