BPD March 2022 by 526 Media Group

BPD

Building Products Digest

MARCH 2022

THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982

SPECIFYING SUSTAINABLE WOOD PRODUCTS • CYPRESS NICHE • NELMA UPDATE

R E R G E N H O T R E STO G & T

First issue of THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT, sister publication to BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST, by Jack Dionne, publisher of THE GULF COAST LUMBERMAN

1922 1933 N LMA Established - New York City - 2 Employees 1937 1st Eastern White Pine Grade Rules 1939 1st N LMA Grader Training School 1940 N LMA Exhibits at New York Worlds Fair N LMA releases film Story of Wood in the Northeast” 1946 “The 1955 1st N LMA Exhibit at Lumber Retailer Shows 1962 Arrival of future publisher David Cutler several name changes to reflect coverage of more products and the entire West, the magazine is shortened to its longtime nickname, THE MERCHANT MAGAZINE 1967 After 1970 First Voluntary Product Standard for Lumber Published (PS-20) 1982 N LMA celebrates 50th anniversary in Boston issue of BPD by David Cutler, initially distributed to the Southeastern 1982 First states that received the now-defunct GULF COAST LUMBERMAN 1994 BPD launches companion website, BUILDING-PRODUCTS.COM 2001 Start of the Heat Treatment Inspection Program Oakes succeeds Cutler as publisher 2001 Alan of BPD and THE MERCHANT expands its coverage beyond the South 2003 BPD to the mid-Atlantic region expands to the Northeast and Midwest, now covering 37 states 2004 BPD East of the Rockies to perfectly complement THE MERCHANT partners for the first time with NELMA on its first 2004 BPD annual Eastern White Pine Special Issue 2008 N LMA celebrates 75th Anniversary in New York City 2012 1.29 Billion Board Feet produced by NELMA mills 2014 Grader Academy introduced 2014 Patrick Adams succeeds Oakes as publisher of BPD and forms 526 Media Group 2015 Skip & Wane debut adds new publication, DECK SPECIALIST, to reach the contractor 2016 526 customers of BPD that specialize in outdoor living projects 2017 N LMA merges with NSLB 2019 411 monthly series begins for BPD 2019 BPD launches email newsletter, BPD eWEEKLY 2020 526 EVENTS hosts its first-ever virtual event… N LMA’s annual meeting E

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CONTENTS

March 2022 Volume 41 n Number 3

Stay connected between issues with www.building-products.com

32 Eastern White Pine

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association

arms retailers with latest

sales tools, design trends, and customer research

BPD

Building Products Digest

THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982

ERR NGH E RO T STO G E & T

First issue of THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT,

to BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST, 1922 bysisterJackpublication Dionne, publisher of THE GULF COAST LUMBERMAN 1933 N LMA Established - New York City - 2 Employees 1937 1st Eastern White Pine Grade Rules 1939 1st N LMA Grader Training School 1940 N LMA Exhibits at New York Worlds Fair N LMA releases film Story of Wood in the Northeast” 1946 “The 1955 1st N LMA Exhibit at Lumber Retailer Shows 1962 Arrival of future publisher David Cutler several name changes to reflect coverage of more products and the entire West, is shortened to its longtime nickname, THE MERCHANT MAGAZINE 1967 theAftermagazine 1970 First Voluntary Product Standard for Lumber Published (PS-20) 1982 N LMA celebrates 50th anniversary in Boston First issue of BPD by David Cutler, initially distributed to the Southeastern 1982 states that received the now-defunct GULF COAST LUMBERMAN 1994 BPD launches companion website, BUILDING-PRODUCTS.COM 2001 Start of the Heat Treatment Inspection Program succeeds Cutler as publisher 2001 ofAlanBPDOakes and THE MERCHANT expands its coverage beyond the South 2003 BPD to the mid-Atlantic region BPD expands to the Northeast and Midwest, now covering 37 states 2004 East of the Rockies to perfectly complement THE MERCHANT BPD partners for the first time with NELMA on its first 2004 annual Eastern White Pine Special Issue 2008 N LMA celebrates 75th Anniversary in New York City 2012 1.29 Billion Board Feet produced by NELMA mills 2014 Grader Academy introduced 2014 Patrick Adams succeeds Oakes as publisher of BPD and forms 526 Media Group 2015 Skip & Wane debut 526 adds new publication, DECK SPECIALIST, to reach the contractor 2016 customers of BPD that specialize in outdoor living projects 2017 N LMA merges with NSLB 2019 411 monthly series begins for BPD 2019 BPD launches email newsletter, BPD eWEEKLY 2020 526 EVENTS hosts its first-ever virtual event… N LMA’s annual meeting E

Digest 3-22 Layout.indd 1

Features 10

Feature Story

Product Spotlight

Furniture Manufacturers Turn to Southern Cypress

Industry Trends

Thinking Ahead

Show Recap

2/18/22 9:14 AM

For the Roller-Coaster Wood Industry, Pandemic a Bump in Track Attendees, Exhibitors Don’t Have to Search Long to Find Silver Linings at Bustling IBS in Orlando

BPD Digital Edition at www.building-products.com

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n Building Products Digest n March 2022

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Departments

Cedar Expert Advises on Specifying Sustainable Wood Products

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Customers Go Vintage in Home Decor

MARCH 2022

SPECIFYING SUSTAINABLE WOOD PRODUCTS • CYPRESS NICHE • NELMA UPDATE

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Special Focus 32

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Across the Board

16 Olsen on Sales 18 Transforming Teams 20 Lumber 411 30 Movers & Shakers 40 New Products 50 Classified Marketplace 50 In Memoriam 52 DateBook 52 Advertisers Index 54 Centennial FlashBack

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Building Products Digest President/Publisher Patrick Adams padams@526mediagroup.com Vice President Shelly Smith Adams sadams@526mediagroup.com Publishers Emeritus David Cutler, Alan Oakes Managing Editor David Koenig dkoenig@526mediagroup.com Senior Editor Sara Graves sgraves@526mediagroup.com Columnists James Olsen, Emily Schmitt, Claudia St. John, Dave Kahle Contributors Simon Cameron, Kim Drew, Jeff Easterling, Ian Faight, Gavy Gosal, Paige McAllister, John Rooks, Clara Tan

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BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is published monthly at 151 Kalmus Dr., Ste. E200, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (714) 486-2735, www.building-products.com, by 526 Media Group, Inc. (a California Corporation). It is an independently owned publication for building products retailers and wholesale distributors in 37 states East of the Rockies. Copyright®2022 by 526 Media Group, Inc. Cover and entire contents are fully protected and must not be reproduced in any manner without written permission. All Rights Reserved. BPD reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter, and assumes no liability for materials furnished to it. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of 526 Media Group, Inc. Articles in this magazine are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or business management advice.

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ACROSS the Board By Patrick Adams

Deep end of the pool

I was younger, everything felt like I was in the deep end of the pool. Whether it was by chance or my own decisions, it was a feeling like I was barely holding on, gasping for air and happy when I didn’t drown. Looking back, a lot of lessons are learned in the deep end of the pool. As I’ve gotten older it seems that I try to avoid the deep end of the pool. Yes, there are always chances to take and I joke that just getting up in the morning is a risk, but it’s not the same. I wonder if this is a case of “wisdom” as you get older, or is it fear? It’s hard to blame anyone for staying in the shallow end—it is safe, predictable, comfortable. It can also get a little boring. There has been a “little” project that I’ve wanted to tackle for over a decade now. In reality, it’s not so little and to me, not unimportant. It’s one of those “callings” that just keeps nagging you but practicality always seems to talk me back from the ledge. How should I reconcile this? As a young man with fewer responsibilities and the grace that comes from being “young and stupid,” you could chase these whims and when they fail, it’s chalked up to a “good try.” But now, with a business, a family, and enough experience to “know better,” if it flops it’s going to feel different. This year celebrates our 100th year of service to this great industry. No small feat in any business, but media publishing is especially brutal. Finding the content that an audience values is not easy, and delivering it in this growing sea of “noise” at times feels like a losing battle. But every month for 100 years, we’ve found a way to do just that. At this stage, not only do we know you, but we know your family and, in most cases, the prior generations who are to blame for the career that you “chose.” Every morning when you come to work, we’ve met you there. This year, we are launching many new things that, hopefully, will serve you and your future generations for another 100 years although I have to admit, it’s hard for me to imagine what that will look like. In this journey however, I’ve made a lot of great friends and realized that I’m not alone in this country that at times feels like a foreign land. I’ve worked hard to live by a set of values that in my heart has always felt “right.” That I hen

love this country and my family, and that I try to live in a way that does more good than harm. Where I live however, I’m surrounded by such a mixture of culture and values that oftentimes I feel alone in this. It has been this industry that reminds me that I’m not alone. So for the past year, I’ve jumped into the deep end of the pool yet again to work on this little project that has been pestering me during the quiet hours. Something that will serve us for the time when we are not on the job. Something the reflects the people we are, instead of only serving what we do. Hopefully, it is something that reminds us we are not alone and also, reminds us that the American dream is alive and well. Next month, this mystery will be revealed starting with each of you because you are my inspiration to not be afraid. Every day, you get up before the sun, work in an industry where a million things can go wrong, do your best, and then go home to your family. You’re not afraid of the deep end and so, neither will I be. I think I’ve teased this long enough for now and will let it rest until next month, where I will find out from each of you first whether or not I should have stayed out of the pool. In the meantime, I’m always grateful for the opportunity to serve each of you and this great industry.

Patrick S. Adams Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

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FEATURE Story By Simon Cameron

WOOD PRODUCTS are a primary source of income in many communities.

Specifying sustainable wood products

uilding product specifiers like architects and engineers are asked to consider the environment and sustainability when making product selections. This consideration includes understanding how a product is sourced, manufactured, and its impact on the environment and climate change. But it’s not just professionals making these decisions. Awareness of choosing sustainable products is growing among consumers and retailers, and is impacting purchasing behavior. Research indicates that choosing wood products over more carbon intensive materials like steel and concrete will reduce CO2 emissions and help mitigate climate change. But the vocal minority demanding an end to all logging (and in particular old-growth) is getting louder and creating confusion. So what does this mean for the future of natural wood building products? The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association has launched an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the facts about the forest industry in North America, and the role wood products like WRC play in reducing CO2 emissions. It’s intended to reach end users and specifiers, but will also include retailers, distributors and others in the supply chain. The program, which includes video, an AIA-approved Continuing Education Unit (CEU) course, trade show materials and a dedicated page on realcedar.com, cites facts from credible, third party sources such as USDA, U.S. Forest Services, Natural Resources Canada and The Forest Stewardship Council, among many others, to respond to common misconceptions about the forest industry and the environmental and economic importance of wood building products. “It is an educational program of sorts,” noted Brad Kirkbride, WRCLA managing director, “but with the amount of misinformation that’s out there right now it’s pretty important to the health of our industry that we provide the other side of the story.” The misinformation Kirkbride is referring to stems in part from environmental groups and public demonstrations de-

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

manding an end to logging, and making claims that our forests are disappearing and the industry is causing irreversible damage to the environment. “The reality is,” continued Kirkbride, “the forestry industry in North America adheres to the most stringent regulations and practices there are. The rate of deforestation in Canada and the U.S. has been virtually zero for many decades, and responsible forest management in North America has resulted in more than 50 consecutive years of net forest growth. And this is despite a growing population and higher demand for wood products.” The crux of the program is to explain how durable softwoods like western red cedar produce essential and sustainable building products. There is a huge economic benefit to choosing wood products, of course; timber is the primary source of income in many communities. In the U.S. alone, the forest products sector employs over one million workers and accounts for 6% of the manufacturing GDP. But perhaps the most compelling reason to choose wood building products is the role the life cycle of a wood product plays in reversing climate change. “We are seeing that consumers are responding to the climate change message,” said Kirkbride. “No one wants to hear you preach, but when carbon sequestration is understood it puts the importance of using wood like WRC in a different perspective.” As a tree grows, it absorbs and stores carbon. But when it ages it becomes more susceptible to disturbances such as fire, pest outbreaks, and droughts. Although these are natural disturbances in the forest, a decomposing or burning tree releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere. However, if that tree were felled and used in building products, for example, that carbon is stored for the lifecycle of the product. CO2 captured over a tree’s lifetime stays locked inside the wood, meaning sustainably harvested wood products continue to represent a carbon store long after Building-Products.com

they leave the forest. Using wood building products has a significant impact on mitigating climate change. By 2030, Canada’s forest sector will remove 30 megatonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year—representing more than 10% of Canada’s climate change mitigation target. In the United States, “forests and associated harvested wood products uptake the equivalent of more than 14% of economy-wide carbon dioxide emissions each year and store more than three decades of CO2 emitted from fossil fuels,” according to the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) National Program. All of which provides sound reasons to continue using wood. While there are those who maintain that ancient forests are disappearing, Kirkbride is quick to point to the shift to second growth harvests and in many instances in the Pacific Northwest third growth harvests as well as the rise in products like engineered WRC siding. “We’ve been actively marketing second growth knotty WRC products for years,” stated Kirkbride, “and engineered WRC products like engineered clear solid WRC, engineered T&G with a clear veneer overlay, and engineered knotty all use surplus fiber. There’s no question the industry is changing, but the change is positive.” While new products enter the market on a regular basis, responsibly managed forests play an outsized role in storing carbon, addressing climate change, and providing a wealth of sustainable, essential products, which is particularly important as our global need for wood is not diminishing. – Simon Cameron represents the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. Established in 1954, the WRCLA is the voice of the cedar industry and has members in 132 locations throughout North America (www.realcedar.com).

Building-Products.com

MOVE IS UNDERWAY toward second and third growth harvests, as well as to new engineered western red cedar products (shown here).

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

PRODUCT Spotlight By Ian Faight

Photos by Landrum Tables

Furniture makers turn to southern cypress

ver the past two years, homeowners and their families have spent a lot of time at home—living, working, and learning. So it’s no surprise that furniture sales have been on the rise, despite the pandemic and economic conditions. And while less expensive pieces may be tempting, homeowners are researching and investing in quality furniture crafted from real wood, like cypress, that will provide a lifetime of service. “Cypress has long been known for its durability in outdoor applications, but it’s an extremely versatile species as well,” says Cassie Lewis from Turn Bull Lumber Co. in Elizabethtown, N.C. “It’s a beautiful wood and offers a distinct look with its color range and grain pattern, making it a solid choice for interior uses and furniture that’s built to last.” Custom furniture maker Capers L. Cauthen, owner of Landrum Tables in Charleston, S.C., agrees. “As an artist and a craftsman, I want to create custom tables for families that they’ll enjoy for years to come,” he adds. “Solid wood furniture is durable and—with proper care—will last forever. And it can be repaired, refinished, and brought back to life many times over. On the other hand, run-of-the-mill pieces made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard aren’t built for long-term use. Their surface has one life and if it gets wet or is used in the wrong environment, it’ll easily get damaged or fall apart, and the whole piece will need to be replaced.”

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

While Cauthen works with a number of species, he’s particularly fond of cypress. “I don’t just offer cypress furniture, I recommend it,” he says. “I grew up in Charleston, surrounded by history, old homes, architecture, and design. Cypress is a prominent building material here and I prefer working with it for a number of reasons. First, it is a very stable wood that performs well in our humid climate. It doesn’t seem to check or split like pine. And I take extra precautions to dry it properly if I’m shipping furniture to drier climates, like up north. “Cypress also is naturally durable. I use a lot of river recovered cypress in my work and tell my clients that any wood that can last 400 or more years on the bottom of a river or swamp is something you can bank on and have confidence in. And in my experience, cypress also is bug proof, it resists decay, and it isn’t affected by the elements like some other species.” Cauthen also offers some simple care and maintenance tips. “I suggest people stay away from using a mixture of vinegar and water. Vinegar has acidic properties that may break down materials over time. Instead, I tell my clients to simply wipe down their furniture with a lightly damp cloth and then dry it after. And with regular cleaning, your furniture will look great for years to come.” – For more on information on southern cypress and how it’s being used to craft furniture, visit Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association at cypressinfo.org and follow @cypress_info on Instagram. Building-Products.com

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INDUSTRY Trends By Clara Tan

RECENT PINTEREST survey identified which themes, styles and colors are most popular for each room of the house.

Customers going vintage in home decor

ith Google search interest for “home decor styles” increasing by 50% in the past week, the experts at Uswitch.com/mortgages wanted to uncover which interior decor is the most popular, according to Pinterest. After analyzing over four million pins across the platform, Uswitch can now reveal which decor style is the most desired across each room of the house, as well as the most popular interior design trends on Pinterest to inspire your customers’ next decorating project.

Most popular decor style per room on Pinterest Room

Most pinned themes

Total number of pins

Kitchen

Vintage

391,131

Living room

Vintage

259,021

Bathroom

Contemporary

172,146

Bedroom

Shabby chic

119,961

Home office

Industrial

52,163

Basement

Rustic

24,400

Dining room

Shabby chic

22,122

Family room

Rustic

11,664

Attic

Vintage

7,841

Utility room

Rustic

166

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Kitchen (Vintage, Scandinavian, Traditional) The most sought-after interior decor for the kitchen is vintage with a staggering 391,131 pins. A vintage kitchen can be easily infused with your own personality to make it distinctive, by tactically cluttering up the space with anything from aged kitchenware passed down through generations to great finds from flea markets. Falling 34.7% behind as the second most-loved kitchen theme is Scandinavian, with 255,235 pins, whilst a traditional style kitchen places third with 254,661 pins. Living Room (Vintage, Coastal, Minimalist) Pinned 259,021 times, vintage is once again the most popular interior design style for the living room area, with antique rugs and oversized couches emanating a warm, welcoming vibe. The second most wanted interior decor for the hub of our homes is coastal, with pins totalling 81,114— 68.7% less than vintage. From turquoise to sea green, play with your favourite ocean hues to achieve that laid back beach vibe, and decorate with driftwood accessories to capture the essence of a relaxed coastal interior. Bathroom (Contemporary, Vintage, Rustic) The most desired interior decor for the bathroom is contemporary with 172,146 pins. Neutral accents, clean lines and a no-frills approach have clearly appealed to many, as contemporary-themed bathrooms received about 50% more pins (Continued on page 40) Building-Products.com

OLSEN on Sales By James Olsen

Projecting confidence

of emotion and (sales) life is a mirror, so any emotion we project to our customers will be absorbed and felt by them. Many sellers are uncomfortable with the sales process. They are so afraid of being all the bad things attributed to poor salespeople (pushy, greedy, talk too much, insincere, arrogant, etc.), they talk and carry themselves as second-class citizens and get treated as such. These salespeople don’t understand they are inviting, almost demanding this poor treatment. The human animal is very intuitive and sensitive to these vibes/emotions projected by poor salespeople. They are affected by them, and the crazy thing is they can’t help it. These emotions and feelings are aroused in the “fight or flight” area of the human brain; they are involuntary. The good news is the opposite is also true. If we can project a calm, confident self, we will imbue our customers with these same feelings—and they can’t help it! Smile. Most of us aren’t natural smilers. We can smile, but most of the time when we are talking normally, we don’t smile. I am not talking about a “Bozo-the-Clown” type of smile, just a slight smile. Imagine you just sold 20 loads on your last call, and you are going to sell 20 on the next. How would you act if it were true? This is how we should act in the sales process. (For those of you who are natural smilers—keep it up.) Pace. In 25 years of coaching sales, I’ve never had to tell a student to pick up the pace, while most of my students talk too fast and some talk way too fast. Why do we talk too fast? Because we are nervous or (too) driven. We conquer our nerves by preparing our calls. What are we going to say, when and how are we going to say it? Then we practice until we feel comfortable. If talking fast is just our nature, we have to prepare, practice and work on slowing down. When we talk too fast a few things happen: (1) We make the customer nervous. ales is a transfer

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

(2) We create mistrust (i.e., “Why are they talking so fast? What are they hiding?”). (3) Lack of connection. When we talk too fast it sends the (emotional) message that we don’t care, which is easy to say no to. Volume. We normally want to match our customer’s pace and volume. At the same time, we want to speak loud enough to be understood. Tone. What is a confident tone? No wavering in the voice. No filler words: say what we mean and mean what we say. Calmness. We want to speak from the diaphragm, not from the throat. This will give us a fuller, more resonant tone, which inspires confidence. In-Person Selling. In-person selling has all the challenges of phone sales and more. Dress. We are in the “love at first sight” business and first impressions last—good and bad. We humans judge each other quickly—rapport is built or not, in the first 14 seconds. I started wearing a coat and tie about 10 years ago. The difference in treatment from customers to students was night and day. I would prefer jeans, sandals and Tommy Bahama Hawaiian shirts, but my kid can’t eat my preferences for breakfast. I have advised many of my clients to at least wear a sports coat and they always come back and tell me, “Man, that sports coat thing really works!” For my female clients I tell them to do the same; better to dress up a little than dress down a little. Handshake. Look customers in the eye, with a slight smile, then a firm (not crushing) web-to-web handshake. Humor. Humor projects confidence. Who do we laugh with? Our friends. Humor will help our customers feel more relaxed with us. As with all power tools, we must be careful when we use them. Humor is delicate so I’d keep to simple, corny stupid humor. It’s safe and relaxing. Our customers feed off of our emotions and how we project them. We want to be calm, confident and happy in our dealings with customers. We want them to know we care about them, we are confident in our solution, and they should be also.

James Olsen Reality Sales Training (503) 544-3572 james@realitysalestraining.com Building-Products.com

TRANSFORMING Teams By Paige McAllister

The challenges of recruiting and retaining

known as “the Big Quit” or “the Great Resignation” is expected to continue into 2022. In 2021, a monthly average of 3.95 million workers quit their jobs for various reasons as indicated by different reports and polls. Joblist conducted a survey which indicated dissatisfaction with how their employer treated them during COVID19, low pay or benefits, and lack of work-life balance as reasons why employees quit their jobs, with a majority of remaining employees contemplating quitting as well. According to a report published by MIT Sloan School of Management, the “Great Resignation” is driven by five factors in addition to compensation: a toxic corporate culture, job insecurity and reorganization, high levels of innovation, failure to recognize employee performance, and poor response to COVID-19. The Atlantic attributes some of the increased employee resignation rates to employees switching to better, higher-paying jobs and to older workers retiring instead of coming back when their businesses reopened after COVID lockdowns. With 10.9 million job openings and more than 4.5 million new businesses registered in the first 10 months of 2021 (most of which are people working for themselves) employees have several options to find the pay, benefits, security, and/or work-life balance they want and need. Employers who want to retain their current employees and attract quality new employees should take an honest assessment of their company and prioritize initiatives to address employee needs and concerns. he current trend

COVID-19 response: Employers should provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees while also realiz-

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

ing everyone has been personally impacted by COVID-19 differently. Employees should feel protected at work and not be retaliated against or belittled for having concerns or taking measures they feel they need to protect themselves and their families. What you can do: Follow expert guidance on current protocols. Monitor positivity trends in your area and adjust as needed. Understand your employees’ concerns and challenges, offering assistance and compassion when possible. Insufficient pay or benefits: Employees are finding jobs with higher pay and better benefits and perks, usually in the same or similar industry utilizing their current job skills. What you can do: Conduct an unbiased assessment of your compensation practices, comparing them to the current market for your size, area, and industry. Offer affordable and valued insurance plans including the traditional health and dental insurance to more creative policies such as an EAP, pet health, or long-term care. Consider offering perks employees will appreciate such as occasional catered meals, on-site services such as auto detailing and dry cleaning, and half-days. Revise your paid time off policies to offer more days off, to be more flexible, or to be available sooner in an employee’s tenure. Work-life balance: COVID magnified the often-conflicting demands employees face outside of work. When mandates first went into effect, companies needed employees to figure out how to work from home. After an adjustment period, employees realized that the once-accepted outlays Building-Products.com

Q. We have a remote employee who works their required number of hours each day but usually outside of our normal work hours. They are often unavailable for calls or meetings with management or co-workers and even clients have expressed frustration with their unavailability. While we believe employees should have some flexibility in when they work each day, can we implement some structure even though they are not in an office? A. Yes, you can require employees to be available during specific hours or for certain job functions such as client calls, company meetings, or to collaborate with co-workers. You can either set specific hours for everyone to match company or department “office” hours or you can create certain periods where every employee must be available. The latter works well when you have employees in different time zones where 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for some employees may be 5 a.m. - 2 p.m. for others. If an employee is not able to effectively perform their job duties because they are not available when needed, discuss expectations with the employee. If they continue to miss important meetings or calls, discipline them. If possible, you can even rescind the work-from-home option to ensure they meet their job demands. If an employee expresses concerns with being available as needed due to other reasons such as medical or family issues, work with them if possible. Otherwise, you may need to review their job function to find a situation that works for everyone.

Train supervisors to properly handle issues and to promptly investigate complaints. Employee recognition: Employees leave over more than just compensation and benefits. They want to know that their contributions to the company are valued through positive interactions and recognition with their co-workers and management. Employees who know they are valued and can be shown a long-term future with the company will be incentivized to stay, even when other factors aren’t optimum. What you can do: Create an effective performance management system to consistently communicate positives and negatives to each employee. Empower employees within their job function or crosstrain to help them develop new skills. Conduct assessments to determine the behaviors, motivators, and workstyle of your high-potential employees. Work with employees to create a job-development plan which fits their goals. Implement an employee recognition program, whether it is as simple as an email to recognize someone’s efforts or as elaborate as a well-managed program with levels and rewards.

Paige McAllister, SPHR Affinity HR Group contact@affinityhrgroup.com

of working in-person, such as commute times and costs related to shift meals and maintaining professional dress, may not be necessary. Ongoing issues such as caring for sick or vulnerable family members, lacking reliable childcare, or having to stay home with a “pandemic pet” with separation anxiety make it impossible for some employees to come into the workplace regularly. What you can do: Conduct an honest review of the business’ needs. Demonstrate the value you have for your employees by respecting their priorities. Let go of the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality and consider new, possibly untraditional, work arrangements which allow employees to fulfill their job duties while honoring their outside commitments. Toxic culture: Companies are not immune to the realworld volatility many witness every day and see on the news and social media. Personal opinions on hot-button topics such as COVID-19 measures, racial inequity, social injustice, and political viewpoints may intentionally or inadvertently impact an employee’s experience at work. What you can do: Treat employees fairly and consistently, especially if they have different opinions, backgrounds, or experiences. Support every employee’s rights while consistently limiting contentious interactions. Educate yourself, your managers, and all employees how to maintain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Draft, implement, and enforce policies strictly prohibiting discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, retaliation, bullying, and workplace violence. Building-Products.com

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

LUMBER 411 By Kim Drew

A Special Series from Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association

The 5 parts of a grade stamp and how to read them

ou’ve seen that ink stamp on the face or on the end of a piece of lumber, but do you know exactly what each of the five bits of information actually indicate? The compilation of information is critical to ensure that the lumber your customer has ordered is the correct material. In addition, for structural applications, building code officials require this grade mark on the lumber in order for

it to be used in construction. Grading agencies such as the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) work directly with lumber manufacturers to make sure their products meet these requirements! Here’s a quick tutorial of how to read a grade stamp:

In accordance with Voluntary Product Standard 20 (PS-20), when American Lumber Standard (ALS) program lumber is grade marked, the grade marking shall consist of a minimum of five elements to assist the consumer in identifying the (1) Moisture Content, (2) Product Grade, (3) Species or Species Grouping, (4) ALSC-Accredited Supervisory Agency, and (5) Unique Mill Number ID or Mill Name. Please refer to the sample NELMA grade mark below for further information:

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Building-Products.com

Discover the Fortress Difference Setting the standard, Citadel™ Treated Decking Products and MoistureShield® Composite Decking Products from Fortress Wood® offer a range of the highest quality pressure treated wood and composite decking. With Citadel’s treated products offering the natural beauty of wood in a variety of grade and treatment options, along with MoistureShield’s protected-to-the-core products that can be installed in the ground, on the ground and underwater—you’ll be able to exceed your customers’ expectations for durable, beautiful decking solutions.

Choose from a diverse selection of decking product options at FortressWood.com or by calling 800-BUY-FORT.

CNRG Buys Mississippi Chain

Central Network Retail Group is buying HomeFront Home Improvement Centers in Greenwood and Winona, Ms., from partners Brian Waldrop, Ron “Rut” Ussery, Richie Fulgham, and Fred Carl, Jr. HomeFront will be rebranded and operate as part of CNRG’s Home Hardware Center brand, which now operates 23 stores in four states. Overall, CNRG has 141 locations under various brands in 16 states. “I am excited about the future of this store with CNRG and Home Hardware Center serving the Mississippi delta region,” Fulgham said. “Home Hardware Center and HomeFront are a great fit. We both have the same ideas and standards when it comes to how we treat our employees and customers. I am comfortable knowing this business will continue to successfully support the community for many more years, and I am personally very excited about continuing to work in the business going forward.”

Bliffert Adds Wisconsin Indie

Eight-unit Bliffert Lumber & Hardware, Milwaukee, Wi., has acquired Oostburg Lumber Co., a single location, full service, lumberyard and design center in Oostburg, Wi. Oostburg Lumber has been serving Sheboygan County and the surrounding area since 1979 specializing in lumber, millwork, windows, decking, garage doors, kitchens and baths. Its design department designs decks, basement/ home remodels, home additions, kitchens/baths, as well as new home designs.

HDI Acquires 5-Unit Mid-Am

Hardwoods Distribution Inc., Langley, B.C., has acquired substantially all of the assets of Midwestern distributor Mid-Am Building Supply, Inc. Founded in 1967, Mid-Am generates annual sales of over $270 million of doors, millwork and other building materials, primarily to pro dealers. Mid-Am will continue to operate under its current name, retaining current management and its 364 employees. It joins HDI’s other operating brands Rugby Architectural Building Products, Hardwoods Specialty Products, Novo Building Products, and Frank Paxton Lumber. Its five distribution centers (Moberly and Chillicothe, Mo.; Spring Hill, Ks.; Mount Pleasant, Ia.; and Centralia, Il.) have a combined 650,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space to serve dealers in 10 states.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mid-Am’s capabilities to HDI, which we believe are complementary to our current operations,” said Rob Brown, HDI president and CEO. “This acquisition is a natural geographic extension from our current locations, providing access to customers and markets in the U.S. Midwest that we do not reach today. Mid-Am comes with an experienced team, established customer relationships and a portfolio of specialty and associated products that complement our existing product mix.” The deal is expected to close in February.

Lowe’s Launches New Loyalty Program

Lowe’s has introduced its MVPs Pro Rewards and Partnership Program for new and existing loyalty members. Available in select regions now and nationwide on March 7, the program gives users additional benefits including: • Lowe’s e-gift cards earned when professionals spend in-store and online on eligible purchases. • Access to business resources helping professionals tackle back-of-house operations. • Exclusive offers for rewards on eligible paint purchases and free select snacks or drinks at Lowe’s stores. • A chance to win incredible prizes like Ford F-Series trucks and custom-built local advertising packages. • A simple mobile and online user experience allowing professionals to track and claim rewards even when sending a crew member into the store. • Lowe’s plans to offer bonus points that can be used for additional rewards. The program complements Lowe’s existing credit offerings for professionals of 5% off every day on eligible purchases and 0% interest for 60 days for Lowe’s Business Advantage accounts.

MoistureShield Decking Plant Doubling Capacity

Oldcastle APG is expanding its MoistureShield composite decking plant in Springdale, Ar., to double manufacturing capacity. The investment directly supports the MoistureShield Elevate affordable capped wood composite decking line while also expanding geographical access to the new MoistureShield Meridian line. Existing production lines which support MoistureShield Vision will be upgraded in a Phase II expansion later in 2022.

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

DEALER Briefs Matt’s Building Materials, Pharr, Tx., suffered extensive damage to its store in a New Year’s Day fire of undetermined origin. Its yard was spared. Stanley’s Lumber & Building Supplies, Adams, Ma., received planning board approval to add a lumber/hardware store in North Adams.

Ritters True Value Hardware, Mechanicsburg, Pa., was acquired by Kevin and Michael Fague from Jack Winchell. Benedict’s Ace Hardware, Johnson City, Tn., has closed after 30 years with the retirement of owners Ron and Betty Jo Benedict. Homestead Hardware, Woodford, Va., is closing after 30 years due to the poor health of owner Gary Trice. Ace Hardware added a branch in Terre Haute, In., under general manager Amber Eversole. Brewerton Ace Hardware, Brewerton, N.Y., has been opened by Jeff Parzych. Village Hardware, Leipsic, Oh., is building a 25,930-sq. ft. branch in Findlay, Oh. Ace Hardware opened a new store Feb. 1 in Northwest Austin, Tx. Olson’s Ace Hardware, Franklin Park, Il., has purchased 99-year-old Dressel’s Hardware, Oak Park, Il., as its fourth location. Former co-owner Bob Dressel is retiring after 50 years, while brother Tony Dressel will remain on staff. Home Depot began construction on a new 100,000-sq. ft. store in the Lower Heights area of Houston, Tx., expecting a late summer/fall opening. The chain will also build a 403,000sq. ft., rail-served warehouse on 80 acres in Steele Creek (Charlotte), N.C. Menards will close its Maplewood, Mn., home center March 18 to tear it down and build a larger replacement store by next spring. The chain is also getting closer to breaking ground on a long-delayed site in Bridgeport, W.V. Building-Products.com

started working in the store in 1974 when he was still in high school. In 1987, Len started working at the store after Abner retired and joined the ownership team in 2001. The store thrived under the trio’s leadership and they opened their second location, Woodburn Do it Best Hardware, in 2010. Now, Claude is transferring the last of his ownership to his trusted business partners. “I am confident the stores are in good hands with Len and Jim,” said Claude Schrock. “As I look back over my time in Grabill, I am so thankful for the support of this community, especially to the many volunteers who helped us recover from our devastating fire. We would not have made it all these years without the many loyal customers I am pleased to call my friends.” DOG DAYS: Lowe’s is teaming with Petco to experiment with “store-within-a-store” pet service centers.

Lowe’s Tests In-Store Pet Centers

Lowe’s is introducing a pilot program to provide Petco’s pet services, such as mobile grooming and vet clinics for vaccinations, microchipping and pest prevention. The first Lowe’s + Petco “store-within-a-store” opened early last month in Alamo Ranch, Tx., and will expand to 14 other stores in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina by the end of March. The sections will cover about 1,100 sq. ft. in the seasonal zone in the front of each store. For the test, they will be staffed by Petco employees during peak hours.

TIVA Expands Production to the US

PVC decking and dock products manufacturer TIVA Building Products, Mississauga, Ontario, has purchased 36 acres with a 50,000+-sq. ft. production facility in South Carolina as its first facility in the U.S. The existing facility will undergo power supply improvements, multiple extrusion line installations, and office space renovations to be operational for the second half of 2022. “We have evaluated U.S. manufacturing facility sites for quite some time and knew even at the start of our business seven years ago it was never a matter of if but when,” said Terry Fangrad, CEO of TIVA Building Products. “The facility is perfect for significant capacity of production and inventory, while the site will accommodate multiple expansions as the TIVA brand continues to grow in North America.” The facility will service existing wholesale distributors Sherwood Lumber and Weston Forest Products, as well as pending new distribution partners throughout the U.S. Mike Kunard, national sales manager, said, “This is a meaningful and timely investment for the growth curve of TIVA Building Products as wholesale customers and prospects are asking for increased support to their business in capacity and producing a responsible product mix. TIVA Building Products is delivering exactly that.” Products include TivaDek, TivaDok, and TivaCoat. TivaDek offers a lifetime warranty in 12 colors, all of which are reversible to provide one board with two chances.

Indiana Dealer Changes Hands

The ownership of 92-year-old Grabill Hardware, Grabill, In., has officially transitioned from Claude Schrock to his son, Leonard “Len” Schrock, and business partner James “Jim” Gerig. Founded in 1930 by Abner Gerig, Claude Schrock became a co-owner of Grabill Hardware in 1972. The ownership team was later enhanced by the addition of Gerig, who

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

SUPPLIER Briefs Interfor restarted production early last month at the former Georgia-Pacific lumber mill in DeQuincy, La. G-P idled the mill in May 2020 and sold it to Interfor last summer.

Fiberon will build a new composite decking manufacturing and distribution facility in new Columbia, Tn. LP Building Solutions, Nashville, Tn., is selling its 50% share in I-joist plants in Larouche and Saint-Prime, Quebec, to its joint venture partner, Resolute Forest Products. Rayonier, Yulee, Fl., has acquired 66,800 acres of Texas and Georgia timberlands from Nuveen Natural Capital for $124.2 million. Wolf Home Products, York, Pa., will distribute RailFX cable rail and PFX 1000 aluminum railing to dealers along the East Coast. Wolf is also now exclusive supplier of Evolve Stone manufactured stone veneer in 13 states from Maine to Virginia. Encompass Building Materials , Lenexa, Ks., is now distributing Avon Plastics’ Armadillo Lifestyles and Essentials composite decking lines and TurboClip hidden deck fasteners in Kansas and Missouri. Palmer-Donavin , Columbus, Oh., is expanding its distribution of Digger Specialties Inc.’s products to Tennessee, through its recently opened distribution facility in Hebron, Ky. The wholesaler already distributes Westbury aluminum railing and other DSI products to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan and Indiana. In addition, Palmer-Donavin recently recognized CertainTeed as its Vendor of the Year and CertainTeed’s Mark McNabb as its Vendor Represenative of the Year. Viewrail’s Flight floating stair system has become the first-ever floating stairs to receive an evaluation report from ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES). Atlas Roofing Corp., Atlanta, Ga., has rebranded with a new logo, mission, website and corporate tagline (“Products with Purpose. People with Passion.”), coinciding with its 40th anniversary.

Building-Products.com

THINKING Ahead By Gavy Gosal

For roller-coaster wood industry, pandemic is a bump on the track

V ancouver , B.C., we have an amusement park called Playland, where one of the main attractions is a rickety roller coaster that’s been in operation for more than 100 years. Thanks to the wooden construction, no matter how prepared you think you are for the dips and dives ahead, the ride delivers a different experience each and every time you board. The wood industry is a lot like that wooden coaster. Those wobbles, bumps and quick turns that jostle the cars as they careen around the track remind me of some the obstacles we’ve had to navigate around since the public health crisis began: pricing, interruptions in production, staffing and transportation problems, weather, politics, customer and end-customer needs. And just when you thought you knew what the impact was going to be, it was no different than riding that coaster, which might jerk unexpectedly on a section of track where it didn’t before. As an essential service, however, we don’t buckle under pressure and we don’t shy from challenges: we adapt and move forward. Part of the reason we’re equipped to do that is because, well, we’re used to it. The pandemic added a new layer of complexity, but the industry has always faced temporary snags in the form of seasonal challenges, weatherrelated disruptions or economic fluctuations, to name a few. While ere in

we usually deal with these factors one at a time across different years, it seems like the pandemic dialed up all of them at the same time! We know how to respond when these events happen independently, and now we’re learning how to treat them when they happen in different combinations. The level of interruption has been unprecedented but so, too, has the level of adaptability that sprang out of that: technology and innovation, new business models, stronger partnerships. When it’s all said and done, the pandemic wasn’t able to derail the industry. Instead, we’re stronger than we were a couple of years ago, and way more versatile.

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Forward Momentum

That being said, where do we go from here? As always, the industry moves based on what the consumer needs. I’ve noticed three trends in particular emerging from the pandemic that I believe have implications for wood products going forward.

Collective Reflection: Now that the worst is over, there’s time to consider questions such as ‘what caught us off guard?’ Or, ‘how could we have been better prepared?’ As we turn the microscope on ourselves, I think that’s going to spawn alternative ways of thinking about logistics. Building-Products.com

A Special Series from North American Wholesale Lumber Association The conversation is going to turn to what can be done locally to avoid supply-chain snarls, along with other strategies for becoming less dependent on things that are easily disrupted. Folks are going to try to make sure that anything exposed as a vulnerability is addressed, while taking a long view to predict what else could happen. Customers, meanwhile, are reflecting on what’s important to them. Turns out, that’s value and quality. It’s not about the cheapest price, but rather the best product.

Collective Conscious: Hand in hand with the collective reflection taking place among companies and their customers is the interest in social issues that was rekindled, on many different levels, during the pandemic. What that means for our industry is that folks are not so quick to throw up something that’s not sustainable managed. They want good quality things, but they also want environmental neutrality. And it’s no longer solely about the product; people want to know if there’s a back story to go with it—is it sustainable? Is it helping First Nations groups to thrive? Is this new deck going to be reused or reclaimed 25 years from now or just dumped in a landfill? These are the kind of things that really matter now, and I’m proud

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 how NAWLA can help your business at nawla.org.

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to work with a firm that recognized the importance of sustainability, being stewards of the forest, and partnering with First Nations years ago, defining a higher standard. The opportunity is here for producers to really step up and feed this movement. Just about every development underway has a passive living aspect to it, and sustainable wood products are the way to achieve that.

Customer Response: Social issues really came to the forefront during the pandemic, and folks got vocal. Really vocal. And about all kinds of things, including wood and why they didn’t have their order yet. Social media was flooded with facetious memes referencing the market fluctuations. Things like: I’ll trade you this Ferrari for a stack of twoby-fours. While communication between manufacturers and distributors is status quo, having consumers chime in was a new experience—but one that the industry can use as a springboard. It’s an opportunity to listen to what people are saying in a comical or amusing fashion, but take it to heart. One way to accomplish that is through product branding. While people commonly equate photocopiers and Xerox or tissues and Kleenex, that brand recognition is missing from wood products. Western Forest Product is taking the lead in that direction, however, and others are sure to start dabbling there, too. We want to speak to that end user who’s speaking to us so vocally and say, ‘we have what you’re asking for.’ Of these potential emerging opportunities that are on the horizon, all are important; but what’s most exciting to me personally is the growing conscious that people, the industry, the world are bringing to their everyday use of things. What’s more ‘every day’ than where you live? I think that’s one of the major reasons wood is going to remain so relevant for the long term. There’s a lot of buzz right now, for instance, about mass timber structures. I would love to see every major city in the world backpedal

from 80-story concrete and steel towers in favor of these wood-based high rises. There’s a huge place for them in residential living, and projects already in place—an 18-story building at the University of British Columbia, for example—prove that we can do it. As major architectural firms realize the benefits of building with mass timber, regulations loosen up, and people become more aware, I think it’s a realistic and achievable dream.

Getting Back in Line

Until we get there, there are likely to be additional lurches, wobbles and jumps—just like on our trusty wooden roller coaster. But sitting there tense and clenched up, trying to anticipate every twist and turn, is only going to give you whiplash! Instead, let the ride take you where it’s going to take you, and figure out where to go from there when you disembark. Keep that in mind as the coaster pulls back into the station and prepares for the next lap around the track—which will inevitably feel different from the last. But, please, do wear your safety belt and keep your hands inside the ride at all times.

– Gavy Gosal is a sales representative at Western Forest Products, Vancouver, B.C. (www.westernforest.com).

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

THE FIRST STAIN

WORTHY OF THE YELLA TAG. Introducing YellaWood Protector® Semi-Transparent Stain and Clear Water Repellent. It takes a whole lot to earn the right to wear the Yella Tag. Backed by fifty years of proven knowledge and quality, YellaWood Protector® products are specifically formulated by the makers of YellaWood® pressure treated pine. YellaWood Protector® products provide long-lasting, rich color and the superior protection savvy homeowners demand. All with a limited warranty against chipping, peeling, water damage, mold, mildew and color fade. Since there are no long drying times or even in-store mixing or tinting required, you’ll love how easy it is to use. Find your local dealer at yellawood.com/protector and finish like a pro.

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.

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MOVERS & Shakers Brian Reiff has been promoted to president of Seven D Wholesale Distribution, Rocky Hill, Ct. Christopher Donohoe, ex-Mead Lumber, is the new sales mgr. for Builders Supply Co., Omaha, Ne. J . P. G r i f f i t h , e x - P r o f e s s i o n a l Builders Supply, is now general mgr. of Garris Evans Lumber Co., Greenville, N.C. Brad Ballard has been appointed president of Brand Vaughan Lumber Co., Tucker, Ga. Zachary Karalis has been promoted to branch mgr. at Lansing Building Products, Fitchburg, Ma. Russell Snopek, ex-Alexander Lumber, has joined the outside sales team at Marling Lumber and HomeWorks, Janesville, Wi. Erin Green, ex-Henson Lumber, has moved to White Cap, Dallas, Tx., as a senior buyer. Joanna Biddle, ex-Richelieu Hardware, is now in inside sales with Dixie Plywood & Lumber, Duluth, Ga. Mike Groom is the new owner of Deer River Lumber, Deer River, Mn., taking over for his father, Larry Groom, who founded the company in 1996. John Karas has been named director, channel sales-international for Fortress Building Products, Garland, Tx.

Jim Wickham, Boise Cascade, was promoted to VP-Building Materials Distribution Eastern Operations. Rob Johnson is now senior VP of engineered wood products, sales & marketing, and Chris Seymour, senior VP of manufacturing operations, wood products. B o b C a s a l , e x - U F P, h a s b e e n appointed mgr. of Graves Lumber Co., Akron, Oh. Shawn Moeller, Arkansas Wholesale Lumber Co., Searcy, Ar., has been promoted to regional buyer of engineered wood products for parent US LBM. Jeff Demay, ex-RP Lumber, has joined the outside sales force at Anchor Lumber Co., Silvis, Il. Matt Hudson, ex-Shelter Products, is a new Daphne, Al.-based commodity trader for Matheus Lumber Co. Mark Johnson, ex-Spring Arbor Lumber, has joined the outside sales team at Jonesville Lumber, Jonesville, Mi. Colin Baron has been promoted to branch mgr. at Decks & Docks Lumber Co., Wilmington, N.C. Mike Wilson was promoted to mgr. in St. Petersburg, Fl., and Tanner Cox is now managing the Charleston, S.C., branch. Ben Strober, ex-Boards & Beams, has joined the outside sales team at Excelsior Lumber Co., Butler, N.J.

Shara Gamble has been promoted to president at Envision Outdoor Living Products, Mount Joy, Pa. Sean Dwyer joined BlueLinx, Marietta, Ga., as chief strategy & corporate development officer. Kevin Alan Henry is now chief people officer; Thor Kurth; Milwaukee operations mgr.; and Krystle Vliem, a new territory mgr. in Grand Rapids, Mi. Clarence Best has been promoted to general mgr. at Carter Lumber, Stockbridge, Ga. Also new to Carter are Joseph Francese, ex-84 Lumber, now an account mgr. in Freehold, N.J., and Jacob Burnell, ex-James Hardie, now a market sales mgr. in Indianapolis. John Carter Cross is now mgr. of 84 Lumber, Asheville, N.C. Melinda Garcia, ex-Builders FirstSource, is new to sales at Tague Lumber, Philadelphia, Pa. Eric Johnson, PrimeSource Building Products, Tampa, Fl., has been promoted to VP of sales for its Nationwide Industries division. Kenya Davenport is a new sales assistant at Haynes Brothers Lumber Co., Murfreesboro, Tn. Paul Drace, based in Wisconsin, has joined Structurlam Mass Timber Corp., Penticton, B.C., as VP of sales for construction east division and industrial North America. Edward “Ted” Decker was promoted to CEO, president and director of The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga. May Russell has hired on at Fortune Brands Home & Security, Deerfield, Il., as chief digital officer. Aaron Kincade has joined the sales and operations team at Lee Building Products, Louisville, Ky. Angela Nevers was promoted to LBM sales support supervisor at Do it Best Corp., Fort Wayne, In. Tanja Brown is now LBM sales support coordinator; Jakob Bowden, associate industrial/commercial account executive; Korrey Short, LBM sales support; Jordan Montgomery, forecasting operations mgr.; and Diana Smith, outbound member services coordinator. Emmanuel Transmission is a new driver at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

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LOOK ONLINE at www.nelma.org for a battery of retail sales tools.

NELMA presents: Online retailer resources

tools for selling more wood, what’s your favorite? The traditional point-of-sale takehome brochure or fact sheet at the counter? Perhaps a digital code activated by a cell phone that leads to an online educational destination? Or maybe even the super-oldschool reliance on someone who has been with the company for a really, really long time? All of these are solid options… but we’d like to add one more. When it comes to matters regarding wood from New England over to the Great Lakes, there is only one true expert: the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA). Headquartered in Maine, the association is the definitive resource on how to sell geographically relevant wood (think eastern white pine, SPFs, red pine, etc.). With a wealth of information and educational tools available in all formats—online, digital, and print—NELMA should be a lumber dealer’s one-stop shop for all things wood. And now, with a brand-new website focused on funneling information directly to key audiences, it is easier than ever for lumber dealers to grab the information they need from the NELMA site, right when they need it. Let’s go exploring! hen it comes to

Click on the Retailers Tab

If you are reading this article online, click over to your browser and type in www.nelma.org. If you are reading it in print, use your phone or grab your laptop! Once on the NELMA main page, click on the Retailers tab. We created and curated this information just for you, so let’s take a quick tour through all the wood-selling tools available to you. Retail Directory. Have you signed up? It’s free! That’s right, it is completely free to register your business, the wood products you sell, and your full contact information on the NELMA Retail Directory. It’s an effortless way to ensure

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

that consumers and builders (and even architects) within the NELMA footprint can find you when they’re looking for where to buy lumber. NELMA created this resource specifically for you, the retailer… so go register and let us drive consumers into the retail channel and directly to your front door! The Grade Rule Book. NELMA is one of six lumber rules writing agencies in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) to write grade rules that are certified as conforming to the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS20. We are pleased to provide our 2021 edition of Standard Grading Rules for Northeastern Lumber online for easy reference and general understanding of the northeastern lumber and timber grades. Feel free to purchase a hard-bound book from NELMA or refer to each section from the grading rules for viewing or downloading. The sections are: Species, Grades, Grademarks, Tally & Sizes, Glued Products; Moisture Content and Inspection Provisions; Eastern White Pine Board Grades; Other Board Grades; National Grading Rules (NGR) for Framing and Decking; Beams & Stringers, Posts and Timbers; Design Value Information; Design Value Tables; Measurements of Characteristics; Glossary & Abbreviations; Eastern Pattern Charts; General Definitions and Instructions for Grading Eastern White Pine; and Interpretations – National Grading Rules (NGR) for Softwood Dimension Lumber. Everything you need to know about how to sell the right piece of lumber for the right project? It’s in the Grade Rule Book. How-to Videos. If you are a visual learner, this series of videos is right up your alley. Over the years NELMA has built up a strong library of videos demonstrating how to use (Continued on page 40)

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October 2021

NAWLA Traders Market Preview n

JOINING TOGETHER Two family-owned, value-driven companies are joined together as one as Robbins Lumber acquires Limington Lumber. Years of friendship and mutual respect help to make both operations stronger. Together, the proud history of making the finest Eastern White Pine products continues.

WWW.RLCO.COM

WOOD PLAYS perfectly with the current rustic/farmhouse design trends.

Consumer intel keeps LBM dealers ahead of trends

nce upon a time ,

product selection in the building and construction industry went like this: Homeowner deferred to architect and whatever they decided. Or: homeowner deferred to builder and whatever they chose. Or: homeowner deferred to retailer, and whatever they had in stock. Perhaps all three—architect, builder, retailer— worked together to compile a list of suitable products for the project in question. Sound familiar? But oh, how the process has changed! Product selection and decision are now squarely in the homeowner’s court, and it’s visceral. Choices are based on what they see on TV (“I must have shiplap!”), what they see driving through their neighborhoods (“Don’t you love those doors?”), and, of course, what they see on social media (perhaps you’ve heard of Pinterest?). It’s all about the instant “oooooooh, I love that!” followed by questions about selection, color, options, choices, etc. Homeowners are more knowledgeable than ever about building products, and they don’t hesitate to conduct exhaustive research from multiple sources before handing over their credit card. Maybe other team members will be consulted, but it’s becoming increasingly standard for consumers to present the products they want in their house/ renovation project. With product selection now removed from the professionals and in the hands of homeowners, how best can you, the retailer, serve this sometimes-fickle customer and give them what they want? How to stay ahead of trends and ideas and design specifications when you’re not part of the conversation from the start? Building-Products.com

You need to understand where consumers are coming from, what they know, where they get their information, and what they want. Thankfully, your friends at NELMA conducted consumer research late in 2021. Read on for a true overview of what homeowners in America are thinking, especially when it comes to choosing wood.

Project Process

We started the consumer research process with the most basic of information: where do consumers get their design inspiration? The answer won’t surprise you: most consumers watch some sort of home renovation reality television series (including Maine Cabin Masters!) for their inspiration. Very few refer to print magazines anymore—social media is now king of the sources. Within social media platforms, Pinterest lands at the top of the pile when it comes to gathering ideas, inspiration and preferred products. Combined with Instagram, both platforms are used to research, but also to share with other decision makers (spouse, family, design professional). Managing the project? It’s clear the duties are split: Women typically manage renovation projects and control design decisions, while men usually manage new construction projects. (As always, your mileage may vary. No one get upset, we’re simply sharing data from the research we conducted.)

Wood Knowledge

Do consumers think about wood species when selecting wood for building projects? Yes. And no. Contractors tend March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

to have the final word on what species of wood to use—depending on the final application. But it doesn’t end there: Interior designers can jump into the picture and override or edit the final design decisions, especially if they have an established relationship with the consumer. When it comes to where to get wood-specific inspiration: show homes rose to the top as a resource (in conjunction with social media and TV), especially in the categories of flooring, walls, and ceilings. Let’s talk sustainability and how it factors into wood product selection. All things being somewhat equal, the answer is that it matters… but not a lot. Consumers are not actively seeking out lumber with certifications, and contractors aren’t bringing it up, either. The term “local lumber” (think: geographically relevant, or choosing species that grow where you live and don’t create a large carbon footprint due to transportation) is a term that resonated with our consumers, especially when tied in with sustainability. Creating a larger carbon footprint due to selecting a species from across the country was not attractive. Overall, consumers are intrigued by the idea of specifying lumber that comes from the same climate region as the project. Do consumers understand lumber grades and species? No. Do they care? No. Go back to the second paragraph in this article: it’s visceral. It’s about what they see on TV and social media—the details don’t matter. We heard “knotty, but not too knotty” over and over to describe the general desired aesthetic. While those of us in the industry might be tempted to assign a specific grade to this description, it would probably be a waste of time. Consumers know what they like and what it looks like. The sooner we get on the same page with them, the more wood we can sell.

Wood Trends

“Modern farmhouse.” “Rustic farmhouse.” “Rustic contemporary.” We’ve heard these terms over and over and over on TV shows for the past several years, and these descriptors have now become the most commonly requested design styles, with the blending of the old and the new rising in popularity among consumers. And we’ve all heard of “shiplap” (remember: it’s an installation style, not

WOOD CEILINGS are among the most-desired high-end upgrades.

a product). Shiplap remains the leader when it comes to choosing wood for accent walls. Everyone wants shiplap. And we do mean everyone. It’s all about the shiplap. If consumers own a home with existing wood flooring, this feature becomes a design leader when it comes to the rest of the house. Consumers want to match species and grades, and oftentimes move into adding wainscotting as part of a renovation project. Wood ceilings? Everyone loves them. Everyone wants them. This unique, beautiful feature was viewed across the board (pun intended) as aspirational, and a high-end project upgrade.

How to Use This Info?

How can these consumer research results help you, the retailer, sell more

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

lumber? Here are three ways to take this data and use it daily to sell more wood: (1) Get inside the consumer’s head. Look at Pinterest. Watch the new Magnolia Network. See what they see. Learn what they learn. Know what they know. (2) Learn the terms. We know what grade to call “knotty, but not too knotty” wood—but what do consumers call it? It’s a bit like learning to speak a second language: the more you understand what the consumer wants, the more you can meet their needs. (3) Get ahead of the curve. Next time a consumer (or builder representing a consumer) walks into your store, use this information to show you know what they want, and you can give it to them. Happy selling! – For more information and inspiration on eastern white pine, visit www.nelma.org. Building-Products.com

Celebrating a wood partnership built to last

h a t m a k e s a strong partn e r s h i p ? Tr u s t . H o n e s t y. Respect. Compromise. Quality work. Relationship building. These work, don’t they? What else would you add? Our favorite partnerships: Fred and Ginger. Kermit and Miss Piggy. Skip and Wane (#iykyk). Peanut butter and jelly. Real wood and home improvement projects. Let’s talk about that last one a little more: real wood, and home improvement projects. Or any building project. Wood has been around since the dawn of time and is the literal backbone of America. Wood is part of our daily lives; it’s intrinsic in everything we do. From the most obvious—flooring, accent walls, ceilings, wainscotting—to the lesser-known toothpaste, kitchen utensils, crayons, bagpipes, and many of the tools inside your backyard shed. Wood is the original building material, it’s the greenest building material on the market, and it’s renewable. We would go as far as to say that anything partnered with wood and wood education would be a success.

With a deep, abiding love of real wood at the core, a great partnership we’re proud to be part of is the one between the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (that’s us) and this fine magazine. NELMA and Building Products Digest have been working together to raise awareness of the many ways wood can be used and sold since 2004. NELMA provides the educational tools for retailers to sell more wood, and BPD provides a steady platform for sharing our news. At our cores, we both believe in the heart of the building industry, and we believe in supporting all levels of the supply chain within this great industry. If you’re reading this article, you know the awesomeness BPD brings to the collaboration table. Maybe you’re one of their lucky partners, too. We’d love to share a bit more about what NELMA believes and what we bring to our side of this informational relationship. A belief in choosing local. None of us, and we mean NONE of us, want products we need now to be stuck on a boat

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

off one of our coasts. Nor do we want to contribute to the large carbon footprint created when lumber is shipped across the country. The solution? Choose wood and choose local wood. We’ve come to love the term “geographically relevant.” It means choosing to purchase whatever it is you need in a way that’s local or regional to you. Peaches from Georgia. Lemons from California. Apples from Michigan. Blueberries from Maine. Buying local supports local: the community in which you live directly benefits economically. When there’s less transportation involved to get the wood to you, that means fewer trucks emitting CO2 into the environment just to transport wood from one side of the country (or world?) to another. Plus, when it comes to lumber mills, most of them have reached the point of using every piece of the tree for lumber, fuel, and much more. No shipping containers, trains, long-haul trucks, or boats need to be involved. Wood is environmentally friendly. Dr. Seuss is wrong. And we can prove

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it. Forested land in the U.S. is increasing or maintaining, while the lumber industry remains strong. The reason why: strong replanting programs and well-managed forests. On average, the forest industry in this country plants 2.5 to 3 trees annually for every one harvested. It’s a fact: there are more forests in the U.S. today than there were when Thomas Jefferson penned the Constitution. We will never run out of wood in many lifetimes because wood is the only naturally renewable building material. It’s not a finite material (like the gas and oil used to extrude other materials) and it’s nowhere near close to disappearing. Consumers want real wood. Be sure to take a few minutes and read the accompanying NELMA article in this issue focused on recent consumer research. It would be rare to find a consumer that walked into a house under construction, ran their hand lovingly along a steel beam, and said something like “oooooooh, look at this gorgeous piece of steel!” No, building product love and appreciation and a need to touch the product are reserved almost solely for real wood. And our consumer research proved it. From shiplap (it’s an installation process, not a product), to wood ceilings, to gorgeous wood floors, these all-natural accents are perceived as upgrades and aspirational design elements. The natural beauty of real wood improves any project or home. It’s what consumers want.

Building-Products.com

Our job as a wood association is to make it easier for retailers to give customers what they want. We work hard at this every year and hope we’re delivering. If there’s something you’d like to see from NELMA, a tool you’re missing that will make your day-to-day job easier, let us know by contacting us at info@nelma.org Wood brings the history. New and improved products are good—they represent an industry growing, learning, and moving forward. But no matter what newfangled contraptions come along, everyone—consumers, retailers, builders—still loves wood. And there’s an incredibly good reason why. The chronicled history of eastern white pine in America begins about 400-ish years ago in New England. As you probably read in the March 2021 issue of BPD, historians agree that while tea was the final straw that led our new country into battle against tyranny, eastern white pine was the spark that lit the flame of revolution. When America was being colonized by England and other European countries, the beautiful eastern white pine tree was discovered, loved, and prized for how plentiful and easy to use it was. From homes and businesses to churches and more, eastern white pine literally built America. When the British discovered the wood was perfect for their Royal Navy masts, they marked the tall, straight trees with the King’s Broad Arrow, rendering them out of reach for those

trying to survive in a new country. Add ridiculous taxes on top of this, and everything boiled over and tea went into the harbor. You know the rest of the story. But while eastern white pine first appeared on our radar with the arrival of the Mayflower, it has withstood the test of time both in existing properties throughout New England and in newly built structures across the upper corner of this fine country. The White Pine Monographs from NELMA detail real-life (and a few fictional) projects designed and built with eastern white pine over the last 400 years. These booklets, available on the NELMA website, are an educational and fun way to help sell lumber to your customers. What other products do you know that have a four-century-old story to tell? And history is where NELMA and BPD cross paths yet again. Our deep history in consistently serving our members from New England over to the Great Lakes, and BPD’s history in serving the retail side of the building industry for a century. Congratulations to our friends at Building Products Digest, the bedrock of the building industry—Patrick, David, and their team. It’s our honor to work with you to inform and assist the retail community and do what we can to make their jobs easier. Here’s to another 100 years of service for both of us! *clinks glasses*

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

NELMA Presents Online Retailer Resources (Continued from page 32)

our members’ product a variety of interior and exterior applications. Housed both on the new website and on our YouTube channel (nelmaTV), topics and projects include installing wood wainscotting; building a barrel ceiling; attaching exterior siding, and so much more. You can take a sneak peek at a few house projects we have been part of, as well as see what Magnolia Network TV stars the Maine Cabin Masters have to say about working with eastern white pine (hint: they love it!). Use and refer to these video offerings to educate your team or yourself, or to illustrate an installation technique to one of your customers. Publication Store. Looking for the perfect piece of literature to help sell more wood? Chances are, you will find it here. From product knowledge information on eastern white pine—to include grade-specific photo sheets to help you identify the perfect stick for any project—to an attractive eastern white pine pattern poster that makes choosing the correct pattern a breeze, there is something in the Publication Store for everyone. Interested in a few good case studies? Check out Profiles in Pine, our newest brochure focusing on multiple design challenges and how they were solved with eastern

white pine. Delightful stories, wonderful projects, and inspirational photos: this might be the most gorgeous brochure you’ve ever seen! Let the history buff in you run free with a DVD detailing the Story of Wood in the Northeast. Learn the facts about SPFs stamped lumber (and why it is much preferred to SPF lumber). Our Buyers’ Guide and Membership Directory can connect you with the people who sell the products you need. Be sure to pick up the ever-popular Eastern White Pine Grade Photo Swatch. This tool is a perennial favorite, and we cannot keep it in stock at trade shows. Think of a painter’s swatch book but swap out photographs of lumber grades for paint colors. This is the perfect solution for the customer who wants “knotty, but not too knotty” with their wood. There is even a delightfully scented pine air freshener for your car, or the car of someone you love! No matter your need, if you are a lumber retailer, there’s something under nelma.org’s Retailers tab just for you. Take some time to poke around and check things out; and please reach out to us if there is something you would like to see us add to help you do your job easier! Happy (lumber) selling!

Customers Going Vintage in Home Decor (Continued from page 14)

than both vintage (88,440 pins) and rustic (81,838) themes, which finished in second and third place respectively. Bedroom and Home Office A shabby chic decor takes the lead for bedroom interiors with a total of 119,961 pins. Dress your room in your favorite prints—florals or polka dots—and pile your bed up high with ruffled pillows for a nostalgic touch and extra coziness to boot. 11% behind is the bohemian decor which received 106,793 pins in total. For the home office, an industrial design style is most ontrend, with it being pinned 52,163 times by those that are seeking to spruce up their home workspace by adding a bold touch of wood and metal. Across the 10 rooms analyzed, pins for vintage decor totalled a whopping 876,238, which is almost 40% more than contemporary in second (530,883 pins). The vintage interior managed to remain a firm favorite with the unique charm it adds to homes, while a contemporary design keeps the house sleek and modern which will never go out of style.

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Most popular interior design styles overall on Pinterest Theme

Total pins across all rooms

Vintage

876,238

Contemporary

530,883

Rustic

412,313

Traditional

385,012

Scandinavian

375,020

Coastal

359,365

Bohemian

316,009

Minimalist

300,242

Industrial

290,444

Shabby chic

215,687 Building-Products.com

Time Tested Products • Modern-Day Applications

HANCOCK PINE

One of the many things we love about eastern white pine is the flexibility to compliment and define each unique space. With over 10,000 lineal feet of 1x8 V-Match and 4,000 lineal feet of Nickel Gap Hancock Pine, this beautiful project blends the charm of knotty pine with modern-day applications at this show stopping lakeside retreat.

HancockLumber.com/PineInspiration Matt Duprey | (207) 627-6113 | mduprey@hancocklumber.com • Jack Bowen | (207) 807-1101 | jbowen@hancocklumber.com

NEW Products

Raise the Roof in a Hurry Innovative Roofing Underlayment

Westlake Royal Building Products’ new SwiftGuard synthetic roofing underlayment is easily installed for steel, tile, shingle and shake roofing. Ideal for use in steep slope installations, the underlayment benefits from an innovative nail gasketing technology, which helps ensure roofing systems better withstand the elements in all climates and seasons. It has a high-grip backing and a non-woven thermally-embossed fiber face for increased deck grab and superior walkability. The 10-square (1,000-ft.) rolls weigh just 35.5 lbs. each.

Simpson Strong-Tie’s Quik Stik roof and truss fastening system is designed specifically for use with the Strong-Drive SDWC Truss screw in rafter and truss connections. The installation tool has a 43” reach and can eliminate the need for ladders, heavy pneumatic power nailers, and compressor lines. n STRONGTIE.COM (800) 999-5099

n WESTLAKEROYALROOFING.COM (800) 669-8453

Capped Composite Cladding

James Hardie has introduced its new Hardie Architectural Collection with a brand-new suite of fiber-cement Hardie Architectural Panels in distinctive textures inspired by nature. The panels will be rolled out throughout the year on a region by region basis, in Fine Sand, Fine SandGrooved, Mounded Sand, Sea Grass, and Sculpted Clay textures.

Resembling rich, natural hardwoods without the extra upkeep, MoistureShield Cladding offers a durable, low maintenance finish while adding an elegant aesthetic to any exterior. Featuring the Solid Core manufacturing process, the cladding is protected against moisture absorption, warping, rotting and damage from insects on all four sides. This ensures the resilient, color-enriched composite will withstand the elements, providing a natural aesthetic that doesn’t require staining or painting. It’s the only cladding-approved deck board rated for use in the ground, on the ground, or underwater. The Meridian line’s TruTexture Surface features reduced pattern repetition and a true wood-grain finish in Citadel, Shoreside and Mariner. Vision line colors include Smokey Gray, Spanish Leather, Cold Brew, Mochaccino, Cathedral Stone, and Sandstone.

n JAMESHARDIE.COM (888) 542-7343

n MOISTURESHIELD.COM (866) 729-2378

The Bold and the Beautiful

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Building-Products.com

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

Fascinating Gray Matter

Duradek vinyl decking is now offered in two new colors that meet the latest exterior design trends for gray color palettes in two of Duradek’s most popular patterns. Ultra Mountain Quartz is a warm, contemporary mixture of multi-tonal off-white and carbon grays. Its dual-directional pattern adds depth and style, while its darker background base tones effectively camouflage light dirt and dust. Ultra Legacy Cottonwood is a warm, light gray offering high contrast in the pattern with a light base and warm accents. Its faux wood pattern emulates the look and feel of woodgrains without the installation issues caused by plank lines. n DURADEK.COM (866) 591-5594

Hard-Working Workwear

Milwaukee Tool has enhanced its lineup of workwear with the new Hybrid Work Tee, Workskin Performance Fitted Hat, Workskin Performance Neck Gaiter, and color expansion of the Workskin Lightweight Performance Shirt. Offered with long or short sleeves in sizes small through XXXL, the tee is a comfortable, breathable work shirt that combines jobsite durability with moisture-wicking capabilities and ultraviolet protection. The hat and shirts are designed to mitigate sweat while regulating temperature and repelling odor. Constructed from moisture-wicking fabric with an adjustable rear drawstring, the gaiter dries fast to keep users cool. n MILWAUKEETOOL.COM (800) 729-3878

Luxe Decking

Modern Mill’s new ACRE rice hull composite decking encapsulates the luxe look and feel of real wood without compromising on durability or felling a single tree. It contains no wood or wood fiber; instead, it’s manufactured from upcycled rice hulls, providing warmth, an organic feel underfoot, and natural resistance to water, weather, rot and pests. ACRE reportedly will not rot, crack or splinter, is easy to machine or thermoform, and is ideal for a wide range of exterior applications. Decking is available in 5/4x6 square-edge or grooved boards, embossed or sanded smooth, in 8 to 20 ft. lengths. ACRE also comes as sheets, trim boards, siding and millwork. n MODERN-MILL.COM (601) 869-5050

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Hip Fence Kits

Barrette Outdoor Living’s new kit-based Louvered Privacy Vinyl Fencing is specifically designed for warm-weather markets that are prone to high winds. The fencing features modern, design-forward styling with slanted horizontal boards, angled enough to allow light to filter through while still maintaining complete privacy. It can also produce a stunning shadow effect through the panel’s backside. Other features include SolarGuard, which provides superior fade resistance, and StaySquare, for increased strength to gates. n BARRETTEOUTDOORLIVING.COM (800) 336-2383

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THE POSSIBILITIES KEEP GROWING:

REDWOOD Nature’s majestic pillars. dwood iis so on ne o off tth he s sttrongest a an nd ffa as t e s t g grrowing s so oftwood spe spec cies. It thrives in Re Red some of the most productive timberlands in the world. Redwood is known for its timeless durability without the use of chemicals. Due to its flawless formation, there has never been a Redwood recall. There is a grade of Redwood for every application, every budget, and every customer.

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

Call us at 707.894.4241 Visit us at buyRedwood.com

Miter Saw Collection

Bosch Power Tools has three new ProFactor cordless miter saws, providing users with tool options at varying price points to align their budget needs. At their core are features that increase accuracy, precision and provide a large cut capacity to easily create custom pieces. Biturbo Brushless Technology allows for fast, smooth cutting demonstrating similar power to a corded saw. The saw’s precisely centered sliding bars create a smooth, easy saw sliding motion while in use. All three models come with an 8.0Ah battery kit and limited lifetime warranty. n BOSCHTOOLS.COM (877) 267-2499

Intelligent Outdoor Lighting

Fiberon lighting now features smart technology, with a smart home adapter that provides homeowners with a unique ability to connect their Fiberon outdoor lighting to a smart home device. The new smart home adapter plugs directly into an indoor outlet, and allows homeowners to manage their outdoor lighting using a smartphone, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home device. The new USB outlet integrates seamlessly into Fiberon railing, providing easy access to an outdoor power source. Fiberon lighting features warm-toned LED lights that provide ambience and increase the safety of an outdoor living space by illuminating the deck, railing and stairs. n FIBERONDECKING.COM (800) 573-8841

Algae-Fighting Shingles

GAF has enhanced its popular Timberline HDZ shingles with the addition of proprietary time-release algae-fighting technology to offer even greater protection for the roof. The only time-release product of its kind is now standard on many of the shingles offered in GAF’s residential product line, including ridge cap and visible starter strip shingles. The technology consists of specially-engineered capsules that release copper steadily over time. Capsules are infused with thousands of copper microsites for long-lasting algae-fighting power. The algae resistance is so powerful, GAF offers a 25-year limited warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. n GAF.COM (877) 423-7663

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Smooth Drywall Alternative

Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is designed with a high-strength polymer formulation and engineered to be the perfect alternative to traditional FRP and drywall systems. It provides a smooth finish that is easy to clean, low maintenance, and abuse-resistant. The tongue-and-groove interlocking system makes installation quick and easy, and the 1/2”-thick PVC panels’ unique truss design provides industry-leading strength and durability. The boards feature a pre-punched flange and hidden fasteners to provide a smooth, beautiful surface. n TRUSSCORE.COM (888) 418-4679 Building-Products.com

Compact Stud & Joist Drill

DeWalt continues to expand innovative Flexvolt Advantage line with its new 20V MAX Brushless Compact Stud and Joist Drill that delivers up to 83% more power when using a DCB609 battery pack. Drilling up to 495 7/8” holes per charge, the tool outputs more power and more holes per charge, optimizing users’ workflow. It has a 7/16” or 1/2” Hex Quick-Change Chuck for fast, easy bit changes. The drill features the E-Clutch System to shut down the tool in a bind-up situation, a brushless motor that produces up to 1,800 UWO, an LED light that provides illumination in dark or confined spaces, and is Tool Connect Chip Ready, allowing for location monitoring on the jobsite. n DEWALT.COM (800) 433-9258

Fence Planner Software

Simpson Strong-Tie has launched Fence Planner Software—a robust, easy-to-use solution for simplifying and streamlining the fence planning process to create customized designs, compile a complete materials list, and build a strong, safe fence. Like Simpson Strong-Tie’s Deck Planner Software and Pergola Planner Software, the app is free and easy to use for homeowners. It also benefits dealers, who can participate in a licensing program offering three tiers of co-branded or fully branded visibility within each app, increasing their own brand awareness and driving product sales. An in-app tutorial helps select fencing styles, materials, colors and connector hardware. Users can add 3D structures, landscaping and hardscape to their designs to view the entire yard in a realistic 2D or 3D environment. Once the design is complete, it provides a complete project guide with materials list. n GO.STRONGTIE.COM/OUTDOORLIVING (800) 999-5099

Deck in a Sec

DIY-friendly InstaDeck Outdoor Flooring System from Barrette Outdoor Living is a snap-together tile system made from durable plastic that creates a foundation for a freestanding, ground-level deck. Tiles can be assembled using minimal tools on any flat surface, including grass, concrete, pavers or gravel. InstaDeck utilizes an integrated, patented Step-Clip fastening system that enables Barrette’s compatible composite deck boards to be secured into place without the use of screws. Once the tiles are configured and the decking is cut to fit, homeowners step on the deck boards, clipping them securely into place on the tiles.

2-in1 Socket Set

n BARRETTEOUTDOORLIVING.COM (800) 336-2383

n KLEINTOOLS.COM (800) 553-4676

Building-Products.com

A new six-piece, two-in-one Impact Socket Set from Klein Tools reportedly supplies the most common impact socket sizes in one convenient case. Sockets are color coded to quickly identify sizes. Their six-point design is easier to position and work with square fasteners.

March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

IBS flourishes despite challenges Despite a flurry of last-minute trip cancellations by attendees and exhibitors alike, the International Builders Show still drew an estimated 70,000 industry professionals to Orlando, who on the whole enjoyed strong business. Attendance, though down from pre-COVID years, exceeded most everyone’s expectations. “Morale at the show seemed strong and enthusiastic throughout the three days,” remarked one attendee. One development that could have

been catastrophic actually benefited the exhibitors. In the weeks leading up to the event, a number of exhibitors pulled out, concerned either about COVID or that a smaller show would not justify making the trip. As a result, the floor was littered with vacant spaces. The silver lining: more time for exhibitors who were present to meet with customers and prospects. As well, the vacancies on the exhibit floor were converted into rest areas. For once, weary attendees had a place to sit

and conduct business or rest. Winners of show awards included Evolve Stone (Best in Show and Most Innovative Building Material), Barrette Outdoor Living’s Outdoor Screen Panels (Best Outdoor Product), Endura’s Panolock Multi-Point Lock (Best Window/Door Product) and GAF’s Energy Timberline Solar Energy Shingles (Most Innovative Construction Tool). Next year, IBS and KBIS will be joined in Las Vegas by the National Hardware Show (see story below).

NHS Joining IBS in 2023

Next year, the National Hardware Show will be held in concert with the International Builders’ Show and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2. “We are absolutely thrilled that the National Hardware Show (NHS) will be in Las Vegas during the same time that Design & Construction Week takes place,” said Jerry Howard, CEO of IBS organizer National Association of Home Builders. “Co-locating NHS with IBS and KBIS will allow attendees to explore additional products and opportunities to grow their businesses and maintain a competitive edge in the market.” “NHS, IBS and KBIS events have complementary product offerings that will broaden buying and selling opportunities,” said NHS event VP Beth Casson.

9 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW exhibitors were elated to see the show return to an in-person format. [1] Matthew Bruce, Allyson Ludewig, Molly Werner, Chris Jones. [2] Matt Sherstad, Matt Johnson, Kyle Redman. [3] Len Moscowitz, Peter Krihak, Tim Faust. [4] Levi Abbott, Bill

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Hendricks. [5] Greg Bates, Craig Doehner. [6] Dave Farley, Mike Pidliesecky. [7] Scott Taylor, Paul Short. [8] Gwladys Petit, Brett Kelly. [9] Taron Young, Steve Lonsway, Mary Gearhart, Chris Boyts, Gary Kauffman, Larry Boyts, Pat Gallagher. (More photos on next page) Building-Products.com

IBS

IBS (continued from previous page): [10] Patrick Hanulak, Casey Zigray. [11] Guy Campbell, Wil Campbell. [12] Marty Keane, Andrea Handy. [13] Amy Yackel, Jim Miller. [14] Michael Smith, Reuben Borg. [15] Rene Ramirez, Xavier Vallarreal, Chris Clayton, Jains Lopez. [16] James Townley, Sam Bridge. [17] Brandon Beard, Brian Betz, Anne & Brent Gwatney. [18] Sara Anderson, Adam Chavez, Jeff Brinkhaus, Kassy Stout. Building-Products.com

Photos by BPD

27 [19] Jerry Eidson, Craig Crafton. [20] Stan Weiland, Aksashi Khan, Chuck Zhou, Mike Kunard, Terry Fangrad. [21] Jeff Easterling, Butch Bernardt. [22] Mark Brown, Jay Penney, Jim Poulin, David Ross, Zack Clark, Roger Greenhagel. [23] Matt Sondegroth, Bill English, Emmet Mielbrecht. [24] Curtis Haugen, Derek Hall. [25] JP Perez, Lisa Martin. [26] Tony McKlem, Steward McKlem. [27] Tom Jaskiewicz, Scott Baker, Dan Kennard. March 2022 n Building Products Digest n

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. Deadline: 10th of previous month. Questions? Call (714) 486-2735.

WANTED TO BUY

PRODUCTS FOR SALE NORTH CAROLINA RELOAD

Shaver Reload, Statesville, NC

• Norfolk Southern Mainline Served • Easy Access to I-85, I-77 & I-40 • Company Owned Truck Fleet • Outdoor and Indoor Storage • 12 Acres Fenced with Security Lighting • 25+ years Reload Experience (704) 872-3148 • Fax (704) 872-3146 Email Tom Lakeman shavers.reload@gmail.com

IN Memoriam Marvin Paul Curtis, 85, co-founder and former president of Britton Lumber & Supply, Oklahoma City, Ok., passed away Jan. 1. Marvin spent his career in the wholesale lumber industry, and in 1991 he and wife Chris their own yard. Paul Morsches Jr., 93, chairman of the board of five-unit Morsches Builders Mart, Columbia City, In., passed away Feb. 12 in Columbia City. He served as president of Morsches Builders Mart from 1954 to 1994, then became chairman in 1994 upon retirement and passing the presidency on to his son Franz. Lyman Charles Shipley, 87, retired longtime executive with Coastal Lumber Co., Weldon, N.C., passed away Jan. 17. Lyman enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952, serving in Korea and earning the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service Medal, two overseas bars, and Good Conduct Medal. After the service, he began his career with Coastal, remaining until retirement. Richard Kahn, 60, former sales manager for Feldman Wood Products, Garden City Park, N.Y., died Jan. 31. Upon graduating from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1983, he joined the sales team at WoodPly Lumber, Freeport, N.Y. He left in 1999 to open The Hardwood Ware-

house, Seaford, N.Y., but after about seven months sold the business to his partner. Richard then moved to Feldman before becoming president and general manager of Deckstore of South Carolina, Simpsonville, S.C., in 2014. Two years later, he decided to open his own restaurant in Mauldin, S.C., which he operated until it closed due to COVID. Peter H. Kuntz, longtime executive with PK Lumber Co., Dayton, Oh., died Jan. 18. He was 93. After graduating from the University of Dayton in 1950, he joined Clark County Lumber Co., Springfield, Oh. In 1953 he returned to Dayton as assistant manager of Peter Kuntz Lumber, which had been founded by his grandfather and grown to 65 locations. He was named a PK director and manager of its Ply Fab subsidiary in 1963, before becoming manager of the Dayton lumberyard. Peter moved to the corporate office in 1970. He was promoted to vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary in 1975. When Erb Lumber acquired its assets in 1986, Kuntz stayed on to help run the PK division. Michael Alexander Frugé, 71, owner of New World Forest Products, Crowley, La., died Jan. 25. He attended Tulane University and later graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He worked first for his father’s Acadia Lumber Yard, Crowley, then H.B. Thomas Lumber Sales, Crowley, before finally launching his own business, New World Forest Products, in 2000.

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

Dan Lawrence Hill, 71, former president and owner of Still Lumber Co., passed away Jan. 26, 2022. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, he ran the family business until retiring in 2016. David VanLandingham, 78, former head of VanLandingham Lumber Co., Starkville, Ms., died Feb. 2. After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1966, he served as a U.S. Air Force navigator in Vietnam. He then joined the family lumberyard in 1973, taking over operations in 1996 before retiring in 2007. Richard L. Buck, 76, longtime co-owner of Buck Lumber Co., Hughesville, Pa., passed away on Jan. 29. Willie Richard “Dick” Gilman Jr., 62, president of Hanover Forest Products, Richmond, Va., died Jan. 31. Dick graduated from Virginia Tech and spent his career trading lumber. Manfred G. “Pete” Dean Sr., 85, formerly with Dean Lumber, Elkton, Va., died Feb. 15. David M. Peschel, 73, co-owner of Hardwood Lumber Co., Franklin Township, N.J., died Dec. 27. David was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as a U.S. Army airborne ranger during the Vietnam War. Homer D. Barnes, 62, retired lumber inspector, primarily with his father’s Barnes Lumber Co., Clinton, La., died Feb. 10 in Liberty, Ms. Building-Products.com

ADVERTISERS Index Page

Cover III

Biewer Lumber www.biewerlumber.com

TIVA Building Products www.tivabp.com

Crumpler Plastic Pipe www.cpp-pipe.com

West Fraser www.westfraser.com/osb

Culpeper Wood Preservers www.culpeperwood.com

Western Lumber Sales Ltd. www.westernforest.com

DMSi www.dmsi.com

Durgin & Crowell www.durginandcrowell.com

Everwood Treatment Co. www.everwoodtreatment.com

North American Wholesale Lumber Association – March 5-8, Leadership Summit, Fort Lauderdale, Fl.; www.nawla.org.

526 Events www.526.events

Northwestern Lumber Association – March 7-8, Expo North, River’s Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud, Mn.; www.nlassn.org.

Fortress Wood Products www.fortresswood.com

28-29

Great Southern Wood Preserving www.yellawood.com

Hancock Lumber www.hancocklumber.com

Humboldt Sawmill www.mendoco.com

Manufacturers Reserve Supply www.mrslumber.com

Maze Nails www.mazenails.com

North American Wholesale Lumber Assn. www.nawla.org

Cover I, 37

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. www.nelma.org

Palram Americas www.palram.com

45, Cover IV

Redwood Empire www.buyredwood.com

Robbins Lumber www.rlco.com

RoyOMartin www.royomartin.com

Cover II

Sakrete www.sakrete.com

Sandy Neck Traders www.sntraders.com

Seaboard International Forest Products www.sifp.com

Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com

Swanson Group Sales Co. www.swansongroup.biz

n Building Products Digest n March 2022

DATE Book Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend.

Ace Hardware Corp. – March 8-11, spring convention, Las Vegas, Nv.; www.acehardware.com. Forest Economic Advisors – March 10, virtual 12th annual Global Softwood Log & Lumber Conference; www.getfea.com. Emery Jensen – March 11-12, Edge spring show, Las Vegas Convention Center, Law Vegas, Nv.; emeryjensendistribution.com. Southern Forest Products Association/Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association – March 16-18, joint spring meeting, Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, La.; www.slma.org. Blish-Mize – March 17-19, spring market, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Ks.; www.blishmize.com. Peak Auctioneering – March 19, LBM Auction, Kane County Fairgrounds, Chicago, Il.; www.peakauction.com. University of Innovative Distribution – March 21-24, Indianapolis, In.; www.univid.org. Mid-America Lumbermens Assn. – March 22, contractor sales classes, Branson, Mo.; March 24, St. Louis, Mo.; www.themla.com. Northwestern Lumber Association – March 22-23, Estimating 2 & 3, Cedar Rapids, Ia.; www.nlassn.org. Southern Cypress Manufacturers Assn. – March 22-23, annual meeting, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Fl.; www.cypressinfo.org. Wallace Hardware – March 22-24, spring dealer market, LeConte Center, Pigeon Forge, Tn.; www.wallacehardware.com. Building Material Suppliers Assn. – March 23-24, margin mastery & special order opportunity, Columbus, Oh.; www.mybmsa.org. Hardwood Manufacturers Assn. – March 23-25, national conference & expo, Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Fl.; www.hmamembers.org. LMC – March 23-25, annual meeting, Tampa, Fl.; www.lmc.net. Northwestern Lumber Association – March 24, OSCA Bootcamp, Brooklyn Park, Mn.; www.nlassn.org. JLC Live Show – March 24-26, Providence, R.I.; www.jlclive.com. Peak Auctioneering – March 26, LBM Auction, Orange County Fairgrounds, Middletown, N.Y.; www.peakauction.com. Kentucky Forest Industries Association – March 29-31, annual meeting, Embassy Suites, Lexington, Ky.; www.kfia.org. National Lumber & Building Materials Dealers Assn. – March 29-April 2, Industry Summit, Washington, D.C.; prodealer.com. Building Material Suppliers Association – March 30-April 1, roundtable, New Bern, N.C.; www.mybmsa.org. Peak Auctioneering – March 31-April 2, online auction, Kansas City, Mo.; www.peakauction.com. Building-Products.com

BPD March 2022

Articles inside

Show recaP

new ProductS

induStry trendS

tranSForming teamS

Product SPotlight

Feature Story

lumBer 411

acroSS the Board

eaStern white Pine

olSen on SaleS