BPD July 2013

BPD

ENGINEERED WOOD UPDATE  TREATED GLULAMS  POWER TOOL TRENDS JULY 2013

Building Products Digest

INDUSTRY NEWS & MONEY-MAKING STRATEGIES FOR LUMBER & BUILDING MATERIAL DEALERS & DISTRIBUTORS

MicroPro Brand Pressure Treated Wood Products ®

with Micronized Copper Preservative Technology

Available for Above Ground & Ground Contact Applications.*

ȀĀ End uses include interior and exterior Above Ground, Ground Contact, and Fresh Water immersion. ȀĀ Lighter “Natural” color. ȀĀ Better corrosion protection for exterior code-approved fasteners and hardware. ȀĀ Approved for aluminum contact.** ȀĀ Building code compliant. ESR-2240 and ESR-1980. ȀĀ Treated wood warranty programs.†

*Check the treated lumber end tag for End Use Information. *See MicroPro Fastener and Hardware Information Sheet for details. † See MicroPro Warranty for details.

MicroPro pressure treated wood products are treated with Micronized Copper Azole or Micronized Copper Quaternary Compounds. MicroPro treated wood products re produced by independently owned and operated wood treating facilities. MicroPro® and Osmose® are registered trademarks of Osmose, Inc. © 6/2013 isit www.GreenApprovedProducts.com for details on NAHB Green Approved Products.

www.osmosewood.com

BPD Special Features BUILD LOYALTY INTO SAFETY PROGRAMS

10 FEATURE STORY

PRESSURE TREATING GLULAMS

12 MARGIN BUILDERS

THE LATEST IN CORDLESS TOOLS

28 SPECIAL SECTION: APA ON EWP

UPDATE ON ENGINEERED WOOD, PANELS

43 PHOTO RECAP: SFPA ANNUAL MEET

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 Volume 32  Number 5

Building Products Digest

In Every Issue

9 MANAGEMENT TIPS

July 2013

6 TOTALLY RANDOM 14 OLSEN ON SALES 16 COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE 22 MOVERS & SHAKERS 23 APP WATCH 27 IN MEMORIAM 39 NEW PRODUCTS

42 ASSOCIATION UPDATE 44 CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE 45 DATE BOOK 46 IDEA FILE 46 ADVERTISERS INDEX

Online BPD DIGITAL VERSION, BREAKING INDUSTRY NEWS & PHOTOS BUILDING-PRODUCTS.COM

Building-Products.com

Sales Manager Francis Powell • Asst. Sales Manager Charlie Doby

334-636-4424 • 800-936-4424 • www.scotchplywood.com

Fulton, Alabama

Since 1965

With Direct Service to the NS, CSXT & BNSF

Continuing Nearly 50 Years of Independently Serving the Forest Products Industry

SCOTCH PLYWOOD

3 Quality 3 Dependability 3 On Time Deliveries

TOTALLY Random

By Alan Oakes

BPD

Building Products Digest

How is your brand perceived?

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USINESS CAN EASILY be seen as just about numbers. In itself, it is soulless. It is about hitting financial goals to make a profit in line with projections.

What that statement does not say is that reaching those goal posts takes far more than just achieving a set of numbers. It is about creating core values that not only you recognize in your company, but that your employees, vendors, customers and prospects notice, as well. It has always been interesting over my career to see how my vision of who we thought we were aligned with those outside the company—among both customers and vendors. From time to time, I have been mightily shocked to find out that perceptions were not quite the same.

Many of us buy the same brands over and over again, whether it’s a Pepsi cola, Starbucks coffee, Colgate toothpaste, or Apple iPhone. Why? Because we trust the brand. We might think that branding is only for big multinationals in consumer goods, but I would argue that every company needs a brand image. And most of us may have no clue what our brand stands for!

Many companies survive by just being there, but few can become industry leaders if they have not created an aura around them that inspires others to do business with them over and over again. They have not created value and they have not created “brand identity.” Making exceptional profits can easily be done in the short term, but sustaining exceptional profits year in and year out requires much more.

Leader companies have learned it’s more than just building sales; it’s about building long and lasting relationships. The good companies build a culture that will last far longer than the products they make. And what often stands out more than anything is the employee culture that just oozes from them in all that they do. Look at the reps who call on your business. Have you ever thought about the ones who just seem to call for a lunch or coffee and how they differ from those who seem to want to make your business better? Leader companies create real partnerships. They are constantly on the lookout for ways to make customers better at their businesses and to build trust.

Core values of an organization have to be lived and breathed every day by everyone in the organization. See the customer as a true partner, not the enemy (and, yes, I have seen this in a number of organizations). “Do what is right” should be the overriding decision-maker in every organization.

In past columns I have suggested ridding yourself of unprofitable customers. But it is equally true that with the right set of values, companies will want to do business with you if you set yourself as the brand to trust and the one to do business with. You will find customers who are avidly loyal and who will spread the word to others, especially in a close-knit community like ours. It should be far more about a relationship than a financial transaction and the best price. A recent Harvard Business Review study of more than 7,000 consumers showed that 64% cited shared values as the reason for their brand loyalty. Not price!

So the questions to ask: What are the values of your company? Is there a core set of values guiding how you do business, running from the bottom to the top of your organization? Does the company truly identify with employees, vendors and customers?

It is hard to change ingrained culture, for sure. I have tried it on several occasions when I was brought in to do turnarounds. I have both succeeded and failed miserably. Change does not happen instantly, like turning on and off a light switch. It is not a dash, but rather a marathon—walking first, then jogging and perhaps sprinting at the end.

Certainly, for it to be a meaningful long term change, it takes enormous commitment and time and especially patience. Many companies, as they hustle to hit next month’s sales goal, feel they lack the time to switch from a transactional model to a relationship model. But when done right and it becomes the normal, everyday way of doing business, the change can ensure your brand becomes etched into hearts, minds and as the first call in the customer’s address book or Rolodex (yes, showing my age).

Alan Oakes, Publisher ajoakes@aol.com

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www.building-products.com

A publication of Cutler Publishing

4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Publisher Alan Oakes ajoakes@aol.com Publisher Emeritus David Cutler Director of Editorial & Production David Koenig dkoenig@building-products.com Editor Karen Debats kdebats@building-products.com Contributing Editors Carla Waldemar, James Olsen Advertising Sales Manager Chuck Casey ccasey@building-products.com Administration Director/Secretary Marie Oakes mfpoakes@aol.com Circulation Manager Heather Kelly hkelly@building-products.com

How to Advertise

Chuck Casey Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 ccasey@building-products.com Alan Oakes www.building-products.com Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 ajoakes@aol.com.

CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE David Koenig Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 dkoenig@building-products.com

How to Subscribe

SUBSCRIPTIONS Heather Kelly Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 hkelly@building-products.com or send a check to 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, CA 92660 U.S.A.: One year (12 issues), $24 Two years, $39 Three years, $54 FOREIGN (Per year, paid in advance in US funds): Surface-Canada or Mexico, $49 Other countries, $65 Air rates also available.

SINGLE COPIES $4 + shipping BACK ISSUES $5 + shipping BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is published monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660-1872, (949) 852-1990, Fax 949-852-0231, www.buildingproducts.com, by Cutler Publishing, 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®2013 by Cutler Publishing, 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.

Building-Products.com

DIXIEPLY & JAMES HARDIE ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP IN THE LONE STAR STATE

Dallas Houston San Antonio

Denotes Stocking Hardie Locations

www.jameshardie.com

www.dixieply.com

Dallas ~ 800.950.8025 Houston ~ 800.950.8023 San Antonio ~ 800.284.0089

MANAGEMENT Tips

By Stephen Race & Jeff Swan, TalentClick

Build loyalty into your safety program

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HEN YOU THINK about loyalty, an image of frequent flyer miles or Starbucks Rewards likely comes to mind. The reason why is that these companies have built significant following for their brands by consistently delivering on their promises, and doing a great job of letting people know about their rewards.

As an employer, building loyalty in your safety program can be a real challenge. Here are five key initiatives you can take to gain significant buy-in for your programs:

Provide Clear Direction

Even the most intuitive employee can find new safety programs difficult to understand, let alone follow. By clearly outlining the details of your safety program, you will give workers a benchmark on which to base their actions, thereby making it significantly easy to follow.

Your program outline should include: • Long-term & short-term goals • Rules & procedures • Rewards & reprimands • Key contact for the program

Reward Safe Actions

A successful safety program will include some level of rewards for compliance. Even something as simple as public recognition of a worker’s efforts in the company newsletter is enough to motivate them to care about the program. Of course, the more significant the rewards offered, the more effective the program might be.

However, you should be cautious of making the rewards too big or they’ll eclipse the long-term safety improvement objectives your company is trying to achieve.

Show Your Commitment

A short-term program does nothing to change the attitudes and behaviors of your staff. Show that your company is in it for the long haul by making long-term objectives and a holistic game plan that transcends the calendar. The program itself should exist year over year, with procedures in place to make continuous and regular improvements. A great way to show your commitment is to have an effective communication program.

Spread the Word

Speaking of communication, this is extremely important to a successful safety program. Not to be confused with “provide clear direction,” spreading the word about your Building-Products.com

SHARP AWARD from Maine’s Department of Labor and OSHA was presented to Deering Lumber, Kennebunk, Me.

safety program should involve sharing the results gained from companywide buy-in. The more workers see the benefit of their actions the more they will want to contribute.

Easy ways to communicate are company newsletters, personal emails, announcements at team meetings, and even something as simple as word of mouth among the workforce.

Be Safe

It’s not enough to pay lip service to safety. If your company is not making improvements even though you’re taking part in all of the above, you may need to rethink your strategy. Otherwise, workers will catch on and will no longer find value in the program in any way. To really build loyalty from your staff, workers need to genuinely feel that your workplace is a safe place to work. Take every step you can to ensure that your company has the tools, equipment, and procedures it needs to be a safer company and worker loyalty will build.

Typically, companies that experience measurable returns on their safety records commit completely to making improvements from the head office all the way to the front lines. Employees must be fully informed and empowered to make decisions to improve the level of safety in the organization in order for their programs to succeed.

– Stephen Race is chief product officer and co-founder of TalentClick, Vancouver, B.C., which provides employee and workplace assessments. Jeff Swan is marketing manager.

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FEATURE Story Treated Glulams

POWER PRESERVED beams and columns from Anthony Forest Products, El Dorado, Ar., are protected with copper naphthenate.

Treating strengthens exterior glulams

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LUED LAMINATED timber has been on the job for more than a hundred years. Whatever the need—from long clear spans to soaring arches—glulams perform with strength and beauty.

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But there’s more to this engineered wood product than what meets the eye. For exterior applications involving ground contact and exposure to water or dampness, glulams can be pressure treated, which also provides protection against wood-destroying insects and fungi.

“On the residential side of the market, treated glulams have been growing marketshare when traditional treated southern pine lumber and beams do not make the span,” says Kerlin Drake, vice president of marketing at Anthony Forest Products, El Dorado, Ar. “They have been a mainstay in the non-residential market for bridges, park shelters, and in exterior environments where treated structural members are required.”

Glulams are also environmentally friendly. Not only are they manufactured from a renewable resource—smalldiameter trees—but they also has lower embodied energy than reinforced concrete and steel.

Anthony treats its Power Preserved glulams and columns with copper naphthenate, carried by mineral spirits. Drake says that the advantages of oil-based treatments is that “there is no swelling of the wood fiber, less checking, cupping and twisting, and there are no strength reducBuilding-Products.com

tions for the beams, unlike lumber and beams treated with water-borne preservatives.”

When glulams are used in visible, interior applications—exposed beams, trusses, and arches—premium grades are specified, to highlight the beauty of real wood. However, using these same beams outside, especially in applications that require water and insect resistance, can be a problem because pressure treatment imparts a green color.

As a solution, Rosboro now offers a treated version of its X-Beam glulam. Constructed of coastal Douglas fir, the treated version is protected

TREATED X-BEAM produced by Rosboro, Rosboro, Or., is protected with a clear industrial wood preservative that protects against moisture and insects, without changing the color of the wood.

with Hi-Clear II, a clear industrial wood preservative that leaves the wood an attractive honey-color, but protects against decay, mold, bacteria, and insects—including the Formosan termite.

“The industry has been waiting a long time for a product like Treated X-Beam,” says David Smith, sales manager at the Rosboro, Or., company. “It not only offers a pleasing aesthetic for highly visible applications like decks, porches and balconies, but also nicely consolidates our product lines for easier specifying.”

Building-Products.com

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MARGIN Builders

By Warren Corrado, Paslode

Lock on to the latest in cordless nailers

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of any job depends on the management of time, labor and materials. Helping to arm your customers with the right tools to avoid costly delays puts them on the path to a successful season.

Since the products you’re carrying this year are more advanced and diversified than last year’s offering, it’s an ideal time to educate customers on what’s new and what these introductions can mean to their productivity on the jobsite.

For example, recent advancements in cordless nailing systems allow remodeling and construction professionals to drive powerful results with portable freedom. By informing your customers about the latest cordless offerings and innovations, you can help give them an edge up on the competition.

HE EFFICIENCY

When Should Customers Use Cordless?

While pneumatic nailers are still a popular choice for large jobs and new construction work, cordless nailing systems are a sound alternative for most projects. From framing jobs to roof repairs to finish work, today’s convenient

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cordless systems are designed to provide the perfect balance of tool, fuel and nails, as well as freedom from hoses, clutter and noise on the jobsite.

To help your customers determine which tools are the right fit for their upcoming jobs, the following are a few examples of when cordless systems make the most sense for your clientele: For customers tackling repair jobs with a budget that only allows for one person, a cordless tool is a good choice. Having one hand free to carry materials and perform precision work increases productivity, allowing them to complete the job quickly and profitably.

Although the remodeler or contractor you’re talking to may already have pneumatic tools in their truck, adding a cordless tool gives them added flexibility and versatility to tackle jobs quickly. Just take the tool out of the case, load the fuel, and start working.

If a remodeler’s work has them in a finished space, cordless tools eliminate the clutter and damage caused by dragging a compressor and hoses around.

When the customer is working on a job while the homeBuilding-Products.com

owner is around, cordless tools are quieter than the constant thrumming of air compressors. Plus, there is no set-up and tear down, so they can get in, out and on to the next job.

Common Misperceptions about Cordless

Throughout the years, you’ve probably encountered many misperceptions about cordless nailers. In light of recent innovations and advancements, you now have the opportunity to share some “myth busters” with your customers.

For example, when working with customers who think cordless systems don’t have the power of pneumatic nailers, you have the opportunity to educate them on the highperformance options on the market today. Using a leading manufacturer’s cordless nailing systems (with their patented nail-tip coatings) will give comparable drive performance to a pneumatic tool with all the major nail sizes and wood substrates.

Another misconception is that cordless systems don’t have the speed to keep up with pneumatic tools. Unless you’re doing production roofing, sheathing, or running commercial lengths of baseboard, cordless roofing, framing, and trim nailing systems will keep pace with pneumatics. In fact, many cordless users find they save time with cordless, as they don’t have to spend 15 to 20 minutes at the beginning and end of each job dealing with compressor and hose set-up and tear-down.

A common belief is that cordless nailers are only as good as their batteries. However, the batteries used in cordless systems have come a long way in the last few years.

When working with a customer who is concerned about battery life and charging times, point them in the direction of a nailer with a lithium-ion battery. “Li-ion” cordless nailing systems on the market drive up to 6,000 nails per charge, can reach 80% charge in just 30 minutes, or give you enough power in two minutes to drive 200 nails.

Some customers may think that one cordless system fits all jobs. While a single cordless nailer can come in handy for an array of different projects, remodeling and building professionals should take advantage of systems that are customized for each unique application. For example, cordless finish nailer systems are designed to handle all types of trim projects, from crown molding to cabinet installation to baseboards and chair rails. These tools can also handle moving walls, framing room additions, base-

Cordless Powers Growth in Tools

Among power tools, demand for cordless electric tools will experience the most robust growth, growing 8.3% through 2016, according to a recent Freedonia Group forecast.

Due to their inherent convenience and mobility, cordless tools will continue to replace plug-in models.

Technological improvements in the battery industry have increased the power and running time of cordless equipment, allowing these products to overcome historical price and performance disadvantages. Due to their lower weight and smaller size, lithium-ion batteries are rapidly displacing nickel-cadmium models.

Global power tool demand is predicted to increase 4.5% annually through 2016 to $28.1 billion, sparked by a recovery in the U.S. construction market.

Building-Products.com

HELP PROS increase productivity with the newest cordless systems.

Photos by Paslode

ments, and kitchen and bath remodels.

Since fuel cells need to be replenished, some contractors may question if a cordless tool would create additional trips back to you, their supplier. However, many current cordless users report that their initial investment in a cordless system pays off in labor and time saved on the job. If they use convenient combo packs with enough fuel to drive all the nails in the pack, they can eliminate those mid-day trips for more fuel.

The Strength Is in the System

When it comes to providing customers with the right amount of fuel and nails for their project, this is where you can really showcase how cordless nailers maximize efficiency on the jobsite. Top manufacturers offer convenient combo packs with enough fuel to drive all the nails in the pack.

This balanced approach keeps projects on time and within budget. The customer’s crew isn’t leaving the jobsite and running to you for additional supplies since you already provided exactly what was needed. It’s easy to see that this system approach takes productivity to a whole new level, giving your customers an edge up on the competition.

By seizing the opportunity to inform your customers about what today’s cordless nailer systems can offer, you can increase your revenue while improving their productivity and profitability.

– Warren Corrado is marketing manager for Paslode, a division of Illinois Tools Works Inc., Vernon Hills, Il. Reach him at warren.corrado@paslode.com.

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OLSEN On Sales

By James Olsen

180 seconds “A

until we engage the enemy” and “All battles are won and lost before they are fought” are attributed to Sun Tzu (410-780 BC), general and author of The Art of War. Translation: prepare and be flexible. Winging it is not being flexible. Deviation from a plan that works most of the time is.

Comedians work on three minutes for years. Like us, a comedian’s first seconds are crucial to success. Every pause, every word (periwinkle is funnier than blue!) is planned, practiced and polished.

We must be as committed as the general and the comedian. We must plan exactly how we want our calls to go.

LL PLANS WORK

Greetings and Gatekeepers

Our first call has more to do with how quickly and how much business we will do with our customers than any other call. One of many differences between the master seller and journeyman is the ability to bring in new customers and make them profitable faster.

We identify ourselves, the name of our company, and where we are calling from. “Good morning, this is Pete Grandvents with Great Lumber out of Grand Rapids.”

We speak more slowly and distinctly when calling a new account. Our voice is new. Speaking slowly also projects confidence. If we do not identify who we are and the name of our company, a good receptionist will ask us anyway.

“How are you this morning?” If we slow this portion of the call down, just a tad, and ask the receptionist how they are doing, with sincerity, it will pay short- and long-term dividends. (Don’t flirt or blather, just “How are you?”)

“Could you please tell me who buys your lumber?” We don’t ask them to put us through to the buyer. Ask for the buyer’s name. We get the spelling of the buyer’s first and last name, if need be, from the receptionist. Our time with the buyer is limited. We don’t want to waste it spelling their name—and neither do they.

Another common mistake with gatekeepers is to overexplain who we are and why we are calling. A receptionist is not a buyer. Be respectful and charming, but to the point.

Qualifying the Customer

“Good afternoon, John. My name is Pete Grandvents, with Great Lumber out of Grand Rapids. We sell lumber in your area. They tell me you are the lumber buyer. Is that

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correct?”

We are brief in our introduction and ask a question. Often customers will ask questions. Who are you?

What do you sell? We are prepared with clear, brief answers and turnaround questions.

We are calling the customer to qualify them. If they meet our qualifications, we know we can help them (because we are already helping other qualified customers.)

Whether the customer is receptive or not, most will give us 180 to 300 seconds maximum on an introductory call. If the call goes longer, great, but let’s plan for how calls usually go.

“Yes, I buy the lumber.”

“What are your main three items?” Many salespeople get bogged down beating around the bush about the purpose of the call. We are courteous, calm and direct.

The biggest mistake made by sellers is the failure to qualify the customer on volume used. We have a list of our questions, in order, and ask them.

Ending & Connecting the Call

Many sellers drag calls on, waiting for the customer to kick them off the phone or out of their office. That’s what happens. And that’s the lasting memory of the call.

We need to be calm, in charge, and efficient. When we are finished, we thank our customer for their time, set an appointment for the next call, and make a strong and graceful exit. It is the crescendo of our first impression.

“John, I appreciate your time today. I will follow up with you next Monday at 9 a.m. with numbers that will work. I look forward to doing business with you.”

“Pete. Thanks for the information. I will work up a program that will work for you and call you Monday at 3:00. Thanks— and go Sox.” We work in a 180-second window. Every second is crucial. Planning works—in war, comedy and sales.

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

COMPETITIVE Intelligence

By Carla Waldemar

Anniversary special

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how to celebrate a 50th anniversary? Cake?

Champagne? How about a new yard?

Brent Weaver, third-generation owner of Weaver Lumber in Redding, Ca., hadn’t planned it that way, but the chance was too good to pass up.

For years, he, and his father, and grandfather before him, who launched the business 50 years ago, had been friendly competitors of Moss Lumber & Hardware, located (just to ensure the rivalry was crystal-clear) right across the street.

When the 65-year-old institution decided to fold it in last year, Brent was called on to help liquidate inventory for the company that bought Moss’s assets from the bank.

OUGH TO FIGURE OUT

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“One thing led to another,” is how he explains his impulse purchase, “so I bought it. It wasn’t planned, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

It was sad to see another familyowned yard go out of business. Our grandfathers and fathers had actually been good friends. Plus, they carried items we didn’t: siding, glass, hardware, doors. Theirs was a welldefined yard, on a prime 12-acre site, while we operated two yards, one of 2-1/2 acres and the other, 3-1/2 acres.

Once I bought it, I moved over, consolidating everything under one roof.”

Sealing the deal he couldn’t refuse was Moss’ truss plant, a function Brent considered worth the price of admission. He viewed the asset as a smart way to grow business. “Having one (truss plant) gets you into the game a little bit sooner. By selling trusses, we can go after the architect level and also reach out to the larger contractors.”

Why stop there? Under his expansive vision, he then decided to rehab a 10,000-sq. ft. storage shed on the property for a September opening as a True Value hardware site, “taking our boutique hardware to the next level.”

Both yards had served virtually the same customer base—“being across the street from each other led to a lot of overlap. But now,” says Brent, “we’re seeing new faces.” Why? “Now we carry all the products people need and we offer great customer service, a lesson passed on down through the family. We take care of people. “ So, instead of trimming staff in the July 2013

consolidation, Brent is in hiring mode, “because business is growing.

Sales in the first quarter of 2013 were up 20%,” he’s happy to report, “thanks to a bigger location, better visibility, the added service of the truss plant—and becoming the town’s sole supplier.”

Brent is eager to bestow credit on his employees—“a staff I’m so proud of. From the top—the GM level—to the bottom—the yard hands, there’s not one weak link. Since I bought my father’s yard ten years ago, and then my uncle’s two years later, I’ve made some good decisions,” he allows.

“People are happy working here, lots of positive interaction, and customers pick up on that.

“I hadn’t intended to be in this business,” Brent admits. “After college, I went to work in software for a Fortune 500 company in the Bay area.

But after getting married and having a baby, we decided we liked the smalltown lifestyle, the quality of life. So,” he says, “I returned. But, working for that Fortune 500 company, I’d observed different practices—some good, some bad. The lesson I learned was to avoid discord in my workforce: address issues head-on, not wait for tomorrow. We have weekly sales meetings, bringing every manager to the table. We talk about customers and issues we need to hash over, figure out better. Every employee knows he’s valued, and that I value their communication. We do things the right way, not concerned about who gets the credit.

“When I came in 10 years ago and Building-Products.com

took over from my father and uncle, each with 30-plus years of history. I had to get things up to the digital age: establish programs, write a manual for the practices they’d stored in their heads—a lot of heavy lifting.”

The workout has paid off here in Redding, once a goldmining town on Highway I-5, which snakes up the California coastline. “We’re known as a recreational area, for a quality of life that’s historically led to lots of building activity—lots of tracts, small local developers. Of course, that dropped off during the past five years—but over recent months, there’s been renewed activity in the lower-end, $250,000 range.”

During those recent recession years, 80% of Weaver’s business has come from remodeling projects, but Brent tackled the changing business landscape proactively. “We saw it coming, so we decided to add in-house installation services for remodeling projects: items like insulation, windows, mirrors, glass and showers, hiring the best in the field away from closing companies. With new-home building slowing down, it was a strategic decision and it’s paid off.” (Today, new home construction has rebounded to a 50-50 split.)

“Earlier on,” he continues, “with the onset of the boxes, lots of d-i-yers took their business in that direction, so we became pro-centric. Today, those d-i-yers are reevaluating the boxes; they’re coming back. They see the advantage of a knowledgeable staff who can give input on their projects.

Sure, boxes can sell certain things below cost (but they make it up on other items). So we’ve had to prove to people that they can save money here. It takes education on our part—radio and print ads, but most effective has been the word of mouth from builders’ projects,” Brent reports.

About that competition: How does it shake down out there, Brent? He’s indifferent. “Oh, we’re aware of the competition, but we focus on what we do best, what’s central to the customer experience. We all care about our customers; we’re not just out to make money. We know them, understand them, steer them to the right products. Lesson Number One from my grandfather was, ‘If you forget your customers, you’ll soon be out of business.’”

In return, “it creates loyalty,” he says. “They’re excited to be here. Of course, we’re always on the lookout for new business; we advertise in print and on the radio, and our

THIRD-GENERATION owner Brent Weaver saw his company’s golden anniversary as the perfect time to expand, when a longtime competitor called it quits.

Building-Products.com

WALK-IN BUSNESS (above) has picked up in recent years, although lumberyard (below) remains at the heart of the company.

outside salespeople scout jobsites, check permits: a pretty aggressive outreach,” he demonstrates. And that goes for suggestive selling, too. “If they come in for lumber, I can promise you we ask, ‘How about doors? We can do everything.’ Complete one-stop shopping.

“We continually add new products, tracking them in magazines, at builders’ shows, and through our vendors’ sales reps. Customers are doing extensive web research on their own, so it means we have to stay ahead of that and know even more. We’re also using our website to sell, and that’s only going to grow.

“And, we track the economy. The last five years, we were very, very in tune with the amount of work out there. There was the potential to reduce staff hours, but for the past two years, we’ve been adding people instead.”

And, Brent himself is here to stay, no doubt about it. “I love my job. And living in a small community with four young kids under 10, I couldn’t be happier.”

Carla Waldemar cwaldemar@comcast.net July 2013

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Home Depot Testing North Dakota

DEALER Briefs Nabors Do it Best Home Center, Houston, Ms., opened a 6,000-sq. ft. store with 12,000-sq. ft. lumberyard in Eupora, Ms., with a greenhouse to be added next year.

Nabors bought out former Do it Best member Nu-Way Cash & Carry, Eupora, which closed Feb. 22 and was auctioned off March 2. The new home center will start with eight employees, including Nu-Way’s Jody Johnson as store mgr.

New England Building Supply, Boston, Ma., has been acquired by Kodiak Building Partners, Denver, Co. NEBS’s 61 employees, including heads Tony Ciampaglio and Russ Smith, will stay on.

R.P. Lumber has purchased a former Kmart building in Ottawa, Il., to open a new store.

MPC Cashway Lumber, Lansing, Mi., lost part of its

roof in a May 28 storm.

Goad Lumber Co., Hughesville, Md., lost three build-

ings in a June 6 fire.

Mitchell Johnson Building Supply, Bainbridge, Ga., has closed after 50 years and placed its 50-acre property up for sale.

Stock Building Supply, Raleigh, N.C., has filed for an IPO of its stock that it hopes will raise up to $175 million.

Ace Hardware, Norwalk, Oh., has been opened by Lisa and Greg Bleile in the former home of P&R Hardware, which closed last year.

Frager’s Hardware, Washington, D.C., was destroyed by a June 5 fire that started in its lumber department.

Shallowford Hardware, Lewisville, N.C., is closing

after 5 years.

Frattallone’s Ace Hardware is opening an 11,000-

sq. ft. store in Eden Prairie, Mn., late this month.

Ted’s Home & Hardware, Evansdale, Ia., has been opened by Ted Gehrke, ex-Home Depot.

Nyberg’s Ace Hardware, Sioux Falls, S.D., will begin construction by Aug. 1 on a $1-million, 12,000-sq. ft. addition.

ABC Supply Co. has acquired roofing/siding distributor JB Supply Co., Flint, Mi. Menards opened a new store May 29 in Garden City, Ks.

(Lars Paulsen, general mgr.), and is set to unveil its next location July 16 in Port Huron, Mi. Anniversaries: Curry Lumber, Wooster, Oh., 160th …

Davis-Hawn Lumber Co. , Dallas, Tx., 90th …

Cascade Lumber , Cascade, Ia., 60th … KeiverWillard Lumber , Newburyport, Ma., 60th … Pixley Lumber Co. , Claremore, Ok., 50th … East Coast Lumber, Climax, N.C., 40th …

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Home Depot will open a satellite store this summer in Williston, N.D., to test the market.

The chain purchased and is renovating a building into a mini-sized store that will employ 15 to 25 workers, but might one day be expanded into a full-sized home center.

On May 1, Depot opened a temporary store in Minot, N.D., in a double-wide trailer on the site of the parking lot of a permanent, 106,000-sq. ft. store that is under construction. The trailer employs 12 and stocks about 70 items, but customers can order any item from the chain’s one North Dakota home center—in Fargo—and it will be shipped to Minot for free the next day.

“We’re excited about the growth of North Dakota,” said Minot manager Jason Barker.

Canfor to Buy Scotch & Gulf

Canfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., has agreed to purchase Scotch & Gulf Lumber, Mobile, Al., in phases over the next three years for $80 million.

Expected to close in the third quarter, the deal provides Canfor with 25% ownership for the first 18 months, increasing to 50% and, at the end of year three, 100%.

With it roots dating back 125 years, Scotch Gulf has an annual capacity of 440 million bd. ft. of southern yellow pine at its three sawmills in Mobile, Fulton and Jackson, Al. “This agreement provides access to an exceptional fiber base, increases our southern pine production capacity to more than a billion bd. ft., and will improve our ability to serve our valued U.S. customers,” said Canfor president and c.e.o. Don Kayne. “Scotch Gulf’s values and approach to the market are closely aligned with those of Canfor, and we are extremely pleased to have been given this opportunity to work with the Scotch Gulf management team to integrate that company’s operating assets and extensive history with our broader North American operations.”

Scotch Plywood, Fulton, Al., which broke off from Scotch Gulf years ago, is unaffected by the deal.

James Hardie Grows in Texas

Dixie Plywood & Lumber Co.’s distribution centers in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Tx., and Weyerhaeuser, Houston, will begin distributing James Hardie fiber cement siding, trim and backer board.

They join DW Distribution, Desoto, Round Rock, and Greenville, Tx., which has been carrying James Hardie products since 2003.

DixiePly also carries James Hardie products at five of its eastern locations, while Weyerhaeuser stocks Hardie products at the majority of its distribution centers.

Sherwood Adding NE Spur

Sherwood Lumber will begin construction this fall on a 20-car rail spur at its Palmer, Ma., distribution yard.

The project will improve the main New England Central Railroad line, which runs from the Vermont and Quebec border to New London, Ct., improving transportation to all businesses along the line.

The facility currently operates on a shared railroad line.

However, building its own on-site spur will accommodate more rail cars, increase efficiency and product consolidation, improve directional travel flow and safety, and decrease forklift traffic.

Building-Products.com

New App Speeds Up Treated Wood Sales Western Wood Preservers Institute has introduced a free new app to streamline the sales and building process for treated wood specifiers, suppliers, users and inspectors.

The app allows users to look up the commodity, application and exposure environment for treated wood products to find out the retention required

by AWPA and the CheckMark third

party inspection details on the end tag.

Users can also look up: • the Treated Wood Council’s life cycle assessments comparing treated wood to substitutes, as published by different peer-reviewed journals; • services provided by treated wood suppliers • frequently asked questions about treated lumber, and • information on various WWPI programs, EPA-approved preservatives, fire retardants, and proper handling of treated wood.

In effect, this app allows architects and engineers to research and specify the proper AWPA use category for a designed application, considering the exposure and location of the treated wood. Contractors can look up the use category and get quotes from the lumberyard on specific preservatives that meet the proper retention. Building officials and code inspectors can verify that end tags on treated lumber and plywood meet the proper standards and show them to contractors.

The app is available for all tablet and smartphone operating systems.

Millwork Producer on the Way

NEW APP from Western Wood Preservers Institute streamlines the specification, sale and installation of pressure treated wood.

Mike Lewis, formerly of Middle Tennessee Lumber, Burns, Tn., is purchasing 16.2 acres in Dickson County, Tn., to open a hardwood flooring and moulding manufacturing plant.

Lewis expects to begin production at the $4.5-million, 50,000-sq. ft. facility in November.

SUPPLIER Briefs Lord Baltimore Trading Co., Baltimore, Md., has been shuttered, with the retirement of owner Tom Wedge.

Sprenger Midwest will build a larger, modern office to house its sales and support staff in Sioux Falls, S.D., replacing its 70-year-old structure.

The new two-story, wood-frame office will feature twice the floor space and showcase many of the wood and composite products Sprenger sells. It will sit at the opposite end of its yard, allowing the present office to remain in use until its replacement is completed, ideally by spring of 2014.

Building Products Inc. , Waterloo, Ia., has opened a new millwork division, FinishCraft.

Operating from a new, state-of-theart showroom, FinishCraft provides dealers and their customers with mouldings, doors, stair systems, cabinets, vanities and countertops (J.J. Robson, general mgr.).

L&R Lumber, McAlisterville, Pa., saw its sawmill destroyed in a May 31 early morning blaze that started in the generator room. Damage is estimated at $1.1 million.

Boehm-Madisen Lumber Co., Pewaukee, Wi., has purchased a

new building for its Brookfield, Wi., DC.

Masonite International , Tampa, Fl., agreed to acquire the door manufacturing operations of Masisa S.A. for roughly $12.5 million.

The deal includes door component operations in Cabrero, Chile, and a door assembly factory in Chillan, Chile.

CertainTeed will invest $24 million to restart its ceiling tile manufacturing plant in Meridian, Ms. Idled since 2009, the facility is expected to resume production during second quarter 2014.

CertainTeed also added colors to two of its vinyl siding lines: four to Main Street and six to American Legend.

TAMKO Building Products

added a new color to its StoneCrest Slate line of MetalWorks steel shingles.

Distributed in the Northeast by: Feldman Wood Products, Garden City Park, NY

800-645-6010 • www.feldmanwoodproducts.com

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Railing Dynamics Inc., Egg Harbor Township, N.J., launched a new mobile website at www.rdirail.com.

Building-Products.com

MOVERS & Shakers Cody Bessette, ex-Central Transport, and Bren Thomas, ex-Arrowhead Builders, have launched Contractor’s Choice Lumber, Shawano, Wi. Mike Henningson, ex-Woodmark, has been named general mgr. at Alexander Lumber, Cortland, Il. Brett L. Kelly has been promoted to president of DassoXTR Decking & Siding, Pennsauken, N.J. Aaron Kinning has rejoined Boise Cascade, Lakeville, Mn., as a product mgr.

Douglas Barton II, ex-J. Gibson McIlvain Co., is new to sales for Oregon Canadian Forest Products, North Plains, Or. He is based in York, Pa. Josh Brennan has been promoted to v.p. of sales for Frank Miller Lumber, Union City, In. Mark Durham, ex-ECMD, has joined the sales team at Madison Lumber, Huntsville, Al. Senja Childers, ex-Menards, is now in wholesale sales at Minot Builders Supply Association, Minot, N.D.

Don Camp, ex-ENAP, is new to logistics, purchasing and sales at Landon Lumber, Madison, Ct. John Reagan has joined Maxtile, Houston, Tx., as national sales director.

Steven Sheldon is a new contractor sales rep at 84 Lumber, Fort Myers, Fl. Ali Jojo, ex-Kleer Lumber, has joined Biewer Lumber, as a product mgr. based in Mishawaka, In. Marty Kennebeck has been named design center mgr. for Tart Lumber, Sterling, Va. Lee C. Nabb has been appointed business development mgr.Midwest for Dur-A-Flex, E. Hartford, Ct. Kurt Lembcke is new to sales at Portage Ace Hardware, Portage, In. Doyle Simons, ex-Temple-Inland, will become c.e.o. of Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., effective Aug.1. He will succeed Dan Fulton, who will serve as executive vice chairman until he retires in October.

Scott Gross has been appointed regional sales mgr. at Quality Building Supply, Chicago, Il. David Jensen has joined Timber Mart-South, Athens, Ga., as a timber market analyst.

Michael Sopher is new to KP Wood, Vancouver, B.C., selling European products to the U.S. He is based in Largo, Fl. Paul L. Sova has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Showplace Wood Products, Harrisburg, Pa. Neill A. Webb has joined Hyster Co., Wilmington, N.C., as Southeast regional sales mgr.-big lift trucks.

Keith Coleman, president, Hamilton Building Supply, Trenton, N.J., has been elected chairman of the board of co-op Philadelphia Reserve Supply Co., Croyden, Pa. Jennifer Cover was appointed executive director of the Wood Products Council’s WoodWorks program.

Scott Lockyear is now senior national director for WoodWorks.

Wanda Off is the new GPS coordinator at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

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Building Products Digest

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July 2013

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Building-Products.com

Kemper Hosts Future Pros

Kemper System America treated female students from Bronx Design & Construction Academy, a high school in South Bronx, N.Y., to a tour of the company’s production facility in West Seneca, N.Y. The tour is part of a new mentorship program started by Professional Women in Construction, designed to introduce young women to career opportunities in the nontraditional fields of construction, design and related industries.

“There is a great demand for women in construction,” said Kathleen Courteau, chief administrative officer, Kemper System. “We hope to convey the message to the next generation that they should go for it.”

Chaira Mejia, the teacher who accompanied the students on the tour, said, “This visit allowed the students to obtain a better insight of what the construction world entails and empowered them to strive for success in a male-dominated field.”

KEMPER SYSTEM hosted a tour of its facility in West Seneca, N.Y., for students from the Bronx Design & Construction Academy.

APP Watch

Application: CURBAPPEAL 2.0 Produced by: CertainTeed Price: Free Platforms: iPad An updated, user-friendly app assists with review and selection of siding, decking, railing and fencing for a personalized look that combines complementary colors, styles and textures.

An extensive gallery of homes in a wide variety of architectural styles is also included for multiple design ideas and additional inspiration.

CurbAppeal features a step-by-step, visual process that allows users to experiment with a broad selection of materials, styles and colors.

Download from iTunes App Store

Building-Products.com

July 2013

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23

ROM Expanding Plywood Mill

RoyOMartin will invest $20 million to modernize and expand its Martco plywood plant in Chopin, La. The facility will upgrade drying equipment, add a production line, and create 24 new jobs.

Construction began recently and should be completed in the second quarter of 2014.

ECOSPECIFIER GLOBAL certification, recently awarded to Wolmanized Outdoor preserved, is an independent review of key manufacturer environmental claims assessed in a scientific manner.

Hardwoods Buys Importer

Hardwoods Distribution Inc., Langley, B.C., has acquired the operating assets of tropical lumber and decking importer Olam Wood Products, Leland, N.C. The $2.8-million deal includes inventory, equipment and the lease of OWP’s 40,000-sq. ft. office/warehouse. Hardwoods also hired the employees of OWP. With annual sales of more than $4 million, “OWP is an excellent fit with our growth strategy,” said Lance Blanco, president and c.e.o. of Hardwoods. It “builds upon Hardwoods’ well-established strength as an importer of hardwood products by extending our direct sourcing capabilities to tropical lumber products from Africa and South America.”

Wolmanized Outdoor wood can be used by architects and other building professionals as a contributing product in the achievement of Green Building rating tool credits.

“The Ecospecifier review is one of several independent evaluations conducted on Wolmanized Outdoor wood and is the latest distinguishing credential the product has earned,” said Steve Wisnewski, head of Lonza Wood Protection. “Among these are the Good Housekeeping Seal and certification by Home Innovation Research Labs as meeting requirements for termite-resistant materials in the National Green Building Standard.”

ket,” said D. Wayne Trousdale, Cedar Creek c.o.o. “We plan to add several new product categories and offer a broad range of specialty and commodity wood products for lumber yards and the industrial customer.”

Cedar Creek-Denver will stock such products as cedar, siding, trim, EWP, hardwood plywood, boards, MDF, MDO, melamine, decking, and commodity lumber and panels. The wholesaler now operates 15 DCs serving 24 states in the Mid-South, Midwest, Southeast and Rocky Mountain areas.

Socomi Adding K.D. Doug Fir

REDWOOD DECKING

Beginning in mid-July, South Coast Lumber Co., Brookings, Or., will expand its Socomi brand line of lumber to include kiln dried Douglas fir.

By maintaining consistent temperature and humidity levels, kiln drying further enhances the natural characteristics of Douglas fir, one of the strongest of all softwood species. With a lower moisture content, K.D. DF lumber provides improved resistance to mold and insect damage, with greater dimensional stability that hinders the natural twisting and warping that can occur as untreated green lumber air dries.

Since the early 1950s, South Coast Lumber has been a leading supplier of high-quality green DF lumber. In 2006, the company replaced its old growth sawmill and opened a fully computerized mill to process smaller, second growth logs.

Now, the company can offer nationwide distribution of both green and K.D. DF products in sizes from 2”x4” through 2”x12”, 3”x4” through 3”12” and 4’x4” through 4”x12”, all in 8’ to 20’ lengths. Most grades are available, as are customer-requested proprietary grades.

Full Range & Large Inventory

TECO C.E.O. Becomes Owner

Cedar Creek Enters the West

Cedar Creek, Oklahoma City, Ok., has purchased the assets of All-Coast Forest Products’ distribution center in Denver, Co. All-Coast will continue to operate in Cloverdale, Ca. “We are very pleased to acquire an outstanding location and a great team of people in the growing Denver mar-

Wolmanized Outdoor Wood Ecospecifier Certified

Lonza Wood Protection, Atlanta, Ga., has received an Ecospecifier Global certification for Wolmanized Outdoor preservative treated wood as a Verified Product.

Being verified as an Ecospecifier Global product means that

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Ed Starostovic has completed the sale of wood products certification and testing company TECO, Cottage Grove, Wi., to its c.e.o., Steve Winistorfer.

A 15-year veteran of the firm, Winistorfer has been managing the agency for Starostovic since 2007.

“This is an exciting transition,” Winistorfer said. “Building on TECO’s past success, we have developed a strategic plan that also leverages today’s recovering, restructured economy and the new opportunities that brings. We’ll be strengthening our Building-Products.com

existing business with OSB and plywood manufacturers, as well as diversifying our product offerings and expanding into additional international markets.”

Demand Swells for Construction Board

U.S. demand for building board will rise 7% annually through 2017 to 52.5 billion sq. ft. from its current 37.5 billion sq. ft. (3/8” basis).

Windows, doors, subflooring and roofing will be the fastest-growing applications.

Among structural boards, OSB will outpace softwood plywood, while insulation board and high and low density fiberboard will enjoy the biggest gains among non-structural boards.

IN Memoriam Dan Russell Coleman, 82, c.e.o. of Zarsky Lumber, Victoria, Tx., died May 25 in Victoria.

He joined the family business in 1953, after graduating from Victoria College and serving with the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. In 1975, he became manager of the Victoria location, eventually rising to president and c.e.o.

In 1979, he served as president of the Lumbermen’s Association of Texas and was named LAT Lumberman of the Year in 1984.

Michael “Mike” French, 62, sales manager of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Bushnell, Fl., died June 6 following an automobile accident.

He spent 14 of his 36 years in the building products industry with Great Southern Wood, starting as an inside sales rep in 1999 and rising to general manager and finally sales manager.

John G. “Jack” McCormick Jr., 82, co-owner of McCormick Lumber Co., Mount Sterling, Ky., died June 7 in Mount Sterling.

An Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he was a partner in the family business until retiring in 1993.

Roger D. Wilson, 75, co-founder of Lake States Lumber, Aitkin, Mn., died April 27 in Aitkin.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, he Building-Products.com

worked for Burns & Kneeland Lumber Co., Aitkin. In 1978, he and Keith Laugen, Bob Armstrong, and Ed Fleming acquired the business and started Lake States, expanding the wholesaler to Brooklyn Park, Duluth, Schofield and Sparta, Mn. He retired in 2003.

Harold E. “Sandy” Sanderson, 97, former manager of Farmer’s Lumber & Coal, Newman Grove, Ne., died June 3.

After managing the family business, he relocated to Oregon in the 1950s, retiring from International Paper in 1980.

Lloyd Dantzler “Danny” Smith, 65, former manager at Cox Wood Preserving, Sumter, S.C., died April 20 in St. Matthews, S.C. A graduate of Georgia Tech and U.S. Army veteran, he worked for American Tub & Tile after leaving Cox. Loy Poag, 87, former owner of Poag Lumber Co., Dierks, Ar., died June 3 in De Queen, Ar. After serving in the U.S. Army under General Patton during World

War II, he operated sawmills throughout Sevier, Howard, and Little River counties.

Dorothea S. Johnson, 101, former co-owner of Farmers Grain, Lumber & Coal, Wymore, Ne., died April 9.

A graduate of Kansas University, she operated Johnson Lumber Co., Dawson, Ne., with her husband, Harry, before they relocated to Wymore in 1946 to purchase Farmers.

Clyde McCreary “Mack” Dickerson, 87, former owner of Dickerson Lumber Co., Glasgow, Ky., died May 31 in Louisville, Ky. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Robert Perry “Bob” Thurmond, 67, owner of the old R.C. Thurmond Lumber Co., Dyersburg, Tn., died June 6 in Dyersburg.

He was a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

Marietta V. Jaekel, 79, retired coowner of Lincoln Lumber Co., Lincoln, Mo., died June 9 in Lincoln.

She operated the business with her husband, Bill Jaekel.

Pau Lope™ is back “Nothing Measures Up” Pau Lope™ Brand Decking is considered the World’s Finest Hardwood Decking for its beauty, durability, highest grade, absence of defects, low KD moisture content, and fine packaging.

Trademarked in 1984 but unavailable for the last five years, Pau Lope™ Decking has returned better and stronger than ever, under new ownership. The Pau Lope Company LLC has aligned with sawmills, and refreshed the grade and quality to the high standards of the brand’s heritage.

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www.paulope.com July 2013

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Building Products Digest

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27

SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Housing gains bode well for EWP, structural panels

T

positive uptick in the economy and residential construction closed 2012 on an optimistic note for the first time since the recession began, and that slow-but-steady growth is expected to continue through 2013. With indicators pointing to rising housing starts through the year and into 2014, APA-The Engineered Wood Association predicts a second straight year of growth in all four of the wood product sectors it represents.

“Last year saw across-the-board increases in structural panels, I-joists, glulam and LVL. In 2013, not only will that trend continue, but at a slightly faster pace in most cases,” HE SMALL BUT

said Craig Adair, APA’s market research director. “Residential construction will drive much of that growth, with pent-up demand for housing, moderately rising home prices, and growing consumer confidence having the most influence.”

Residential Markets

Housing is beginning to lead the economy and is expected to provide an economic catalyst for years to come. The residential market is gaining strength from a very low bottom, and interest rates are still low. While housing is not immune from potential tax increases and government spending cuts, momentum is favorable for a

Total Structural Panel Production U.S. and Canada

healthy increase in starts.

APA is forecasting single-family housing starts to reach 665,000, a 24% gain, as homeowners take a positive view toward purchasing a home, the job market improves, and home prices firm up in many cities.

Multifamily starts are expected to improve 35% to 330,000 units.

The remodeling market is also showing small signs of life, although the outlook is brighter into the second half of 2013 and in years following.

The NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index is above 50 for the first time since 2005, meaning that more remodelers expect business to be higher or better in the future than lower.

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies predicts repair and remodeling expenditures to reach 2007 levels, around $145 billion, a dramatic improvement over 20082012 levels.

Non-residential, Industrial, Exports

Non-residential’s mild 3% uptick in starts in 2012 is expected to be repeated in 2013. School construction and healthcare will lead in total square footage, although the education sector will experience a small decline. Collectively, non-residential starts are expected to recover to more than 1 billion sq. ft. within the next four years.

The industrial market will see only modest growth in 2013 due to a number of factors, from government bud-

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get cuts that impact manufacturing to the millwork industry’s dependence on remodeling as well as non-residential construction. Overall, manufacturing is expected to grow about 2% this year, down from 4% in 2012; improvement to 5% growth is anticipated in 2014.

Finally, indicators point to U.S. structural panel manufacturers exporting about the same quantity of material in 2013 as in 2012.

LVL Production

Expections for Woods

Wood products demand is expected to accelerate as rapid housing growth is followed by renewed repair and remodeling energy, an upturn in the non-residential construction cycle, and industrial demand that increases with consumer spending and higher GDP growth.

Domestic (U.S. and Canada) production of OSB and plywood is expected to reach 30.5 billion sq. ft. in 2013, a 10% rise over 2012.

Glulam is predicted to see a 10% increase over 2012, reaching 248 million bd. ft. The growth is due entirely to housing, with little support from non-residential.

Growth in the I-joist market is

forecast around 17% in 2013 to 651 million linear ft., slightly slower than 2012’s 22% increase. Most of the gains will come from housing, with raised-floor construction continuing to provide a notable boost.

Increased housing starts also will drive demand for LVL, the majority of which is used for beams, headers and rimboard. LVL production should

reach 54.9 million cubic ft. in 2013, a 10% growth over 2012.

Additional market details and historical data are contained in APA’s 2013 Structural Panel & Engineered Wood Yearbook. The report is available for purchase for $250 and can be ordered through the association’s website at www.apawood.org.

Builder Tips at your Fingertips APA’s new mobile-friendly Builder Tips are optimized for easy access from tablets and smartphones, so you and your contractor customers can quickly search for and view the Builder Tip you need — whether you’re at the office or the job site. Each Builder Tip addresses a single common topic or challenge and is designed to help your customers save money and produce better homes through improved construction practices.

Go to www.apawood.org/buildertips to view free Builder Tips from APA

Building-Products.com

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SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Proper storage, handling reduce glulam checking

Protection from the elements, acclimation key

L

products, glulam members may develop seasoning checks as a normal function of the moisture stabilization process. The risk and degree of checking depends on the combined effects of the glulam member’s initial moisture content, seasonal conditions, storage and handling practices in the yard and on the IKE ALL WOOD

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jobsite, and the in-service environment after installation. The rate at which the glulam member’s moisture content changes from manufacture to installation also will have an effect on the amount of checking.

Dealers and distributors, along with their builder customers, can minimize seasoning checks with a few simple strategies: • Avoid rapid changes in seasoning rate by construction scheduling and control of the building’s interior conditions.

• Do not unwrap and expose the glulam to the elements in early summer. As the season progresses a rapid change in moisture content is likely.

• In arid climates, avoid exposing unwrapped glulam to direct sunlight and wind.

• During storage and after installation, avoid exposing unwrapped members by providing a secondary cover/protection.

• Always store members with protection and keep members wrapped until installation.

• Limit the glulam’s exposure to the weather prior to the building’s enclosure; cover and protect the members after installation.

• Avoid rapid changes in temperatures that can affect the rate of drying during the first full heating cycle.

• Avoid direct exposure of glulam to heating outlets.

• Cut the underside of wrapping paper to guard against water “pondJuly 2013

ing” inside the wrap during jobsite storage.

• When a glulam beam is cut to length at the yard or on the jobsite, apply end sealer.

• Remove wrapping after installation in a closed space where members are allowed to stabilize naturally during construction.

• Wrap members and store them off the ground with secondary cover.

There is a higher risk of checking in hot, arid conditions where temperatures rise above 90˚ and relative humidity drops below 50%. This risk can be reduced by following the steps noted above.

If checking does occur, it is primarily an aesthetic concern. Checks can be filled with an elastomeric filler to improve appearance.

To reduce the possibility and severity of checking, it is important to coordinate delivery schedules to minimize jobsite storage. Avoid direct exposure of glulam members to climate extremes such as high temperatures, rain, and wind. Hot/dry and wet/winter climates can both create high-risk environments, depending on how quickly the moisture content is lowered. If high-risk conditions cannot be avoided, take extra precautions in storage and installation to protect beams and columns.

For more strategies for reducing glulam checking, contact APA at www.apawood.org.

Building-Products.com

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SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Blocking for I-joist floors

What is it and where should it be used?

I

- JOIST FLOORS are often installed with blocking, a rectangular piece of engineered wood or a section of Ijoist that is placed between adjacent joists at various locations. For these applications, blocking has three major functions: • To provide lateral support to the floor joists—to prevent them from physically “rolling over” due to lateral loads. This is accomplished by the shape and stiffness of the blocking panel.

• To provide a means of transferring shear loads from the walls above to the floor/foundation below. This is accomplished by nailing into the foundation sill plate or wall top plate through the bottom flanges when Ijoists are used for blocking. When APA Performance Rated Rim Boards or I-joist-compatible structural composite lumber (SCL) is used, shear transfer is accomplished by nailing into the end-grain at the top of the blocking panel and by using toe-nails or framing anchors at the bottom of

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the blocking panel.

• To provide a means of transferring vertical loads from the wall above to the foundation/floor below. The blocking is used in bearing to accomplish this.

While local code requirements vary, the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) are specific in their requirements for blocking of floor joists: In Section R502.7, the IRC requires full-depth solid blocking, attachment to the rim board/rim joist, or attachment to an adjoining stud (i.e., balloon framing) of joists at each end. In Seismic Design Categories D 0 , D 1 , and D 2 , similar lateral restraint is required at all intermediate supports as well.

Section 2308.8.2 of the IBC requires full-depth solid blocking, attachment to rim board/rim joist, or attachment to an adjoining stud (i.e., balloon framing) of joists at each end and at intermediate supports for all

July 2013

locations and all applications.

Blocking panels are normally sitefabricated out of engineered wood products on hand. Sections of APA Performance Rated I-joists, APA Performance Rated rim boards, or Ijoist compatible SCL can be used for blocking. It is essential that engineered wood products be used with an I-joist or any other engineered wood floor framing because the shrinkage anticipated with the sawn lumber would affect its ability to perform the vertical load-transfer function and could seriously impede its ability to transfer shear loads.

Fabricate the blocking panels from engineered wood products of I-joistcompatible sizes and cut to fit tightly between the floor joists.

Following are recommendations for blocking of I-joist floor systems designed in accordance with APA Ijoist standard PRI-400: • Blocking panels are required at each end of the floor joists not otherwise restrained from overturning by a band joist or rim board.

• Blocking panels are required between floor joists supporting loadbearing walls running perpendicular to the joists.

• Blocking panels are required between floor joists at the interior support in all locations when regulated by IBC or in Seismic Design Categories D 0, D 1, and D 2, when regulated by IRC. • For a load-bearing cantilever, blocking panels are required between floor joists at the exterior support adjacent to the cantilever.

• Install blocking panels in accordance with diagram below.

For more tips on I-joist installation, visit www.apawood.org and search “Builder Tips.”

Building-Products.com

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SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Safety in the spotlight APA honors producers for milestones

A

PA–T HE E NGINEERED Wood Association recently announced the winners of its 2012 Safety & Health Awards, a program that encourages and recognizes safety and operational excellence in the North American structural panel and engineered wood industry.

Nashville, Tn.-based LP and Canfor-LP OSB Limited Partnership of Fort St. John, B.C., won Safest Company Awards in their respective categories. LP, a leading North American manufacturer of structural wood panels and engineered wood products, earned top honors among companies with four or more mills, with a 2012 average Weighted Incident Rate (WIR) of 2.61. CanforLP, which produces oriented strand board, won its award in the category for companies with three or fewer mills. The company posted a perfect 0.00 WIR for 2012.

RoyOMartin’s Oakdale, La., OSB mill earned the coveted Innovation in Safety Award for its “Safety Mentor” program. As part of the program, Safety Mentor Team Leaders are accountable for ensuring that new employees and team members receive proper safety orientation and training.

Since implementing the Safety Mentor program last June, the mill has already seen increased awareness of the company’s safety culture.

Safety audit participation by new team members has increased by 50%, while safety incidents among that group have decreased by 86%.

Begun in 1982, the APA awards

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program honors the managements and employees of companies and mills with the lowest Weighted Incident Rate (WIR), which is calculated using the number and severity of recordable incidents reported on the mill’s annual OSHA report. Since 2008 was the first year that WIR was used, awards and reports for 2009 through 2012 continue to also show Total Incident Rate (TIR), the measure used in pre-

vious years.

Sixty-five APA-member structural wood panel and engineered wood facilities in the U.S., Canada and abroad participated in the 2012 program. A total of 23 facilities representing nine APA member companies—Abitibi-LP Engineered Wood, Ainsworth Lumber, Boise Cascade, Canfor-LP OSB Limited Partnership, LP, Norbord, Potlatch, RoyOMartin, and Weyerhaeuser—earned awards in various competition categories. Some mills were multiple award winners.

In addition to the Safest Company and Innovation awards, other competition categories include Safety July 2013

Improvement, Annual Safety and Health Honor Roll, Three-Year Safety Average, and Incident Free Honor Society. Seventeen mills achieved a zero incident rate for the year and thus were named to the Incident Free Honor Society. The annual honor roll, three-year average, and safety improvement categories are divided into two divisions based on hours worked annually—more than or fewer than 400,000 hours.

While the program awards are limited to APA members, data is collected from both member and non-member mills in order to provide a broadbased industry performance benchmark. A total of 65 mills reported data for 2012. The 2012 industry Total Incident and Weighted Incident Rates were 2.12 and 8.40, respectively, down from 2.31 and 10.37, respectively, in 2011.

The 2012 Safety and Health Awards program was the fifth year of the program under a revitalized safety effort spearheaded by an APA Safety & Health Advisory Committee, comprised of several APA member company safety professionals. Under the committee’s guidance, three main goals were established: make the APA program the premier safety awards program in the industry, encourage the sharing of best practices as a means to improve the industry’s safety culture and programs, and most importantly, improve the industry’s overall safety performance.

More information on the program can be found at www.apawood.org.

Building-Products.com

SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Carbon Challenge

Competition challenges designers to consider environmental impacts such as wood—that emit less carbon during manufacture and even store carbon within them, designers can make homes much more sustainable.”

FPL and APA awarded cash prizes totaling $20,000 to competition winners, whose designs were judged on their life-cycle assessment score, aesthetic appeal, cost effectiveness, and use of wood.

Providence Winners

PROVIDENCE Carbon Challenge winner ZeroEnergy Design, Boston, Ma.

T

HIS SPRING , ARCHITECTS

from around the country tested their sustainability smarts in the Carbon Challenge, a green-home design competition that challenged participants to consider the environmental impact of building materials.

A joint campaign of the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Lab (FPL) and APA-The Engineered Wood Association, the Carbon Challenge sought to educate home designers, builders, and communities about how sustainable design strategies can address the long-term environmental impact of a building, as well as promote the use of wood as a component to sustainable design.

The Carbon Challenge competition

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focused on two types of homes in two cities—a single-family Habitat for Humanity house in Providence, R.I., and an urban row house in Baltimore, Md. Using life-cycle assessment software from the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, designers were able to determine the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from the products in their designs.

“When the industry and the public think about the environmental footprint of a home, it’s often the energy use that’s considered. But that discounts the amount of CO2 emitted to create the structure’s materials— called embodied carbon,” said Bob Clark, APA senior engineered wood specialist. “By specifying products— July 2013

For Carbon Challenge Providence, entrants were tasked with designing a Habitat for Humanity house for a vacant lot in the city’s Olneyville neighborhood. Carbon Challenge Providence was held in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island—Greater Providence and AIA Rhode Island, and was supported by sponsors LP Building Products and Boise Cascade.

Boston-based ZeroEnergy Design took home grand prize honors for “The Little Green Rhody,” a woodframed four-bedroom, two-bath home with a gabled roof suitable for the neighborhood’s traditional architecture. By combining an airtight, wellinsulated building envelope, high-efficiency windows sited for optimal solar orientation, a 7.5-kW solar array, and a range of other features, the house is designed to use less than half the energy of a code-built home. Other features include rain barrels to collect water for landscaping, a two-track driveway to decrease impermeable surfacing, and an insulated basement.

“This design is very buildable and beautifully represented,” noted one judge. “It fits the context of the neighborhood very well.”

Also earning honors in Providence: Building-Products.com

2nd Place: Kyle Bamrick & Christopher Armstrong, Providence 3rd Place: Joseph P. Campanella — Design Alliance, W. Hartford, Ct. Best Use of Wood: Anne Lissett & Benjamin Monroe — LEAF Architecture, W. Hartford Best Curb Appeal: Erik Rhodin & Taina Rhodin — Line Co. Architects, Waltham, Ma. Most Cost-Effective: Christen M. Robbins — Vision 3 Architects, Providence

Baltimore Winners

For Carbon Challenge Baltimore, entrants were asked to update Baltimore’s iconic row houses in a vacant block in the city’s Oliver neighborhood. The Baltimore competition was held in partnership with the City of Baltimore and AIA Baltimore, and was supported by sponsors LP Building Products, Boise Cascade, and Roseburg Forest Products.

Phillip Jones, with Baltimore-based Cho Benn Holback + Associates, designed the winning concept, a modern take on the traditional row house, featuring an open floor plan that maximizes daylight; a wider, semi-enclosed front “stoop,” and a roof deck with covered and uncovered entertaining areas, green roofing system, and solar hot water collectors. The design’s rammed-earth construction, a highly efficient building method that stores heat in the winter while blocking it in

the summer, contributed significantly to its lower carbon footprint.

“This well-conceived and welldesigned residence provides comfortably proportioned, usable living spaces with many desirable features, including an entry vestibule, a mud room/pantry, and a second-floor den with laundry,” said one of the jury members.

Also earning accolades in Baltimore: 2nd Prize: Alexander Dzurec — autotroph, Huntington, Md. 3rd Prize: Drew Suljak, Kelly Krob, & David Lopez — studioRED / hord | coplan | macht, Baltimore Best Use of Wood: Chris Melander & Ross Smith — RTKL Associates, Baltimore Best Curb Appeal: Randy M. Sovich & Jojo Duah — RM Sovich Architecture, Baltimore Most Cost-Effective: Jay Orr — ARQ Architects, Baltimore Special recognition, Best Social Statement: Lisa M. Ferretto & Kallie Sternburgh — hord | coplan | macht, Baltimore; Janice Romanosky — Pando Alliance, Millersville, Md.; Prescott Gaylord – Entellis Collaborative/Hamel Builders, Elkridge, Md. Along with professional entries, an architecture class from nearby Morgan State University used the competition as a studio project, producing their own twists on the row house design

and demonstrating for the community the promising talent still to come in the industry.

Ongoing Initiative

The Carbon Challenge is designed to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of wood construction, particularly the carbon neutrality of wood as a building material, and to promote the use of life cycle assessment tools.

“By designing with consideration to LCA, participants are able to adapt their designs and product selections to maximize efficiency and energy performance,” said Mike Ritter, assistant director for FPL. “In turn, the resulting home designs showcase to the public the attainability and lifelong benefits of sustainably built, woodframed homes.”

This fall, FPL and APA will host a series of educational seminars in the greater Baltimore and Providence areas to continue educating designers on the principles of low-carbon, lowenergy design.

The USDA announced a new emphasis on the use of green building materials in March 2011. Forest Service studies show that using wood products for building materials, instead of fossil-fuel-intensive alternatives, results in a smaller carbon footprint.

To view full entries of the winning designs, visit www.apawood.org/carbonchallenge.

BALTIMORE Carbon Challenge winner Phillip Jones, Cho Benn Holback + Associates, Baltimore Building-Products.com

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SPECIAL Focus APA on Engineered Wood

Better building at your fingertips Tips now in mobile format

A

PA-T HE E NGINEERED Wood Association now offers its Builder Tips series in a mobile format optimized for viewing from mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones.

Each Builder Tip addresses a single common topic or challenge in today’s building environment, such as panel buckling, squeaky floors, nail pops, glulam beam checking, and finishing APA-rated siding.

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The new mobile Builder Tips are valuable tools with a “back-to-basics” emphasis on key construction recommendations, noted APA market communications director Marilyn Thompson. “We know that the labor shortage in the construction sector will result in a surge of relatively inexperienced builders and framers who need simple, easy-to-use information and training,” Thompson said. “By making our Builder Tips more accessible to

July 2013

tablet and smartphone users, we’re confident we can get our key construction recommendations out to more contractors.”

The straightforward how-to articles, each paired with accompanying diagrams, are designed to help building professionals save money and improve quality on the job through proper construction practices. For example, “Construct a Solid, Squeakfree Floor System” describes how to prevent squeaks, buckling and nail pops, and the callbacks that result from these problems. Simple construction steps, such as using dry material, are detailed.

In “Prevent Buckling With Proper Spacing,” readers learn the consequences of improper panel spacing and receive a helpful tip for ensuring they’re achieving the recommended 1/8” gap.

“Proper Storage and Handling of Glulam Beams” reveals best practices for loading, racking, packaging, and transporting glulam to ensure maximum performance upon installation.

The new mobile-friendly format allows Builder Tips to be browsed, opened and viewed at www.apawood.org/buildertips from Internetconnected devices in the office or field. Seven Builder Tips have already been optimized for mobile viewing, with more to follow soon.

All Builder Tips are still available for free download in PDF format (optimal for printing or saving for offline viewing) from the APA Publications Library at www.apawood.org.

Building-Products.com

NEW Products

Advanced Framing

BlueLinx’s onCenter Advanced Framing Lumber can be used for a wide range of framing needs, including floor joists, roof rafters, truss chords, wall studs, and columns.

The product is manufactured with black spruce lumber that is joined together with a tongue-andgroove edge and waterproof, heat-resistant adhesive.

AFL is available in depths from 3-1/2” through 16”, with lengths up to 32’.

 BUILDONCENTER.COM

New Nail Packaging

Jaaco now offers its stainless steel coiled nails in lightweight, re-sealable plastic tubes that prevent product damage and are easy to carry.

Both 304 and 316 roofing nails—which are corrosion-resistant and have ring shanks for increased withdrawal resistance—can be packed in the tubes.

Two tubes fit into a medium-size Priority Mail box, for fast and affordable shipping.

 JAACO.COM

(425) 441-6008

(877) 914-7770

Smarter Framing Software

Beautiful Treated Beams

Weyerhaeuser has updated its structural frame software to increase accuracy from design to jobsite, reduce installation errors, and improve collaboration.

Javelin 5.0 now has functionality for compression roof systems, material list editing, product additions/updates, measurements in 3-D view, improved level notes, and enhancements to TJI hole analysis.

Rosboro’s X-Beam glulam is now available treated, for superior durability and an architectural appearance.

Manufactured from Douglas fir to match standard framing widths and I-Joist depths, Treated X-Beams are treated with Hi-Clear II. The clear industrial preservative imparts an attractive honey color and protects against decay, mold, bacteria and insects— including Formosan termites.

 WOODBYWY.COM

 ROSBORO.COM

(888) 453-8358

Building-Products.com

(541) 746-8411 July 2013

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Drive Time

Deck Screw Tool

The new Smart-Bit deck screw depth setter from Starborn Industries delivers fast, clean and uniform fastening.

The adjustable tool works with Starborn fasteners and other fastening products.

It ensures that screws are set to the desired depth below the work surface in decking, drywall, and general building applications.

 STARBORNINDUSTRIES.COM (800) 596-7747

Smarter Locks

Kwikset’s 2nd Generation SmartCode deadlocks connect with existing home security and automation systems, so homeowners can receive security updates via their mobile devices.

Twenty different styles and finishes are available, with onetouch programming, easy re-keying of the lock, and a backlit push-button keypad.

Senco’s DuraSpin auto-feed screwdriver is now offered in an 18-volt, battery-powered version.

Depending on screw length and substrate, it can drive between 500 to 700 screws per charge.

Other enhancements include a higher torque motor, applicationspecific tool speeds, a variable speed trigger with lock and reverse options, and a corner-fit feed system.

 SENCO.COM

(513) 388-2000

 KWIKSET.COM (800) 422-4278

Pair of Pump Pliers

Versatex Trimboard now offers a PVC-compatible plastic biscuit, which are used to secure and align joints in fascias and friezes, as well as window and door trims.

The biscuits can be used with PVC adhesives and are available in boxes of 25 or cartons of 10 boxes.

Klaw pump pliers from Klein Tools are available in two styles: classic and quick adjust.

The quick-adjust model has a push button, quick ratchet feature that allows adjustment to any position.

Both styles have curved jaws that allow multiple points of contact, a compact and narrow shape for better access in small or hard to reach spaces, and a special groove at the tip of the jaw for holding nails.

Kolbe’s Ultra Series tilt-turn windows swing in for access and easy cleaning, or tilt in for ventilation.

The windows feature aluminum-clad exteriors with an anodized finish, black hardware, and triple pane insulating glass.

Engineered laminated-veneer bamboo is used on the interior side.

 VERSATEX.COM

 KLEINTOOLS.COM

 KOLBE-KOLBE.COM

Compatible Biscuits

(847) 821-5500

(724) 857-1111

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July 2013

Moving Windows

(612) 724-8760

Building-Products.com

Sealing Moulding & Trim

Alex Flex sealant from Dap Products is formulated to seal moulding and trim before painting.

The sealant is flexible, ready to paint in 30 minutes, mold and mildew resistant, and cleans up quickly with soap and water.

 DAP.COM

(800) 543-3840

The Look of Nature

Parterre’s Oasis vinyl flooring recreates the look of leaves embedded in concrete.

The 18x18 tiles come in six natural colors, ranging from watery blues and greens to warm rusts and tans.

 PARTERREFLOORING.COM (888) 338-1029

Healthier Gypsum Boards

Certainteed’s AirRenew Essential gypsum boards are Greenguard Gold certified to improve indoor air quality.

Both the 1/2” board and 5/8” fire-resistant board contain up to 99% total recycled content. Both capture VOCs and convert them into safe, inert compounds.

 CERTAINTEED.COM (800) 233-8990

Building-Products.com

July 2013

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ASSOCIATION Update Construction Suppliers Association is staging its annual meeting Sept. 19-20 at the Dolce Hotel & Resort, Peachtree City, Ga. Presentations include “The Rocky Road to Recovery” by Greg Brooks; “Lean: Faster, Better Results Using Less Capital & Fewer Resources” by Georgia Tech Lean Consortium cofounder Larry Alford; “Superior Selling” with High Achievers’ Doug Grady; “Creating a Culture of HighLevel Service” by Chick-fil-A’s Lance Lanier; a National Lumber & Dealers Material Building Association update by NLBMDA chair Chuck Bankston, Bankston Lumber Co., Barnesville, Ga., and a software showcase.

Northwestern Lumber Association convenes its All States Future Lumber Leaders Conference July 26 at Bayer Built Woodworks, Belgrade, Mn. NLA will host three Wisconsin golf outings, starting July 24 at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek, Onalaska.

Tournaments follow Aug. 26 at Royal

St. Patricks Golf Links, Wrightstown, and Aug. 29 at Fennimore Golf Club, Fennimore, Wi. The group’s annual Oregon Mill Tour starts Sept. 28 and ends Oct. 4 in Portland, Or. Mid South Building Material Dealers Association will hold its mid-year business meeting Aug. 2-3 at the Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Convention Center, New Orleans, La. New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Association kicks off its annual golf outing Aug. 19 at Knob Hill Golf Club, Manalapan, N.J. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association affiliates continue the summer with a wealth of activities.

Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers’ golf outing is July 22 at Campbell Hall, N.Y.; New York & Suburban Lumber Association Mets game July 24 at Citi Field, New York; Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers golf outing Aug. 5 in Boylston, Ma.; Northern

New York Lumber Dealers fishing derby Aug. 14 in Clayton, N.Y.; Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers 10th annual clambake Aug. 15 in N. Syracuse, N.Y.; Northeastern Young Lumber Execs summer outing Aug. 21 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Vermont Retail Lumber Dealers annual meeting and golf tournament Aug. 28 in Fairlee, Vt. Boards meetings will take place Aug. 1 in Rutland, Vt. (VRLDA); Aug. 8 in Rensselaer, N.Y. (ENYLDA) and Rocky Hill, Ct. (LDAC), and Aug. 22 in Ballston Spa, N.Y. (NYLE).

Mid-America Lumbermens Association will go trout fishing Sept.

26-27 in Cotter, Ar. Lumbermen’s Association of Texas & Louisiana has developed new online buyer’s guide based on the LAT website.

All LAT associate members will be provided with a free basic listing in the guide, which will act as a marketplace to easily locate suppliers, service providers, and other LBM industry companies.

Builders Supply Association of West Virginia is sponsoring an ACI concrete field testing technician grade 1 being held Sept. 24-25 at its headquarters in Charleston, W.V. The first day will be review, the second day the exam.

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association holds its annual golf outing and board meeting Sept.

19-20 at Nonantum Resort, Kennebunkport, Me. Kentucky Forest Industries Association hosts its annual Wood Expo Sept. 20-21 at Masterton Station Park, Lexington, Ky. Composite Panel Association has scheduled its fall meeting for Sept.

29-Oct. 1 at Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Md. Southern Pine Inspection Bureau is searching for a new president, following the untimely death of Jim Loy in May. Applications should be sent to acting president Tom S. Jones, spib@spib.org or fax 850-434-1290.

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July 2013

Building-Products.com

SOUTHERN MILLS MEET Photos by SFPA

SOUTHERN FOREST Products Association held its 2013 annual meeting June 4 in Atlanta, Ga. [1] Dan Uskoski, Cathy Kaake, Todd Kurle. [2] John McDaniel, Bob Browder. [3] Ross Lampe, Mike Gulledge. [4] Lane Merchant, Sandra Colbert, Mark Richardson, Jeff Baumgartner. [5] Tom & Ethel Rice, Debbi

Masonite Upgrades South Carolina Door Plant

Masonite International, Tampa, Fl., has expanded its Denmark, S.C., door plant to 200,000 sq. ft. and added a fully automated production line for interior doors.

The $14-million renovation is a direct response to changing customer demands. Lead time expectation has changed and inventory is now turned as quickly as possible.

“The fully automated production line allows us to build a door in minutes, which used to take up to six hours or more,” said executive v.p. of operations Glen Coulter.

Over 70% of the interior molded panel doors are expected to be run on Building-Products.com

Lewis. [6] Kristina Balaster, John Gandee. [7] Richard Kleiner, Scott Vande Linde. [8] William Almond, Rebecca Almond. [9] Tami Kessler, Rachel Elton. [10] Eric Gee, Vernon Barabino, Steve Conwell. [11] Patrick Harrigan, Joe Patton. [12] Bob Carpenter, Kerlin Drake. [13] Pat Patranella.

the automated line in the new Masonite facility. The Masonite Safe ’n Sound door with its patented DorCor and other solid core doors, as well as Masonite bifold doors, will continue to be produced on a manual line.

Masonite purchased the 50-yearold, then-175,000-sq. ft. facility from Lifetime Door in late 2010.

Survey Says: Homeowners Rate Their Decks

A new survey by Fiberon showed that 89% of deck owners consider their deck to be the most important summertime space in their entire house.

Yet, the “Enjoy Your Deck Day” July 2013

survey also discovered that owning a deck is not all fun and games. Deck maintenance was a major concern.

More than half of respondents— 54%—stated that lower maintenance was their most desired deck improvement. And 38% cited periodic painting and staining as the most annoying aspect of their decks.

Other findings: • 72% use their decks at least three times per week.

• Nearly one third desire a larger deck.

• 58% would rather read than play games on their decks.

• 83% of deck users prefer gas to charcoal grills. 

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N.Y. Dealer Consolidates

HEP Sales/North Main Lumber, Canandaigua, N.Y., has remodeled, to make room for sister store Bright Ideas.

“Having the stores all in one location makes sense,” said owner John Krueger. “Rather than sending a contractor up the road for any lighting or kitchen needs, we can have it all here under one roof.”

Allied Expands in Mid-Atlantic

Allied Building Products Corp., East Rutherford, N.J., has acquired four-unit wallboard distributor Eldersburg Building Supply Co.,

Eldersburg, Md. Former Eldersburg president Jeff Irrang will stay on.

Allied did shutter the Eldersburg facility, which reopened under new owners as Commercial Building Suppy.

Yards Find Homes for Pets

Curtis Lumber, Ballston Spa, N.Y. prides itself on having everything a contactor or do-it-yourselfer might need. However, once a year the dealer offers something more: a one-day petadoption event.

On June 15, for the fourth year in a row, PetAPalooza drew hundreds of

CLASSIFIED Marketplace Rates: $1.20 per word (25 word min.). Phone number counts as 1 word, address as 6. Centered copy or headline, $9 per line. Border, $9.

pet-lovers to 14 of Curtis’ 21 locations throughout New York and Vermont.

On view were more than 500 pets offered by about 100 area animal shelters and rescue groups—most of which waived or lowered their usual pet-adoption fees.

To get everyone off to a good start, local veterinarians dispensed free pet advice and offered free exams for adopted pets. Also on hand were groomers, pet sitters, trainers and other pet service providers—many offering discounts on their services.

The annual pet-adoption event is a labor of love for owners Kendra and Jay Curtis.

Private box, $15. Column inch rate: $55 if art furnished “camera-ready” (advertiser sets type), $65 if we set type. Send ad to Fax 949-852-0231 or dkoenig@building-products.com. For more info, call (949) 852-1990.

Checks payable to Cutler Publishing. Deadline: 18th of previous month.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

PRODUCTS FOR SALE

SOUTHERN PINE INSPECTION BUREAU [“SPIB”] OFFICE OF PRESIDENT–APPLICATIONS The Board of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau is now accepting applications to fill its Presidency, after the untimely death of its president Jim Loy in May of this year.

SPIB [www.spib.org] is the rules-writing lumber grading agency for southern pine lumber, within the American Lumber Standard Committee [www.alsc.org], which is part of the Voluntary Product Standard system of the National Institute of Standards and Technology [www.nist.gov] of the U.S. Department of Commerce. SPIB is involved in the adoption and maintenance of voluntary product standards for untreated and treated softwood lumber, primarily southern yellow pine, and certain other lumber products, including engineered wood.

SPIB was established in 1940 and is a not-forprofit corporation under Florida law, with its main office in Pensacola.

Applicants should have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Preferred knowledge and experience include broad general business knowledge and skills, the ALSC system and its Product Standard, softwood lumber manufacturing, standards and softwood grading rules and enforcement, visual and machine grading of lumber, the chemical treatment of lumber, and wood engineering.

Pay and benefits will be commensurate with the qualifications of the tenant of the office.

SPIB does not discriminate on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state law.

The board has not set a precise deadline for applications, but expects that by mid-July of 2013 it should be moving into the selection process, so reasonable promptness in application is suggested. All applications will be kept confidential by SPIB. Please send any application in the form which you prefer to Mr. Tom S. Jones, President, Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, P.O. Box 10915, Pensacola, Fl. 32524-0915 or by email to spib@spib.org or fax 850-434-1290.

SALESPERSON WANTED Klumb Lumber Company, Flowood, Ms., is looking for a salesperson. Our company has been in business for over 65 years and has a broad supplier base and looking to grow sales in several different market segments. This is a great opportunity for the established salesperson or a beginner. Our company offers commission plus health insurance, 401/k, ESOP, and travel expenses paid by the company.

Please email resumes or inquiries to trainwater@klumblumber.com or call (601) 209-9396.

TRI-STATE LUMBER CO.

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WANTED TO BUY

Your Southern Yellow Pine Timber Connection Specializing in 6x6, 6x8, 8x8, 10x10 Tel. (662) 862-2125 • Fax 662-862-4900 email jgibson@tristatelumber.net

WANTED TO BUY WE BUY AND SELL PANEL STRIPS Plywood, OSB, particleboard and MDF by the truckloads. Lumber Source, Phone (800) 8741953, Fax 888-576-8723, email LumberSource@hotmail.com.

Latest Industry News Visit the ALL NEW building-products.com July 2013

Building-Products.com

DATE Book

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

Southeast Building Conference – July 11-13, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; (800) 261-9447; sebcshow.com.

Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Association – July 22, golf outing, Otterkill Golf & Country Club, Campbell Hall, N.Y.; (800) 2926752; www.nrla.org.

Northwestern Lumber Association – July 24, golf outing, The Golf Club at Cedar Creek, Onalaska, Wi.; July 26, all-state Future Lumber Leaders conference, Bayer Built Woodworks, Belgrade, Mn.; (763) 544-6822; www.nlassn.org.

Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers – July 2427, woodworking fair, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; (800) 946-2937; www.awfsfair.org.

Southern Building Material Association – July 25-28, summer meeting, Wyndham Resort, Virginia Beach, Va.; (704) 376-1503; www.southernbuilder.org.

Missouri Forest Products Assn. – July 26-27, annual meeting, Chateau on Lake, Branson, Mo.; (573) 634-3252; moforest.org.

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Association – July 27-30, summer meeting, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.V.; (336) 885-8315; www.appalachianwood.org.

Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association – July 31-Aug. 4, annual conference, Grand Hotel Marriott, Point Clear, Al.; (770) 631-6701; www.slma.org.

Mid South Building Material Dealers Association – Aug. 2-3, midyear meeting, Courtyard Downtown/Convention Center, New Orleans, La.; (601) 824-2884; www.mbmda.com.

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Progressive Affiliated Lumbermen Co-op – Aug. 7, buyers show, PAL hq., Grand Rapids, Mi.; (800) 748-8900; www.pal-coop.com.

Handy Hardware Wholesale – Aug. 15-17, dealer market, Henry G. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Tx.; (713) 644-1495; www.handyhardware.com.

New Jersey Building Materials Dealers Assn. – Aug. 19, annual golf outing, Knob Hill Golf Club, Manalapan, N.J.; njbmda.org.

Florida Building Material Assn. – Aug. 21-23, annual expo, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Fl.; (352) 383-0366; www.fbma.org.

Orgill – Aug. 22-24, fall dealer market, Boston Convention Exhibition Center, Boston, Ma.; www.orgill.com.

Florida Hardware Co. – Aug. 24-25, market, Doubletree Hotel, Orlando, Fl.; (904) 783-1650; www.floridahardware.com.

Western Red Cedar Lumber Assn. – Sept. 5, Cedar Summit, Whistler, B.C.; (877) 422-9663; wrcla.org.

BC Wood – Sept. 5-7, Global Buyers Mission, Whistler Conference Center, Whistler, B.C.; (877) 422-9663; www.bcwood.com.

HDW Inc. – Sept. 6-8, dealer market, Shreveport Convention Center, Shreveport, La.; (800) 256-8527; www.hdwinc.com.

Hoo-Hoo International – Sept. 6-10, annual convention, Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Mi.; www.hoohoo.org.

Ace Hardware Corp. – Sept. 11-13, fall market, O.C. Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; (630) 990-7662; www.acehardware.com.

Blish-Mize Co. – Sept. 13-14, fall market, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Ks.; (800) 995-0525; blishmize.com.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association – Sept. 16-19, wood basics course, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Or.; (800) 527-8258; www.nawla.org.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative – Sept. 17-19, annual conference, Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, Tx.; www.sfiprogram.org.

Construction Suppliers Association – Sept. 19-20, annual meeting, Dolce Hotel & Resort, Peachtree City, Ga.; (678) 674-1860; www.gocsa.com.

Building-Products.com

July 2013

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Building Products Digest

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45

ADVERTISERS Index

IDEA File

For more information on advertisers, call them directly or visit their websites [in brackets].

Red-Hot Salute to Dad

One dealer in Greensburg, In., found a way to celebrate fathers, flags and patriotism—plus demonstrate the wonders of Weber grills.

The Father’s Day event took place at Pleak’s Do-It Center, which has been in business for 55 years. And though founder Walter E. Pleak wasn’t there in person—he passed away in February at age 98—his family honored his patriotism by collecting tattered, torn or soiled flags that will be disposed of respectfully by the local American Legion.

“We encouraged everyone to turn them in. They can put out new flags and be proud of our country,” said daughter Cheryl Linville, who hopes to make the event an annual tradition. “It’s a good feeling to help encourage pride in America, pride in our flag.”

Advantage Trim & Lumber [www.advantagelumber.com]..........42 Anthony Forest Products [www.anthonyforest.com] .................33 APA-The Engineered Wood Association [apawood.org]............29 Biewer Lumber [www.biewerlumber.com] .....................................3 Chicago Suburban Lumber [chicagosurburbanlumber.com] ....26 Coastal Plywood [www.coastalplywood.com].............................38 Crumpler Plastic Pipe [www.cpp-pipe.com] ................................45 Dixie Plywood & Lumber [www.dixielply.com]..............................8 Everwood Treatment Co. [www.everwoodtreatment.com].........21 Feldman Wood Products [www.feldmanwoodproducts.com]....20 Great Southern Wood Preserving [yellawood.com] .........16A-16B Hoover Treated Wood Products [www.frtw.com] .............Cover IV Jaaco Corp. [www.jaaco.com].........................................................4 Murphy Co. [www.murphyplywood.com].......................................7 Norbord [www.norbord.com] ........................................................35 Nordic Engineered Wood Products [nordicewp.com] .......Cover II Osmose [www.osmose.com] ................................................Cover I

WEBER REPS Teri Wedge (left) and Nick Wehlage (right) conducted grilling demonstrations during a special Father’s Day event at Pleak’s Do-it Center, Greensburg, In.

The demonstration of the store’s line of Weber grills also honored Walter Pleak, who was an enthusiastic outdoor cook. Throughout the day, Weber chef Teri Wedge and her assistant, Nick Wehlage, conducted grilling demonstrations, cooking sausage links, ribs, tomato-topped pizzas, and coconut rum-infused pineapples for happy shoppers and fellow employees.

“Lots of people came by to honor my dad, who was well-known and well-respected in the community,” said Linville. “He was a member of American Legion for 60 years and served with the U.S. Army in World War II.” Radio ads and an article in the local newspaper also helped, especially with newcomers who work in the auto plant that Honda opened in town four years ago.

“It also didn’t hurt that we had great weather for an outdoor event,” she says. “Indoors, they could see everything we offer to compete with the big box stores, such as major appliances, reclining chairs, and mattresses.”

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Building Products Digest

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July 2013

Pau Lope Co., The [www.paulope.com] .......................................27 Quality Borate Co. [www.qualityborate.com] ..............................22 Redwood Empire [www.redwoodemp.com]...........................15, 20 Roseburg Forest Products [www.roseburg.com] .......................11 RoyOMartin [www.royomartin.com] .............................................31 Scotch Plywood Co. [www.scotchplywood.com]..........................5 Simpson Strong-Tie [www.strongtie.com]...................................19 South Coast Lumber Co. [www.socomi.com] ........................24-25 Sunbelt [www.sunbeltracks.com] .................................................23 Swanson Group Sales Co. [swansongroupinc.com] ........Cover III Tank Fab [www.tankfab.com]........................................................41 TriState Lumber [www.homanindustries.com]............................45

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