BPD July 2022 by 526 Media Group

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Building Products Digest

JULY 2022

THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982

APA – ENGINEERED WOOD SPECIAL ISSUE • TREATED WOOD TECH • POWER TOOL TRENDS

CONTENTS July 2022

Volume 41 n Number 7

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Special Focus

Features

APA on EWP

APA – The Engineered Wood Association shares the latest trends, tips and sales tools in engineered wood products.

BPD

Building Products Digest

JULY 2022

THE VOICE OF THE LBM SUPPLY CHAIN — SINCE 1982

APA – ENGINEERED WOOD SPECIAL ISSUE • TREATED WOOD TECH • POWER TOOL TRENDS

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Departments

Industry Trends

New Battery Technology Fuels Power Tool Market

Business Operations

5 Ways Technology Can Benefit Wood Treaters—and Their Customers

Across the Board

18 Lumber 411 26 Movers & Shakers 44 New Products

Product Spotlight

50 Classified Marketplace

Olsen on Sales

50 DateBook

Transforming Teams

Siding Buyers Opting for Bold Hues

Celebrate Summer While Keeping Employees Focused and Productive

6/16/22 8:37 AM

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“Yes” or “No” vs. “I’ll Let You Know”

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n Building Products Digest n July 2022

50 In Memoriam 52 Advertisers Index 52 Talk Back 54 Centennial FlashBack

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Building Products Digest President/Publisher Patrick Adams padams@526mediagroup.com Vice President Shelly Smith Adams sadams@526mediagroup.com Publishers Emeritus David Cutler, Alan Oakes Managing Editor David Koenig dkoenig@526mediagroup.com Senior Editor Sara Graves sgraves@526mediagroup.com Columnists James Olsen, Samantha Stallings, Kim Drew, Claudia St. John, Dave Kahle Contributors Joe K. Elling, Paige McAllister, Kevin Stanton, Robin West, Borjen Yeh

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

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ACROSS the Board By Patrick Adams

Lessons from highs and lows

he past many weeks have been an emotionally exhausting roller coaster. It’s one of those times where you suffer a couple of hits, take a deep breath, feel thankful that the fight is over, and then get gut punched. After taking numerous hits, I usually begin considering why I’m getting hit, what I could have done to prevent them, and what I’m supposed to learn from it all. What seems like months and months ago (last August), I shared news of our house “demolition” as a result of a $3 leaking supply line. Well, construction is underway and with a family, a business, and travel, combined with delays, cost over-runs and trying to make good decisions that we’ll have to live with, it is taking my family to the breaking point. I am cursed with being a “problem solver” and I’ve learned that there are some problems that I simply can’t solve and taking some punches are unavoidable. However, as they say, the show must go on. As I prepared for a trip I was excited about (part business, but mostly a great opportunity to visit with an industry leader, who’s both a good man and someone I call a friend), I received news that another friend lost his daughter to a long fight with cancer. I unfortunately have seen many fights for life, but none that have been a gut punch like this. She was just 14 and although she passed far too young, she is the one story that I will say “won” her fight. After countless surgeries, treatments, highs and lows, she never gave up and never stopped smiling. This also gave her family the blessing of being able to fight along with her in the most inspiring and graceful way that I know I would never be capable of. Until now, my many fights have only been about winning. She has taught me that there is far more importance in how you fight than whether or not you “win.” This is how legacies are defined and hers will stay with me forever. In the midst of this, I watched (from farther away than my heart would prefer) what is happening in eastern Europe. I watched again as yet another terrorist played out his wishes at the expense of innocent people and their families. This is personal for me and should be for everyone, yet the world responds as if it’s some reality show that they can easily shut off before going to bed in the comfort of their homes. I ask myself how these same people would feel if it was their husband fighting thousands to drop off their family at a foreign border, with only a handful of their life’s possessions, and then turn around to fight for their home and life? It is easy to think that we are “past this” and that things like this only happen with savages in third world countries, but it doesn’t. While these actions are hard for me to watch unfold, the silence by the rest of the world allowing it to

happen is what is most unbelievable and should serve as an eye opener for everyone. But as I returned from one of the first industry events I have attended since the pandemic, I am again conflicted in my emotions. This event was different for me for some reason. For years these industry leaders have been kind to me and welcomed me as I took the helm of these publications. But this time, more than usual, I shared my highs and lows with them as if they were the friends they had promised for years to be. I was unusually vulnerable with things I was struggling with within my business and shared the things I was scared about as a parent of young kids these days. These are things I have never done with anyone other than those whom I have been through countless battles with. I should not have been surprised that baring my soul to these fine people was rewarded a hundredfold. People who have already made their summit in life took time to listen, and give kind, thoughtful advice. Men and women who I’ve known, but have not even shared a meal with, extended offers to visit them, stay in their homes, and have an “escape” from the things that may be stretching my family. It was a lesson to me that I will never forget that sometimes, simply trusting people is rewarded. More than anything, I look at these “lows” and it simply makes me grateful. Thankful my family is healthy and that we are together. Grateful to those who put themselves in harm’s way so we can live our peaceful, safe lives. Humbled that the miracle that brought me to this industry has had the additional gifts of making true friends who help to bring out my better side. While our lives may not be perfect, remember that there are countless millions who pray every night for the life of “problems” that we may have. More than ever, I am humbled and grateful for this industry and its people whom we have the privilege of serving.

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

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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INDUSTRY Trends

PowerStack photo by DeWalt

By David Koenig

New battery technology fuels power tool market

he global power tools market size—estimated to be $34.3 billion in 2021—is projected to grow 5.7% annually, reaching $45.2 billion by 2026, according to a recent forecast by MarketsandMarkets. The hottest products? Cordless electric tools, drilling and fastening tools, and those intended for pro users.

Tops by Power: Electric Tools

Based on mode of operation, the electric segment held the largest share of the power tools market in 2020 and is expected to continue making gains through 2026. The growth of electric tools will be fueled by innovations in battery technology and the growing adoption of cordless tools among industrial and residential users. Currently, most manufacturers are focusing on producing cordless tools powered by lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. Stanley Black & Decker, for example, recently introduced the DeWalt PowerStack 20V MAX—stacked Li-Ion pouch cell batteries for the construction industry. They are said to provide 50% more power from a battery that’s 25% more compact and 15% lighter. “Our groundbreaking dependable lithium-ion battery pack represents a new threshold of cordless power tool performance, helping to further realize the full potential of the cordless jobsite of the future,” said Jaime Ramirez, executive vice president and president of Global Tools & Storage for Stanley Black & Decker. Soon after, Flex Power Tools unveiled its own stacked battery technology, which had been in the works for five years. A common thread has been manufacturers rolling out comprehensive cordless platforms—entire suites of tools that can be powered by the same batteries and chargers. DeWalt has its MAX and FlexVolt systems, Makita the XGT, Hilti the new Nuron platform, Bosch Profactor, Metabo MultiVolt,

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

Milwaukee RedLithium. Their promotions and marketing slogans (Makita, “One System;” Bosch, “High Power, One Battery;” Milwaukee, “Everything Fits”) stress the idea of “one system fits all.”

Tops by Type: Drilling and Fastening Tools

By type, drilling and fastening power tools currently hold the largest share of the market and are estimated to retain that lead during the 2020-2026 forecast period, primarily due to their adoption in specific industries. Electric drilling and fastening tools are used by professionals and DIYers, while most pneumatic drilling and fastening tools are used in industrial environments, such as automotive and aerospace manufacturing plants.

Tops by Market: Pro Applications

According to the study, power tools are more often used in industrial/professional applications, and are rising extensively in prominent industries such as construction and automotive. The construction industry accounts for the vast majority of power tool demand, due to professionals heavily relying upon them for all manner of projects and uses. The resumption of construction activities across the world following the outbreak of the pandemic has led to a surge in demand for power tools. Additionally, the growing industrial expansion, as well as rising repair and maintenance operations, have contributed to the growth of the market.

Tops by Region: Asia Pacific

APAC is expected to hold the largest growth rate of the global market during the forecast period, in great measure due to rising road construction and infrastructure activities, especially in emerging economies such as India, Singapore, China and Japan. Building-Products.com

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BUSINESS Operations By Kevin Stanton

5 ways technology can benefit wood treaters— and their customers

echnology has made complex operations “easy” for decades. Software solutions afford us the luxury of digitized communications in nanoseconds, the storage of massive amounts of data available at one’s fingertips, and even a trusted way to manage our daily financial transactions and life savings. All of this to say, foolproof systems that once required endless equipment, paperwork, and time are no more. The wood treating process is a complex one, no doubt. Tracking every step from fresh cut lumber to final delivery to satisfied customers must be carefully managed. The more streamlined the treaters’ operations, the more time and money they save, and just as importantly—the better experience their customers will have with a quality end product. Having the right data at your fingertips at the right time is key.

Make complex operations easy.

Integrated software solutions that track your full-functioning operations base enable you to connect steps that were once disconnected. Manual processes and disparate systems slow things down, not to mention important details could be missed without all essential data in one place. For instance, processing inbound trucks is a standard part of the business; receiving trucks as efficiently as possible, and making way for the next truck, must be managed swiftly and accurately so as not to disrupt operations. Production scheduling is the key to make it all work, and comes with many variables. Meeting multiple customer demands and deadlines, paired with navigating transportation schedules, such as barges and vessels, can be challenging. A system you can rely on for real-time accuracy is imperative for your success and for your customers’ success. Another component to tech-simplification is the ability to track bundles through various treatment processes by utilizing barcode scanning applications that provide instant up-

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

dates for immediate status of services on any given bundle. Managers are immediately notified when all services for an order are completed and ready to ship—no delays.

Make fewer mistakes.

Use fewer business tools.

Gain greater accuracy.

Fewer systems to manage equals fewer errors. We’re all human, we all make mistakes. Using an endto-end solution reduces the likelihood of mismanaged data as it moves from one step in the process to the next. When there is a glitch, identifying the issue becomes much easier if your operations are managed on one integrated system. More often than not, you can resolve issues in a matter of minutes that might otherwise have taken days to troubleshoot. Let’s face it, nobody wants to take the time to learn multiple different business processes and software programs— especially programs that don’t integrate. In addition, terminology varies across multiple platforms, and there could be various algorithms to track and queries to wrangle for the information you need, not to mention the added expense of multiple subscription fees and service agreements to muddle through. Training costs go up considerably with learning multiple software tools that may or may not effectively communicate with one another. Adopting one integrated solution that makes sense for your wood treating business can shorten onboarding time and decrease the learning curve, setting your team up for success and keeping employees happy. Manage your own inventory and your customers’ inventory with confidence. Easily track units through various processes, from treating to cutting and ripping, to drying, to molding. With just a couple of clicks of the mouse, you can know immediately what you have in inventory. This means Building-Products.com

better business management and more credibility with your customers. A critical component of every business is accurate bookkeeping. With an integrated software solution, you can auto-generate invoices based on activity within the wood treatment lifecycle to keep the cash flowing and payments on schedule.

Gain happier customers.

Ensure your customers have the data they need, precisely when they need it. If there are pitfalls in your current tracking process, you will be dealing with unhappy customers, while losing time and money as you work to rectify the situation. It can be overwhelming to consider replacing your existing management system and starting fresh, but it can also mean more productive employees, a better customer experience, and ultimately a better bottom line. A well-managed business is a credible business, which builds trust and confidence in your customers. Satisfied customers tend to become repeat business and oftentimes refer new business leads. Data shows that prospects are more likely to do business with a company that has been recommended by an existing customer. And that’s a win-win for everyone. Make time to analyze your current operations. Where are you spending most of your time? What are your challenge areas? Where do mistakes happen? Using the right technology will enable you to manage your business better with real-time accuracy, and effectively provide your customers with the information they need on demand. – Kevin Stanton is founder and software architect for RDB Solutions (www.rdb-solutions.com).

Building-Products.com

ProWood Simplifies Product Designations

ProWood, a leading national brand of pressure-treated lumber, has introduced new product designations as well as new lumber end tags and unit placards to help consumers select the best lumber for their project. “We have a passion for educating consumers and want them to understand the reason why lumber has different designations,” said Ryan Kemp, executive vice president of ProWood, a UFP brand. “The new designations and end tags will help them select the right lumber for their project, so they can be confident in its beauty, longevity and safety. This protects both the end user and the dealer.” ProWood has multiple product lines, each with its own intended use. The new end tags clearly list the end-use designation for each line (Light Duty, Ground Contact, Above Ground, Critical Structure). Dealers often stock ground-contact treated wood to eliminate confusion and ensure customers are covered regardless of the application. With the new tags, dealers can stock a wider variety of lumber, giving customers more choice and value, as well as the assurance they haven’t selected the wrong lumber for their project.

July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

Siding buyers boldly go where others haven’t gone before

ith today’s virtually maintenance-free exterior siding products lasting several decades and not requiring painting, choosing the best color for one’s home is an important decision—and likely why neutrals such as white and gray continue to lead in popularity. But will this trend remain? Alside, a leading manufacturer of exterior building products, utilized both online and sales data to gain insights into the most popular color trends.

Vision Statements

With dozens of colors to choose from—and nearly limitless combinations of accents—homeowners can luckily turn to tools such as the Alside Exterior Design Visualizer, which uses a real photo of the home’s exterior to better select color combinations. And what are the top selections? Based on recent data through the early 2022, the most prevalent siding colors (in order) include a mix of darker grays and blues, with lighter colors (Glacier White, Platinum Gray) in the middle of the popularity mix. 1. Cape Cod Gray 2. Sterling Gray 3. Midnight Blue 4. Ageless Slate 5. Glacier White 6. Platinum Gray 7. Harbor Blue 8. Storm 9. Coastal Sage 10. Charcoal Smoke “According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Poll, 36% of Americans replaced their siding to increase their home’s curb appeal,” said Shawn Hardy, senior vice president, Alside. “Adding bolder neutrals is an easy way to make

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

a design statement. And our engineered composite products will ensure that beautiful aesthetic remains for years to come with minimal maintenance.”

Creating the Color Palette

No matter if you dare to be bold, or stay a bit more subtle, experts at Alside developed color palettes featuring both monochromatic (using colors from the same families and tones) and dramatic (creating bold contrasts in colors) to help guide homeowners based on the style of their house and neighborhood. 1. Suburban Traditional For homeowners living in a traditional suburban setting, monochromatic colors in soft, warm, earthy tones can complement one another, with the subtle differences creating an effortless style. Alternatively, for a dramatic effect, mix white windows, a darker cladding, such as Riviera Dusk, with a soft Natural Linen-toned soffit. For a splash of color, mix things up with a bright front door painted aqua or teal. 2. Modern Chic Make your property stand out from the crowd with dark and sophisticated modern chic exterior color palettes. Pair black windows with black soffit and Charcoal Smoke siding for a monochromatic effect. Alternatively, create dramatic impact with silver windows, Cast Iron siding and Platinum Gray soffit. Both palettes will pop against the lush green foliage and colorful flower arrangements of your landscaping. 3. Farmhouse Country Alside’s farmhouse country color palettes pay tribute to farmhouse style. Make black windows the focal point for an eye-catching contrast against Glacier White siding or soffit. For a warmer color palette, pair Classic Clay windows with Fired Brick siding and Monterey Sand soffit. Building-Products.com

Photo by Alside

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THE CHOICE OF PROS

OLSEN on Sales By James Olsen

“Yes” or “No” vs. “I’ll let you know” your first question, put a smile on your face and ask it in a different way.” She kills it.

The 8 Questions of Full Disclosure

fear of most salespeople is of being too pushy. This leads many salespeople to bend over backwards reducing their “sales calls” (if I could find bigger quotation marks, I’d use them) to a presentation of product while waiting for their potential customers to grant them something, whether it be an answer to a question, a returned phone call or maybe just maybe an order. This demeanor of timidness and self-loathing invites and receives poor treatment. This “I’m sorry to bother, but” approach sends the message to the customer that they have all the power. These salespeople make themselves second-class citizens there to serve while the Master Seller’s approach is of equal partnership where we give great service of course, but we also provide value and therefore are treated as a partner, not a servant. This subservient approach is laced through the entire sales process. Example: When prospecting, there are certain things we need to find out about our potential customers so we can better help them. We need to know which items they buy, which species, which lengths, the grades they buy and the nuances of all these and how much volume they use. Most potential customers will give up this information with little problem until we come to the volume question. They don’t lie, but they obfuscate or give vague answers. “Oh we use a fair amount,” “It varies,” “I really couldn’t tell you, it changes all the time” are a few examples of the kind of answers we will get when we ask volume questions. This is a side-step to our question and most sellers will let it go (because of the “pushy” fear factor). The sellers that let this go send the message that it is OK to dodge their questions—and it is not OK—but now that customers know there will be no push back on “non-answer answers” they will continue to dodge questions right up to the moment of closing—because these sellers have trained them to do it. A successful student of mine says, “When they dodge he number one

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

There may be some nuance depending on your segment of the market but the questions we need to know the answers to so we have a partnership relationship with our customers are the following: 1. Where are we in our buy cycle? 2. How much do we have on order? 3. How much do we have on the ground/in the plant? 4. Of those two, how much is already spoken for? 5. What’s our monthly usage? (We should already know this if we prospected them correctly). 6. What’s our buy-back point? How low do we let it go before we have to buy? 7. What’s our average cost? 8. What are we paying out of distribution? Most sellers are too intimidated to ask these questions, so the information flow is a one-way street. These sellers are throwing darts in the dark and hope they stick. The Master Seller will ask these questions in a curious and caring way and if dodged will ask again.

Closing

“I’ll let you know” is how most sales calls finish up— mostly because sellers aren’t asking clearly and directly for the business. I can’t tell you how many students over the years have said, “So you want me to push right here.” I say, “No. There is no push at all.” Not in tone or attitude. The Master Seller asks for the order in a relaxed, positively assumptive tone (because they’ve convinced themselves the customer will say yes before they make the call). Master Sellers aren’t afraid of no. They embrace it. The only way to Yesville is through Noville. A Master Seller gets more no’s in a month than the struggling seller gets in four because they ask for the order.

Overcoming Objections

“The sales call doesn’t start till the customer says no” is an old piece of wisdom. Master Sellers anticipate objections and try to overcome them. They’re in the “yes/no” vs. the “I’ll let you know” business. James Olsen Reality Sales Training (503) 544-3572 james@realitysalestraining.com Building-Products.com

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LUMBER 411

A Special Series from NELMA

By Kim Drew

Celebrate Independence Day with a history lesson! D

that tea and eastern white pine have something in common? Read on for a fun Independence Day story! Overtaxing of the colonists was perhaps the primary reason America entered the Revolutionary War with England, but it wasn’t the only cause: the tall, straight, and beautiful eastern white pine was first mentioned by a sea captain in 1605 during an exploration of the Maine coast. The colonists soon discovered that the lumber from eastern white pines is light, strong, easy to cut, and versatile. It quickly became a favorite of the new world, and was used to conid you know

THE KING’S BROAD ARROW—a tang and two barbs forming the rough shape of an arrow—was used by the Royal Navy to mark the best trees for masts.

struct homes, businesses, furniture, and bridges. But England wanted these trees and this lumber for their own: as ship building grew, the eastern white pine became a favorite choice to create masts for ocean-going ships. By 1623, early sawmills in Maine and New Hampshire were cranking out pine masts for the Royal Navy; within 20 years following the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, masting had become a primary industry across New England. Why did England want these trees from America? Because their own forests had been depleted in the Middle Ages (firewood) and their resources for timber had run dry. The King was desperate for a resource to build the ships he needed to continue his world dominance, so he turned to America. A King-appointed crew was tasked with searching all forests within 10 miles of the sea and inland waterways for as many suitable trees as possible. Each tree claimed by the crown was marked with the King’s Broad Arrow—a series of three hatchet slashes in the rough shape of an arrow: a signal to the early settlers that those trees were only to be used by the Royal Navy. As you might expect, this did not go over well with the colonists, so they decided to ignore the markings, harvest the trees they needed for growth and survival, and even falsified the King’s Broad Arrow mark on smaller, lesser trees.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

ONE OF THE FIRST flags attributed to the Revolution featured an eastern white pine in the upper left corner.

This led to multiple assaults on agents of the King, mini-battles— dubbed The White Pine War and The Pine Tree Riot—to preserve the forest resources the early Americans so desperately needed, and undoubtedly helped spark the flame that became the Revolutionary War. History tells us that the eastern white pine was a strong symbol for the colonists, as evident on the first revolutionary flag allegedly flown at the Battle of Bunker Hill: the cloth featured and eastern white pine emblazoned in one corner. The species was also the introductory catalyst for acts of rebellion against the overtaxing British. If you’re feeling adventurous, it’s rumored that throughout the great state of Maine, trees still exist that bear the original King’s Broad Arrow mark. Please send us a picture if you ever find one—we’d love to see it. For more information on the history of eastern white pine and its many uses past and present, please visit www.nelma.org.

Building-Products.com

TRANSFORMING Teams By Paige McAllister

Summer in the workplace W

arm weather! Vacation! Baseball! Cookouts! Pools and beaches! Camping! While summer evokes different thoughts for everyone, it stands out as a unique and anticipated time of year. Summer also means different things from workplace to workplace. Some companies allow a relaxed pace during the summer months while others are full-steam-ahead since it’s their peak season. Whatever the summer looks like to you and your employees, there are ways to celebrate the season while keeping employees focused and productive.

Weather: Summer brings warmer—sometimes extremely hot—temperatures which create opportunities, some requirements, and may require some planning: • Implement a relaxed dress code – Consider allowing employees to wear more casual and lighter-weight attire as their job duties permit. While T-shirts, athletic shorts, and flip-flops may never be appropriate, allowing Polo-style shirts, capris, dress shorts, and dress sneakers or sandals may make employees more comfortable throughout the day. For employees who work outside, lightening their attire may be required to accommodate the heat while maintaining safety standards. • Plan for extreme weather – Unfortunately, summer also brings extreme weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Companies need to plan for all situations, continually update the plan, and, equally important, communicate this plan to their employees. While federal and state regulations may impact some actions, most should be determined by the company before they are needed. Consider: Under what circumstances will the worksite be closed? Who decides? Will employees be paid and, if so, for how long? How will employees be notified? How will operations continue? What network and other backup plans are in place? How can employees notify the company if they need help?

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

• Comply with heat standards – The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has issued a recommended standard for certain occupations with a high risk of heat stress and illness. While OSHA has several recommendations and is in the process of implementing a federal standard for certain work conditions, several states have their own laws protecting employee safety in indoor and outdoor work environments. Vacations: School breaks and family vacations may mean employees will be absent and/or distracted more than other times of year. Strategies such as planning ahead and offering flexibility may help to keep employees more engaged while meeting performance expectations. • Allow a temporary reduced schedule – If possible, allow employees to reduce their work schedule, perhaps shortening their workday or workweek so they can spend more time with their families or start a weekend trip a little early. Require employees to give advanced notice of their time off or perhaps make it a set schedule until Labor Day. Communicate that employees must continue to meet operational and client demands, even if schedules may periodically need to be adjusted to do so. • Offer temporary flexible work arrangements – Similarly, allow employees to work from home if their duties and performance permits. This could include the occasional day or be a regularly-scheduled arrangement. Employees can be closer to their homes and families and, by eliminating commute times, can work the same amount of time. • Encourage employees to use available paid time off/ vacation – Some employees may have been holding on to paid time off until they could travel freely or in case they need it to quarantine for COVID-19. Others may (unsuccessfully) try to balance family time with work time. Remind employees that you offer paid time off so they can get away from work and recharge. If you have Building-Products.com

Q. Do I have to pay non-exempt employees for a holiday if we are closed? Or a special rate If they work? A. Probably not. There is no federal law to pay non-exempt employees for holidays if they do not work or to pay a premium rate if they do work. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are the only states to have holiday pay laws. However, you must follow your established company policy or, in the absence of one, your past precedent. Many companies have a policy to pay employees their regular wages if the company is closed for a holiday. It is also common to pay employees above their regular wages if they work on a holiday, which has the added benefit of helping to find employees willing to staff operations on a holiday. This “extra” could be time-and-a-half their regular hourly wage or their regular wages for time worked plus the regular holiday pay. While the above applies to non-exempt employees, salaried, exempt employees will probably need to be paid for a holiday on which the company is closed due to Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rules for when an exempt employee’s salary can and cannot be reduced. However, if a salaried, exempt employee needs to work, no extra pay is required, although some companies allow them to take another paid day off in the same pay period. One other point: Often, companies can choose which holidays they observe. While some companies only observe the most common, other companies offer benefits for additional holidays such as the day before or after, depending on how it falls on the calendar. Others may observe other important religious holidays besides or in addition to the more common Christian holidays of Easter and Christmas. Regardless of what your practice, it is critical to communicate to all employees what holidays you observe, the ones you will close, and the ones where you will be open and expect employees to work. You also need to communicate if they will receive pay for those holidays and, if some will be required to work, how scheduling will be decided for fairness. allowed employees to carry over time due to COVID, consider reversing your policy and, as allowed under state law, require employees to take some time off or lose it. Celebrations: Summer offers several opportunities to relax with co-workers, whether celebrating a holiday or just a Friday. • Host an employee event – Give employees the chance to interact with each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Celebrate the 4th of July or Labor Day. While previous years have obligated limited people and everyone bringing their own meal, you can now host a larger event with a potluck, catered food, or a food truck (although precautions such as single servers and distancing may still be necessary depending on factors). Or plan an employee outing to go to lunch or see the latest blockbuster movie. Making the effort to give them a small break will help build team cohesiveness while rewarding them for their hard work and dedication. • Plan a family event – Since for many summer means more family time, consider an event that includes friends and family. This could be a day at the zoo, a sporting event, or a picnic with food, games and prizes. Time it with a holBuilding-Products.com

iday, slow period, or back-to-school. Have several employees help with the planning to avoid burdening one person while also increasing the chances of meeting employees’ expectations. • Coordinate community service – Give employees paid time off to volunteer for a local non-profit. They can serve meals, mentor high-risk kids, or help build a house or rejuvenate a neighborhood park. Or sponsor a team to do a fundraiser walk, giving them shirts to advertise the group (and the company). • Extend discounts to employees – If employees could benefit from your products or services, consider offering them complimentary or at a discount. If not, perhaps find a way to pass along vendor discounts; for example, allow employees to order $25 worth of back-to-school supplies through your company, either for their needs or to donate. Real life: Summer does not negate obligations or realties of current times: • Soften impacts of inflation and rising costs – Employees may need to make choices between wants and needs or luxuries and bills. Consider some little ways to show your employees you understand. Offer benefits to ease the crunch everyone is feeling such as gift cards for gas, groceries, movies or restaurants. Or perhaps allow some limited overtime to permit non-exempt employees to earn more money while increasing their productivity for the company. Or temporarily modify your policies to allow certain employees to cash out some of their paid time off in lieu of taking the time. • Comply with new regulations – While new laws usually take effect around January 1, several take effect during the summer. These summer laws, such as those impacting paid leave, marijuana legalization, employee privacy, workplace speech, and pay rules, will go into effect in different states across the country. Take time to update your policies and, when needed, post updated notices and posters. • COVID-19 – Sorry to say this but COVID-19 is still around. While hospitalizations and deaths are down, vaccination rates are up, treatments are more effective, and quarantine and isolation times are shorter, we still need to be aware of the impacts of a COVID infection since rates are expected to increase again with summer and holiday travel. Even in the best circumstances, one employee getting COVID impacts productivity and could expose a group of people to it, getting a whole department or workplace sick or needing to quarantine. Stay vigilant about PPE, social distancing, ventilation, etc. to reduce the potential rippling effects. If you and your employees are going to take advantage of the summer months, try to take action that your employees will appreciate and value. Also, before you change a policy or give a benefit, ask your HR consultant, accountant or employment attorney to help you review the pros and cons while helping you mitigate the risks that might result from even an innocent act.

Paige McAllister, SPHR Affinity HR Group contact@affinityhrgroup.com July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

Building Center Expands in Carolinas

The Building Center, Inc. has acquired a 130,000-sq. ft. facility on 72 acres in Georgetown County, S.C., to serve as a truss plant and LBM distribution facility for customers in North and South Carolina. Serviced by CSX Rail, the new site will become the chain’s seventh overall location and third to manufacture roof and floor trusses. “We are extremely excited to add this battleship of a facility to our enterprise,” said president Skip Norris. “Our mission is to be our customer’s most-valued building partner. That means we have the products he or she needs on hand, trucks to deliver, and manufacturing support throughout every inch of the Carolinas.”

Boise Cascade Buying Coastal Plywood

Boise Cascade Co., Boise, Id., has reached an agreement to acquire Coastal Plywood Co. from Coastal Forest Resources Co. for $512 million. The deal includes manufacturing locations in Havana, Fl., and Chapman, Al., which employ approximately 750 people. “This acquisition incrementally expands our veneer capacity in support of our customers,” said Nate Jorgensen, CEO, Boise Cascade. “Near term, it provides us the ability to optimize our existing engineered wood products asset base. Longer term, we are excited to fully integrate this strategic venture and we intend to invest $50 million into our Southeast operations over a three-year period to further our EWP production capacity.” The sale, expected to close in the third quarter, does not include Coastal’s parent company or timberlands assets.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

DEALER Briefs McCoy’s Building Supply opened a new store May 23 in Spicewood, Tx. With 15,000 sq. ft. of inside retail space and a paved, drive-thru yard, it’s led by manager Drew Van Winkle and assistant managers Will Winkelmann and Yulisa Martin. Wallace Building Supply, Clarksville, Tn., has been acquired by Southeast Building Supply Interests, a division of Building Industry Partners. Ronnie Wallace will continue as president, with Mark Wallace promoted to director of sales. Ace Hardware in August will permanently close its 10-year-old store in the Woodley Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The Helpful Hardware Co ., Cumming, Ga., has acquired Ace Hardware, Cordova, Tn., as its 13th location. On May 6-8, Helpful Hardware Co. held a grand opening at its new store in Indian Trail, N.C. Holland Ace Hardware , Holland, Mi., has been acquired and renamed Visser Ace Hardware by Nick Visser, ex-Zeeland Ace Hardware. Ward Lumber, Jay, N.Y., was presented a certificate by Senator Dan Stec honoring the 130-year-old fir for its addition to the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Anniversaries: Liese Lumber Co., Belleville, Il., 150th ... Morrison Brothers, Concord, N.C., 100th.

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SUPPLIER Briefs Barrette Outdoor Living, Middleburg Heights, Oh., has agreed to be acquired by CRH, parent of Oldcastle APG and MoistureShield. Barrette also recently released its annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. Gulfeagle Supply purchased Brightview Distribution, Farmingdale, N.Y., from founder Duane Steinroeder, who

will continue to run the branch under the Gulfeagle name.

Beacon has acquired roofing distributor Complete Building Supply, Willowbrook, Il. ROSEBURG held a ground-breaking ceremony May 24 at the site of its new Roanoke Valley Lumber sawmill in Weldon, N.C., with an address by plant manager Adam Reed (far right).

Roseburg Breaks Ground on NC Mill

Oregon-based Roseburg Forest Products has broken ground at the 200-acre site of its new Roanoke Valley Lumber sawmill in Weldon, N.C. The new 375,000-sq. ft., high-capacity dimensional lumber mill is expected to create more than 135 jobs in the first two years. “Roseburg has been the largest private timberland owner in the Roanoke Valley area since 2017, with nearly 200,000 acres of timberland in North Carolina and Virginia,” said Adam Reed, Roanoke Valley Lumber plant manager. “This new sawmill advances Roseburg’s strategy of vertical integration—owning the trees and the facilities to process them—from the West Coast to the Southeast. It reflects our long-term commitment to the Roanoke area.”

PotlatchDeltic Acquiring CatchMark, Expanding Arkansas Sawmill

PotlatchDeltic Corp. announced big expansion plans— both to acquire fellow REIT CatchMark Timber Trust and to enlarge and upgrade its Waldo, Ar., sawmill. PotlatchDeltic and CatchMark will combine in an allstock transaction. Under the deal, CatchMark stockholders will receive 0.23 common shares of PotlatchDeltic stock for each common share of CatchMark. Current PotlatchDeltic stockholders will own about 86% of the combined company, CatchMark stockholders about 14%. When the deal closes in the second half of 2022, PotlatchDeltic will own 2.2 million acres of diversified timberlands including 626,000 acres in Idaho and over 1.5 million acres in the South. PotlatchDeltic also remains the timber REIT with the most leverage to lumber prices, including 1.1 billion bd. ft. of lumber capacity. The board of the combined company will consist of nine directors from PotlatchDeltic and one from CatchMark. The corporate headquarters will remain in Spokane, Wa. A regional office will be maintained in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, PotlatchDeltic will invest $131 million to expand and modernize its Waldo mill, hiking annual capacity from 190 million bd. ft. of dimensional lumber to 275 million. Plans include upgrades to the log yard and planer, a new saw line, and a new continuous dry kiln. The existing mill will continue to operate during the project, with completion expected by the end of 2024.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

L&W Supply has opened in Plymouth, Mn.—its third branch in the Minneapolis market (Jarrod Spoonemore, mgr.). Worthington Industries, Columbus, Oh., has acquired drywall tool provider Level5 Tools, Kansas City, Ks. Milwaukee Tool started construction on a power tool and accessory plant in Granada, Ms., planned to open in mid-2023. Altenloh, Brinck & Co ., manufacturer of Spax fasteners, unveiled a state-of-the-art, 12,000-sq. ft. training center at its headquarters in Bryan, Oh. Versatex Building Products has signed three new distributors to offer its full line of PVC trim products— Cameron Ashley Building Products , Cleveland, Oh., serving northeastern Ohio; BlueLinx , Minneapolis and Duluth, Mn., for Minnesota and western Wisconsin; and Carolina Atlantic, Jackson, Ms., and Pear River, La. Coastal Forest Products , Bedford, N.H., now distributes Palram Americas’ Duraclad multiwall interlocking PVC panels throughout the Northeast. Funch Lumber Co., Cincinnati, Oh., is now distributing Westlake Royal Building Products’ Zuri Premium Decking in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Weekes Forest Products, St. Paul, Mn., will distribute Tropical Forest Products’ full line of Black Label hardwoods through its seven distribution centers in the upper Midwest and Southeast.

Wolf Home Products, York, Pa., now offers aluminum and cable railings, ADA handrails, caps and stair lighting from Key-Link Fencing & Railing to dealers in the Northwest. Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s 2022 Chain of Custody Standard has met the rigorous third-party assessment of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. LP Building Solutions, Nashville, Tn., was honored as the Forest Conservationist of the Year at the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s 57th annual Conservation Achievement Awards. American Wood Protection Association’s 2022 Book of Standards has been released as a 686-page softcover book, as well as part of a subscription-based, online AWPA Standards Library. Building-Products.com

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MOVERS & Shakers Meagan McCoy Jones was named president and CEO of McCoy’s Building Supply, San Marcos, Tx. She succeeds her father, Brian McCoy, who is retiring after 50 years with the company, the last 21 as CEO.Rob Perrone is now director of merchandising-hardlines and Lisa Barrett, director of store planning & visual merchandising. Vicki McInnally and Jim King were appointed to the board of directors of The Westervelt Co., Tuscaloosa, Al., following the retirement of Rick Frost and Robin Jolley. Kelly Hendrix has been promoted to president and CEO of ECMD, N o r t h Wi l k e s b o r o , N . C . H e succeeds Todd Meade, who will begin a retirement transition plan after 37 years with the company. Mike Mullins has been appointed operations mgr. for BlueLinx, Nashville, Tn. Mia Brannon is new to inside sales in Akron, Oh. John T. Krause was named senior VP and general manager, North America, for Jeld-Wen, Charlotte, N.C. He succeeds Daniel Castillo, who is leaving the company. Ethan Cline has been named store mgr. of 84 Lumber, Bridgeville, Pa. Jason Nichols succeeds him as mgr. in Greensburg, Pa., and Matthew Yasko replaces Nichols as mgr. in Natrona Heights, Pa. John K. Cabell is new to LBM sales in Charleston, S.C.

Steve Duggan has been appointed general mgr. of Mobile Lumber & Millwork, Gulf Shores, Al. Wendy Radtke has joined US LBM, Buffalo Grove, Il., as executive VP and chief HR officer. She succeeds Wendy Whiteash, who is now executive VP of integration & strategic priorities. David Decker, ex-Boral, is now general mgr. of Rawson Builders Supply, Fort Worth, Tx. Tyler Sheehan, ex-84 Lumber, is new to sales at Peter Lumber Co., Pleasantville, N.J. Matthew Wilson has joined the sales team at Builders FirstSource, Florence, S.C. Rusty Bauman, ex-Gerber Lumber, is now in sales with Graves Lumber, Copley, Oh. Mike Burley has been promoted to sawmill sales mgr. over the Sawmill Sales Department at Biewer Lumber, St. Clair, Mi. He will report to Bill Schlottman, director of sawmill sales. Ryan Guggenberger has been named CFO for Avon Plastics, Paynesville, Mn. Steve Campbell is now territory sales mgr. for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. James Drexinger, former CEO of American Construction Source, has been named CEO of Associated Materials LLC, Cuyahoga Falls, Oh. He succeeds Brian Strauss.

Gary Keeling, Lincoln Lumber, Conroe, Tx., has been promoted to VP and chief of staff. Nick Larson, ex-Foundation Building Materials, has joined the purchasing and inventory staff at ABC Supply, Coon Rapids, Mn. Donald Allan, Jr., president, Stanley Black & Decker, added the title of CEO and joined the board. He succeeds James M. Loree. Brian Lasinski is a new marketing communication & system specialist at Versatex Building Products, Aliquippa, Pa. New market development specialists are: Peter Bondo, Long Island, N.Y.; Austin Jordan, Maine; Alex Kapres, western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio; Zachary Archer, south central Texas; Shane Harrington, eastern New York; and Patrick Bouchard, Quebec. Doug Rende has been named CEO of North American Specialty Laminations, Osseo, Wi. Christopher Calzaretta will succeed Brian MacNeal as the CFO at Armstrong World Industries, Lancaster, Pa., effective Aug. 1. Kevin Washington, ex-Illinois Tool Works, is now VP of external affairs for Koppers Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. Philip Line is now VP of codes & regulations for the American Wood Council, following the retirement of Kenneth Bland. Korrey Short was promoted to associate forest products trader and Maggie Radyn to merchandise m g r. f o r s a f e t y & g e n e r a l merchandise at Do it Best, Fort Wayne, In. Jason Hanegan is new as national sales mgr., and Jake Longardner, associate merchandise mgr. for paint & paint supplies. Jimmy Mason, LP, and Matt Tobin, West Fraser, have been elected to the APA board of trustees. Dr. Kevin Archer, Viance, was elected president of the American Wood Protection Association, succeeding Patrick Stark. Andy Kudick is now 1st VP; Jay Hilsenbeck, 2nd VP; Paul Merrick, 3rd VP; and Ken Laughlin, treasurer. Russell Leeves is new to the lawn and garden department at MungusFungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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APA – ENGINEERED WOOD By Borjen Yeh, Ph.D., P.E.

ONGOING UPGRADES to APA’S wood research and testing facilities in Tacoma, Wa., help the association set the industry’s highest standards to support innovation design and construction. (Images courtesy APA)

Testing 1-2-3

A historical overview of the APA Research Center

PA – The Engineered Wood Association’s Research Center in Tacoma, Wa., has long been recognized as one of the leading wood research facilities in North America. That position has strengthened over the years as facility expansions provide support for new and existing research and testing on engineered wood products and construction systems for the industry. Today, the association’s 42,000-sq. ft. research center is a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with modern research

and testing equipment and staffed by experienced engineers, wood scientists and engineering technicians.

Where It Began – Plywood Panels & Glulams

Built in 1969, the original 37,000-sq. ft. APA Research Center was constructed for testing of typical-sized 4-ft. by 8-ft. plywood panels. As the demand for full-scale tests on modern engineered wood products grew, the building was renovated in 1990 to accommodate other engineered wood products, such as 6-ft. deep by 72-ft. long glulam beams.

Full-Scale Wall Bracing & Combined Shear & Wind Uplift Testing

A FULL-SCALE shear wall test supports the use of wood structural panels with a large wall opening. Building-Products.com

With the trend toward full-scale structural testing, an extension designed for single-story house tests and test material storage was added to the research center in 2006. The research center extension was completed amid heated debates for wall bracing requirements under the International Residential Code (IRC). APA conducted several series of fullscale single-story house tests to support APA’s and industry’s position on the revisions of wall bracing requirements that were eventually published in the 2009 IRC. Subsequent tests continued for a few years until the completion of the 2012 IRC. APA focused on full-scale combined shear and wind uplift tests in 2007 and 2008 to show the superior performance of wood structural panels (plywood and OSB) when compared to other competing materials. Results obtained from July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

those studies supported the 2008 publication of APA System Report SR-101, Design for Combined Shear and Uplift from Wind, which was also adopted by the 2008 ANSI/AWC Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS).

Force Transfer Around Openings Tests

tial deficiency (up to 42%) to the published design values for the tested flexible structural sheathing materials. This information is documented in the APA Product Advisory SP-1186, Performance of Flexible Structural Sheathing (Independent Evaluations of Published Design Values).

In 2009 and 2010, APA conducted a series of full-scale shear wall tests to provide recommendations for the design of wood-framed shear walls with the methodology of force transfer around openings (FTAO) when wood structural panels are used. This study was a collaboration between APA, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory and the University of British Columbia, under partial funding support of the USDA and the Engineered Wood Technology Association (EWTA). The test results provide recommendations for FTAO design when shear walls are constructed with wood structural panels in high seismic zones, such as California, Oregon and Washington.

Full-Scale In-Grade Structural Glulam Testing

From 2011 through 2015, APA conducted full-scale ingrade testing for structural glued-laminated timber (glulam). Results obtained from those tests validated the current glulam design values and responded to the occasional criticism of the lack of systematic full-scale glulam performance data.

I-Joist Diaphragm Design Values

TESTING of a full-scale (24-ft. by 24-ft.) diaphragm using I-joist framing to establish diaphragm design values in light-frame wood construction.

In 2016, APA conducted a series of full-scale (24-ft. by 24-ft.) diaphragm tests with I-joist framing on behalf of APA I-joist members. The tests were used to establish the diaphragm design values for common diaphragm configurations used in light-frame wood construction. Results obtained from these tests served as the recognition of I-joist diaphragms for APA I-joist members in APA Product Reports or the evaluation reports (ESRs) jointly issued by the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) and APA.

Full-Scale Shear Wall Testing of Flexible Structural Sheathing

APA conducted full-scale shear wall tests from 2015 through 2018 on eight flexible structural sheathing materials randomly sampled from the marketplace. Similar tests were also independently conducted at Clemson University and the University of Oklahoma. Results obtained from a combination of about 90 full-scale shear wall tests showed a substan-

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

INTERIOR of upgraded APA Research Center high bay with new testing capabilities.

APA Research Center High-Bay Laboratory

Recognizing the trending demand for more full-scale, or even three-dimensional (3D) assembly tests to reflect the growing complexity in timber structures, APA members authorized the construction of a high-bay laboratory at the APA Research Center in 2018. This new laboratory was completed in 2019 by deconstructing a 70-ft. by 75-ft. (5,250 sq. ft.) section of the research center and constructing a new 40-ft.tall open floor (no columns between exterior walls) high-bay laboratory from the ground up. The building itself is a demonstration of wood’s strength. It is built with laminated veneer lumber studs and purlins and glulam columns supporting a roof structure framed with curved glulam beams. Wood structural panel sheathing was used on the walls and roof, and OSB lap siding was used as the exterior cladding. The high-bay lab was constructed with a 4-ft.-deep heavily reinforced concrete floor slab using 28 tons of steel rebar and 830 tons of concrete. There are 868 floor inserts with a 100,000-lb. capacity each on the floor at 2 ft. on center. The lab’s ceiling height can readily accommodate a two-story structure for testing.

Looking Ahead

The recent and ongoing upgrades to APA’s research and testing facilities assist APA in setting the industry’s highest performance standards as it continues to support innovative design and construction of timber structures using wood structural panels, engineered wood products and mass timber assemblies. Currently, a study plan is under development at APA to conduct 3D assembly tests by 2023 to better characterize the performance of wood buildings framed with engineered wood products and sheathed with wood structural panels. Learn more about APA’s state-of-the-art laboratory and research and testing capabilities by visiting www.apawood. org/technical-research. – Dr. Borjen Yeh is director of technical services at APA – The Engineered Wood Association. Building-Products.com

APA – ENGINEERED WOOD

CLT MANUFACTURED in North America are certified to perform

North American CLT vs. imported product

Stringent standard assures consistent value, performance

ross - laminated timber (CLT) is lightweight, yet extremely strong with superior acoustic, fire, seismic and thermal performance. It offers fast and easy installation, with virtually no waste onsite. CLT offers design flexibility and low environmental impacts, making it a strong alternative to conventional materials like concrete, masonry or steel—particularly on larger construction projects. CLT manufactured in North America must meet stringent product standards and be certified to the ANSI/APA PRG 320 Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber. Products manufactured outside of North America may not meet these same performance expectations. APA – The Engineered Wood Association explains key characteristics evaluated in the certification process.

The North American Difference

CLT design standards in the U.S. (the NDS) and Canada (CSA O86) require that the CLT products meet the requirements of and be certified to ANSI/APA PRG 320. When comparing North American CLT to products manufactured elsewhere, it’s important to consider the following characteristics: Design Property Compatibility The design capacities published in ANSI/APA PRG 320 were derived analytically using the lumber properties published in the NDS and CSA O86. Imported lumber may have different characteristics, may not be recognized in the NDS and CSA O86 and has published design values that are in-

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

compatible with those of North American lumber. Therefore, design properties for CLT products manufactured with foreign species lumber should be carefully examined for compatibility with North American CLT design standards. Adhesive Heat Durability The adhesives used in ANSI/APA PRG 320 CLT are required to meet heat durability requirements to ensure the adhesives will not melt at elevated temperatures. The heat durability of CLT adhesives is required by ANSI/APA PRG 320 to be evaluated in accordance with ASTM D7247, Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Shear Strength of Adhesive Bonds in Laminated Wood Products at Elevated Temperatures, and the CSA O177 flame test. Most CLT adhesives used outside of North America have not been evaluated for heat durability. The use of adhesives that have not been evaluated for heat durability could impose a serious life safety concern in the event of a structure fire. Moisture Durability CLT moisture durability is required by ANSI/APA PRG 320 to be evaluated based on the same accelerated aging (vacuum-pressure-soak) tests as used for structural glued laminated timber (glulam), which has decades of proven success in structural applications around the world. The face-bond criteria (the minimum percentage of wood failure and the maximum allowance for gluebond delamination after accelerated aging tests) specified in ANSI/APA PRG 320 for CLT is the same as that for glulam. These moisBuilding-Products.com

ture durability criteria represent the most stringent requirements in the world for CLT to ensure its long-term performance. Most CLT products manufactured outside of North America have not been evaluated to the same moisture durability and face-bond criteria as ANSI/APA PRG 320. Since moisture durability of imported products have not been evaluated to the same criteria as North American CLT, long-term performance capability is unknown and may pose a risk of decreased structural performance and increased delamination potentials over time. Fire Performance Fire resistance of CLT products, when determined in accordance with NDS or CSA O86, is based on the requirements that CLT products are certified to ANSI/APA PRG 320. The rigorous adhesive qualification requirements specified in ANSI/APA PRG 320 ensure the integrity of CLT under the most severe fire conditions. New CLT adhesives are required to qualify with full-scale fire tests in accordance with ASTM E119, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, in the U.S. or CAN/ ULC S101, Standard Methods of Fire Endurance Tests of Building Construction and Materials, in Canada. This is not common practice outside North America. Most importantly, CLT products certified to ANSI/APA PRG 320-2018 or ANSI/APA PRG 320-2019 are required to use structural adhesives that meet the requirements of the full-scale Compartment Fire Test (CFT) specified in the standards and do not result in the char layer fall-off when exposed to fire, which is known to cause a second flash-over and fire re-ignition. The 2021 IBC and IRC and the 2020 NBC specifically require CLT to be certified to these new standards. Therefore, it’s important the designer, contrac-

Building-Products.com

tor and building official ensure the CLT products comply to these new standards. Most CLT products manufactured outside North America do not use adhesives that meet the stringent requirements of ANSI/APA PRG 320-2018 or ANSI/ APA PRG 320-2019 and could result in a serious fire safety and code-compliance concern.

Always Look for the APA Trademark

The APA trademark is your assurance the CLT was manufactured by North American producers whose products have been successfully qualified and certified to ANSI/APA PRG 320. The ANSI/APA PRG 320 standard is recognized in the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) in the U.S. and is required for using the design provisions specified in the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS). In Canada, ANSI/ APA PRG 320 is recognized by the National Building Code (NBC) when the product is applied in designs that meet the requirements of CSA O86, Engineering Design in Wood. Find additional information in Cross-Laminated Timber: North American CLT vs. Imported Product, Form S500, in the APA Resource Library.

July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

APA – ENGINEERED WOOD

ENGINEERED WOOD commonly leaves the mill protected with wrap, but precautions must still be taken in transit, at the lumberyard, and at the job site.

Best practices for storing and handling EWP

performance of engineered wood beams, proper storage and handling practices should always be followed. These recommendations help protect beams from damage during shipment, storage and on the construction site.

ed to provide adequate blocking at all beam edges between the sling and the members to protect corners and edges. Only fabric slings should be used to lift glulam members. Spreader bars can be used to reduce the likelihood of damage when lifting long beams.

Glulam

Transport: Stack beams on lumber blocking or skids when loading them on trucks. Beams can rest on their sides or bottoms. Secure the load with straps to keep it from shifting. Protect beam edges with “softeners” or wood blocking when strapping down the load.

Loading and Transit: Glulam beams are commonly loaded and unloaded with forklifts. For greater stability and handling safety, place beams flat on forks rather than on bottoms (see image at top of next page). Carrying extremely long beams on their sides may cause excessive flexing. Using two or more forklifts, lifting in unison, may help control flex. A crane with slings or chokers may also be used to load or unload beams, however, it’s recommend-

Storage: When possible, store glulam beams under cover to protect them from rain and sunlight. Place beams on lumber blockings, skids or rack systems on level, well-drained ground. Center beams on blockings or racks to evenly distribute the load. Water-resistant wrappings are another way to protect beams from moisture, dirt and scratches. Because sunlight can discolor beams, opaque wrappings are recommended. Beams can be wrapped indi-

o ensure optimum

APA trademarked glulam beams are often protected with wrappings when they leave the mill. But care must be taken during loading, unloading and transporting, as well as in the yard and on the job site.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

vidually, by the bundle or by the load. In some instances, the wrappings can be used to protect beams until installation. Sealants on the ends of beams help guard against moisture penetration and checking. The ends of beams should be sealed immediately after trimming. For long-term storage, cut slits in the bottom of the wrapping to allow ventilation and drainage of any entrapped moisture. Do not expose glulam members to rapid changes in moisture and temperature, such as may occur from temporary heating units.

Structural Composite Lumber

Loading and Transit: Care must be taken to protect SCL in all transit periods—from the point where the product is delivered, to job-site handling and storage, to final installation. Take care to avoid forklift damage. If the ground is unlevel in the storage area, reduce forklift speed to avoid “bouncing” the load. When handling with a crane, pick up the load using a spreader if necessary to minimize handling stresses. SCL prodBuilding-Products.com

TO PROTECT SCL, store bundles on stickers and use a spreader when lifting with a crane.

ucts are usually shipped in water-resistant wrapping that protects them from moisture, soiling and surface scratches. Storage: SCL packages should be set on level, well-drained surfaces, with longest materials on the bottom. Lumber bumpers or blocks should be used to keep SCL packages from direct contact with ground—maintain at least 6”-12” of ground clearance. For longterm storage, cut slits in the bottom of the wrapping to allow ventilation and drainage of any entrapped moisture to reduce the possibility of water damage, staining or decay. Store SCL in a covered area whenever possible. Maintain stack height within safe limits and do not store other material on top of SCL.

I-Joists

Loading and Transit: I-joists should never be dropped off the delivery truck. Use a forklift with wide forks to handle long length material or use a boom. Never bounce or jerk loads. Maintain low forklift speeds and smooth braking

to prevent accidental dumping. Always keep I-joists vertical when handling and avoid lifting I-joists by top flange. If I-joists are delivered wrapped, don’t open bundles until time of installation. Storage: I-joists should always be stacked and stored vertically and level—never flatwise. Maintain at least 12” between the ground and the I-joists. I-joists can withstand normal exposure to moisture, but excessive exposure may lead to dimensional changes that affect serviceability. Storing I-joists in a covered area minimizes impacts of weather and moisture. If stored outside, material should be covered to protect from dirt and weather; delay unwrapping bundles until time to install. Use stickers to separate bundles, spacing stickers every 8 ft. and maintaining vertical alignment.

WHEN LOADING or unloading I-joists, use a forklift with wide forks and never stack horizontally.

We Know Engineered Wood. It's what we do! Now TWO locations serve the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern US: 1245 Easton Road Bethlehem, PA 18015 617 Heartland Drive Keysville, VA 23947 Toll Free 800-700-4788 Tel 484-853-3100

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July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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APA – ENGINEERED WOOD By Joe K. Elling

2022 housing industry outlook R

Federal Reserve’s inflation fight poses concern

ussia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased concerns regarding the inflation outlook and the steps Federal Reserve policymakers plan to take to put the inflation genie back in the bottle for the next two years. The Federal Reserve appropriately loosened credit conditions to support the global economy when COVID-19 forced the temporary closures of businesses. There was also merit to the argument that disruptions to the global supply chain raised production and distribution costs, contributing to higher goods prices. However, belief that the inflation increase was “transitory” and price increases would slow in the second half of 2021 appears to have been misplaced. As a result of the Federal Reserve’s effort to monetize the $3 trillion budget deficits run by the federal government in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to also support the economy, the nation’s money supply increased by 36% from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2021. As shown in Figure 1 at right, inflation has not slowed, as the inflation rate in the U.S. is running in the 6% to 8% range, depending on the measure used.

Federal Reserve to Tighten Policy

Following the March 16 Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve would be raising the target range for the federal funds rate 25 basis points, and that six more 25 basis point increases are to follow through the rest of 2022. Powell also said the Federal Reserve would start to reduce the size of its balance sheet in May. More recent statements made by Federal Reserve policymakers suggest that they may be more aggressive in tightening credit conditions than Jerome Powell’s March 16 statement. Prior to March 16, the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage had risen to 3.85% after starting the year at 3.2%. Since March 16, the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has risen by 135 basis points to 5.1% (see Figure 2 on next page). Building-Products.com

The prospects for further tightening by the Federal Reserve suggest the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage means we should not be surprised to see a 5.5–6% rate at year-end 2022.

Rising Mortgage Rate Impact on Affordability

The housing markets in the United States, for homeownership or rental, are tight. Vacancy rates in both markets are at record lows. The increase in home prices has been well documented in the business media. Based on the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the average price of an existing home has appreciated 30% from December 2019 to December 2021. The increase has greatly exceeded the growth in household incomes. In order to illustrate the impact of the increase in the mortgage rate on affordability, we will call on a recent analysis done by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The parameters for the analysis include the following: • The median price of a new home sold in 2022 is $412,500 July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

At a 3% mortgage rate, the number of qualifying households is 42 million, and the share of qualifying is roughly 32.5%. At a 6% mortgage rate, the number and share of qualifying households falls to 27.5 million and 22.5%, respectively. The sense of urgency to buy a home, given the prospects of mortgage rates moving higher, and still attractive margins being realized by homebuilders point to single-family starts running at 1.10 million or more in 2022. Rent increases averaging 17% across the U.S. based on the Zillow Observed Rent Index are sending the signal to apartment developers to build more rental housing. Multifamily starts totaled 474,000 units in 2021, and the forecast calls for multifamily starts to be near 550,000 units in 2022 (see Figure 5).

• The amount of household income that can be devoted to mortgage payment, property taxes, and insurance equals 28% • 20% down payment • Range of interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3% to 6%. Shown in Figure 3 below is the income needed to qualify for the mortgage where the interest rate runs from 3% to 6%. At 3%, the qualifying income is near $95,000, and at 6%, near $125,000, an increase of 31.5%. Using the NAHB estimated distribution of household income for 2022, the number and share of households that can qualify for the mortgage to buy a home with the mortgage rate ranging from 3% to 6% is shown in Figure 4 at bottom.

Considerations Beyond 2022

Some housing industry analysts suggest the U.S. housing stock is underbuilt by 3 to 5 million units. If so, this means the prospects for housing starts to average 1.6 million units or more annually through the rest of the decade are positive. However, there is still great uncertainty regarding the underlying trend in new housing demand driven by household formations. As shown in Table 1 below, population growth has slowed dramatically in the last two years. The increase in the number of people passing away was a function of the coronavirus. Assuming the worst of the pandemic is behind us, the number of deaths should decline. It is unclear, though, where immigration will head after 2022 because there does not seem to be agreement regarding immigration policy in the U.S. Not only does the level of immigration have an implication for prospective household growth, but low immigration points to minimal growth in the labor force and, in turn, potential growth in the U.S. economy. – Joe K. Elling is director of market research for APA – The Engineered Wood Association.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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Barry Beightol – Plywood Sales Assistant

Charlie Doby – Sales Manager Plywood & Veneer

Fulton, Alabama • 334-636-4424 • 800-936-4424 • www.scotchplywood.com

APA – ENGINEERED WOOD

Formaldehyde and EWP

THE INHERENT structural and moisture durability of adhesives used in certified engineered wood products results in very low emissions

provides information on formaldehyde regulations that apply to U.S. and Canadian structural engineered wood products including structural plywood, OSB, wood I-joists, structural composite lumber, and glued-laminated timber. Here, “engineered wood products” are defined as wood products recognized in the U.S. and Canadian building codes for structural applications. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic airborne chemical that can be synthesized for certain industrial uses, such as adhesives used for wood products and in the manufacture of many other household goods, such as medical products, carpets and cosmetics. Because elevated levels of formaldehyde may lead to health concerns, regulations exist to limit exposure. These include limits on formaldehyde emissions from some types of wood products. his article

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

In addition, some green building specifications create a preference for low-emitting products. Many green building rating systems often include criteria to address indoor air quality goals, including mitigation of formaldehyde concentrations or formaldehyde-emitting products. Since most North American construction involves sitebuilt conditions where exposure to weather is expected, the standards for engineered wood products require moisture-resistant adhesive systems. The inherent structural and moisture durability of these adhesive systems naturally results in very low formaldehyde emissions. Note that although cross-laminated timber (CLT) may not be listed as an exempted product below, CLT certified to ANSI/APA PRG 320 is made with moisture-resistant adhesives and has a low formaldehyde emission. Always look for the APA Mark of Quality. Structural engineered wood products bearing the APA trademark are exempt from state and national formaldehyde regulations. In instances where unmarked structural engineered wood products from APA member mills are sold into applications that do not require a certification mark, the product invoice and an APA certificate of conformance can be used to identify the product as exempt.

U.S. and Canadian Formaldehyde Regulations Applicable to Engineered Wood Products

1. U.S. HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard (CFR 3280.308) This standard specifies a 0.20 ppm emission limit for plywood and a 0.30 ppm limit for particleboard when tested with the ASTM E1333 Large Chamber Method. The intent

Building-Products.com

was to regulate the specific nonstructural panel types. Testing during development of the regulations confirmed PS 1 structural plywood readily meets the plywood emission limit; therefore, the regulations explicitly exempt phenolic-bonded plywood from ongoing testing and certification. Hence, the forementioned engineered wood products are either not covered by, or are explicitly exempt from, the HUD regulations. 2. California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Composite Wood Products (also known as Title 17, California Code of Regulation 93120) These regulations were developed by a division of the California EPA and took effect in 2009. The scope of the standard covers particleboard, MDF and hardwood plywood. Demonstrated low emission levels of engineered wood products led the CARB regulations to explicitly exempt structural plywood specified to PS 1, structural panels specified to PS 2, OSB to PS 2, structural composite lumber (SCL) to ASTM D5456, structural glued laminated timber to ANSI A190.1, and prefabricated wood I-joists specified to ASTM D5055. These exemptions apply to products trademarked or audited by APA under the APA quality assurance program, regardless of whether the product is used in construction or industrial applications. 3. U.S. Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act (also known as EPA TSCA Title VI) This Federal Act was signed into law in July 2010. The EPA published draft implementation rules in July 2016 for implementation of the law in 2018. The emission standard mirrors the one established by CARB and explicitly exempts structural plywood specified to PS 1, structural panels to PS 2, OSB to PS 2, SCL to ASTM D5456, structural glued-lam-

inated timber to ANSI A190.1, and prefabricated wood I-joists specified to ASTM D5055, as trademarked or audited by APA under the APA quality assurance program. 4. Canadian Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations The Canadian government published the Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations on June 17, 2021. The regulation comes into force 18 months afterward, and the requirements for laminated products will apply five years after the regulations come into force. The regulations were developed following CARB and EPA TSCA Title VI to allow for uniform requirements for both the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, the Canadian regulations also do not apply to structural plywood specified to PS 1, CSA O121 or CSA O151; OSB specified to CSA O325 or PS 2; structural glued laminated timber specified to CAN/CSA O122 or ANSI A190.1; prefabricated wood I-joists specified to ASTM D5055; SCL, including laminated strand lumber (LSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), and oriented strand lumber (OSL) specified to ASTM D5456; and CLT specified to ANSI/APA PRG 320. CSA O160, Formaldehyde Emission Standard for Composite Wood Products, is a voluntary standard providing the requirements for product sampling, emissions testing, marking and labeling for composite wood products in compliance with formaldehyde regulations in Canada. Find additional information including formaldehyde emission test results, international regulations and green building specifications in APA Technical Note: Formaldehyde and Engineered Wood Products, Form J330 in the APA Resource Library (www.apawood.org).

INDUSTRY SUPPORT IS OUR SPECIALTY For nearly 90 years, APA has proudly supported the industry in creating structural wood products of exceptional strength, quality and reliability and helped building professionals create resilient, sustainable and code-compliant structures.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TECHNICAL AND PRODUCT SUPPORT

ON-DEMAND EDUCATION

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN GUIDANCE

Tap into our expertise and explore our resources at www.apawood.org

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July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

Injunction Halts Brazilian Plywood Sales

A U.S. District Court in Florida has issued a permanent injunction preventing PFS-TECO from certifying Brazilian plywood as meeting the U.S. Voluntary Product Standard for Structural Plywood (PS 1). A coalition of U.S. plywood manufacturers challenged the defendant’s certification of Brazilian plywood as deficient and harmful to American consumers. The suit alleged false advertising, loss of revenue, and negligence related to the structural plywood failing to meet U.S standards and was therefore unsafe. The injunction required revocation of all PS 1 certificates issued by PFS-TECO to over a dozen Brazilian mills making structural plywood for the U.S. According to Michael Haglund, counsel representing the U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, “Everyone currently holding this inventory is now on notice that it should be considered off-grade, which means the PS 1 grade stamp on each panel should be obliterated before resale or the panel destroyed.” The Coalition includes nine family-owned U.S. plywood manufacturers alleging PFS-TECO falsely certified that plywood imported from Brazil met U.S. structural integrity requirements. “The establishment of a strict standard for the veneer quality in Brazil that must be used to manufacture PS 1 plywood is critical to protecting the U.S. plywood industry from the unfair competition of off-grade Brazilian plywood masquerading as meeting the PS 1 standard,” said Gray Skipper, VP of Scotch Plywood, Fulton, Al. “Our mills follow precise recipes in manufacturing plywood to meet the PS 1 standard that are backed up by extensive regionwide testing of the southern yellow pine species we use to make plywood in the South. Brazil has planted these same species that are native to the southern U.S. in a region where pine grows extraordinarily fast and produces veneer that is significantly less dense and therefore less strong than what we use in the U.S.” In 2021, Brazilian plywood accounted for 11% of all U.S. supply with nearly 1.2 billion sq. ft. sold. The substandard plywood is produced by more than 30 plants in southern Brazil. Although it was stamped PS 1 by PFS-TECO, it experienced large failure rates during testing by APA – The Engineered Wood Association and other laboratories. Although APA sponsors the PS 1 standard, it was not a party to the litigation. The litigants sought changes to the standard; APA’s standard committee agreed it could be improved. Through a consensus-based process, an updated PS 1 is anticipated later this year. APA expects the revised PS 1 standard will address concerns brought to light by the litigation and will improve the certification and quality programs supporting the U.S. plywood market.

EPA Scraps Energy Star Mark for Roofs

The EPA retired the Energy Star specification for roofing products effective June 1. In 2019, the EPA notified roofing industry partners it sought to phase out the specification, and asked for comments. Although feedback was “mixed, a range of commenters supported sunset of the program,” according to the National Roofing Contractors Association. Several factors spurred the change, in particular the EPA’s belief that robust standards in the commercial roofing sector made the mark obsolete. For residential, Energy Star was considered too binary a label to cover what’s become a complex process. In roofing, the Energy Star mark can no longer be used on labels, websites and other collateral materials.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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July 2022 n Building Products Digest n

NEW Products

Impactful Drywall Corners

Unlike metal corner bead products, which tend to crack, chip and dent, LevelLine Outside 90 solutions from CertainTeed are flexible and forgiving with their impact resistant plastic core, joint tape, and formulated surface paper. Designed to create perfect outside corners in record time, they are available in 8’, 9’, 10’, and 6’10” lengths. n CERTAINTEED.COM (800) 233-8990

Find Your Center

Microjig’s new FitFinder 1/2 Gauge allows users to find the exact center of stock with no measuring and no math. It draws on basic geometry and simple mechanics to automatically indicate the center point of pieces up to 3” thick. It can be used around the shop when setting fences, transferring cutting depths, and creating joints, using a pair of legs that move together. When woodworkers set one leg on top of the material, the other leg automatically moves to indicate the center of the stock. This measurement can be locked and used to set up machines or mark parts as needed. It can also help center router bits, center stock on the lathe and more. It works for square, rectangular or round stock. n MICROJIG.COM (855) 747-7233

Premium Composite Decking

Trex Co. is expanding its premium Transcend decking line with the introduction of Trex Transcend Lineage, boasting refined aesthetics, trend-forward colors, and enhanced performance features. The new boards feature an elevated aesthetic with subtle, elegant graining for an unmatched natural appearance. Available in two new color options (Rainier, an airy mountain gray, and Biscayne, a light coastal brown), they are engineered with heat-mitigating technology in the shell to reflect the sun and reportedly keep boards cooler than other composite decking offerings of a similar color. Boards come in square and grooved profiles, measuring 1”x6”. Square-edge boards come in 16’ and 20’ lengths. Grooved boards come in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths. n TREX.COM (800) 289-8739

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

ADA-Compliant Doorglass

ODL’s new ADA Doorglass is designed for use in ADA-compliant doors, enabling builders to meet ADA standards that provide access for individuals with disabilities. The new doorglass increases visibility and natural light, while still accounting for an ADA-mandated 10” bottom rail. Ideal for multifamily dwellings and new construction, it is available from both the ODL and Western Reflections brands. Two different sizes, 22” x 60” and 22”x 76,” are available in the Evolve frame with Low-E glass and in the impact-rated Severe Weather frame with Low-E+ laminated glass. n ODL.COM/ADA (800) 253-3900

Building-Products.com

Faster Fence Installation

Shur-Line’s new 9” Deck Pad with Detail Edge is faster than a roller, smoother than a brush. A detail-curved edge is perfect for in between deck and fence boards. Its tear-resistant foam pad helps prevent ripping due to screws, nails or rough wood. Refill pads fit most handles. The tool can be used with all paints, stains, polyurethane and other hardwood floor or deck coatings without linting.

Milwaukee Tool’s new M18 Fuel Utility Fencing Stapler and 9-Gauge Galvanized Staples allow for increased productivity, easier stapling, and all-day runtime on one battery. Designed so fence installers can staple six times faster vs. using a hammer, the tool simplifies two-handed hammer stapling into a one-handed battery-powered task with more maneuverability and less strain from repetitive hammering.

T&G Bamboo Fencing

n SHURLINE.COM (800) 253-7856

n MILWAUKEETOOL.COM (800) 729-3878

n MOSO-BAMBOO.COM (855) 343-8444

Quick Flash

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

The reliable MOSO Bamboo X-treme stability, durability and sustainability are now available for horizontal and vertical fencing applications. MOSO North America’s new 6” unfinished fence boards are tongue-and-groove, square edge, and come in 6’ lengths. They boast a Class A fire rating and 25-year warranty against rot and decay, and are WUI listed in California.

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DON’T TRUCK AROUND

WORK WITH THE BRAND WHO’S GOT YOUR BACK. With millions of bags delivered every week and on-the-ground support you can count on, partnering with Sakrete means you spend less time waiting — and more time racking up sales.

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Step in Silence

New QuietBoard panels from MP Global Products can be installed beneath floors to inhibit the transfer of noise. They also add insulating value, increasing energy efficiency while helping keep rooms at a comfortable temperature at a lower cost. The 6mm-thick fiberboard panels are easily cut with a utility knife. Manufactured with 100% recycled fiber, they are half the weight of traditional wood products. The 1/4”-thick panels are available in 2’x3’ or 4’x6’ sizes. QuietBoard can be utilized within a flooring assembly as floating, stapled or glue-down. n MPGLOBALPRODUCTS.COM (888) 474-0510

Hybrid Jobsite Fan

RIDGID’s new R860721 18V Hybrid Jobsite Fan is 40% more powerful than its predecessor, while delivering airflow at extra-quiet levels. Being hybrid powered, the fan is great for on-thego needs, and can run for up to seven hours on the max speed setting using an 18V 6.0Ah MAX Output battery. Its runtime can be extended when plugged into an extension cord. The fan offers up to 10 different mounting options including a key hole for wall screws, a tripod mount, rebar holes, and the ability to clamp onto 2x4’s or be hung from its handle. n RIDGID.COM (800) 474-3443

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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CLASSIFIED Marketplace

PRODUCTS FOR SALE

Rates: $1.20 per word (25 word minimum). Phone number counts as 1 word, address as 6. Centered copy/headline, $9 per line. Border, $9. Column inch rate: $65 per inch. Deadline: 10th of previous month. Questions? Call (714) 486-2735.

WANTED TO BUY

DATE Book Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend. Construction Suppliers Association – July 12-15, sales & estimating training, Mobile, Al.; www.gocsa.com. Rhode Island Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association – July 13, golf outing & clambake, Green Valley Country Club & Kempenaar’s Clambake Club, Portsmouth, N.H.; www.nrla.org. Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers Association – July 16, Day at the Races, Osego Speedway, Oswego, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Mid-Hudson Lumber Dealers Association – July 18, golf outing, Powelton Country Club, Newburgh, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. – July 20-23, annual conference, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Co.; slma.org. New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association – July 21, golf outing, Lake Sunapee Country Club, New London, N.H.; www.nrla.org. Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Assn. – July 24-26, annual meeting, Hollywood, Fl.; www.appalachianhardwood.org. Building Material Suppliers Association – July 28-31, summer conference, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; www.mybmsa.org. Massachusetts Retail Lumber Dealers Association – Aug. 1, golf outing, Pinehills Golf Club, Plymouth, Ma.; www.nrla.org. Southeast Building Conference – Aug. 3-4, Gaylord Palms & Convention Center, Kissimmee, Fl.; www.sebcshow.com. North American Wholesale Lumber Association – Aug. 4, regional meeting, 7 Vines Vineyard, Dellwood, Mn.; www.nawla.org. Midwest Building Suppliers Assn. – Aug. 11, Sycamore Scramble golf outing, Anderson Country Club, Anderson, In.; thembsa.org. Ace Hardware – Aug. 15-17, fall convention, McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.; www.acehardware.com. Mid States Distributing – Aug. 16-20, Fall Rendezvous, Phoenix Convention Center, Minneapolis, Mn.; www.msdist.com. Central New York Retail Lumber Dealers Assn. – Aug. 18, annual clambake, The Spinning Wheel, North Syracuse, N.Y.; nrla.org. The Hardware Conference – Aug. 19-21, Marco Island, Fl.; www. thehardwareconference.com. Southern Forest Products Assn. – Aug. 23-25, Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo, Nashville, Tn.; www.sfpaexpo.com. Blish-Mize Aug. 26-28, spring market, Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Ks.; www.blishmize.com.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

NORTH CAROLINA RELOAD

Shaver Reload, Statesville, NC

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

IN Memoriam George H. Weyerhaeuser Sr., longtime former leader of Weyerhaeuser Co., Seattle, Wa., passed away June 11 at the age of 95. The great-grandson of founder Frederick Weyerhaeuser and a graduate of Yale, he served as president and CEO from 1966 to 1991 and continued to serve as board chairman through 1999. Nicholas August “Nick” Mans, 85, third-generation owner of Mans Lumber Co., Trenton, Mi., died May 14. A graduate of the University of Michigan Business School, he worked at “The Lumber Yard” until his retirement. Joseph Satterlee “Joe” Northrop, 72, former chairman of Pike Lumber Co., Akron, In., died May 15 in Fort Wayne. After earning degrees from DePauw University in 1971 and Indiana University-Bloomington in 1974, he served as a second lieutenant and JAG in the Air Force. He would then spend 29 years as an officer in the Reserves. His lengthy legal career included time as a prosecutor and in private practice. Joe was one of the longest serving directors of Pike Lumber, including almost 10 years as chairman. John Wiley “Jack” Welch, co-founder of Consolidated Builders Supply, La Crosse, Wi., passed away May 14 of congestive heart failure. He was 93. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he started a homebuilding business, CBS Homes, with his father in 1959. They later launched their own lumberyard and a component manufacturing plant, Crescent Building Products. He retired at age 70. Donald Lois “Don” Fowler, 97, founder of Fowler Lumber Co., Aransas Pass, Tx., died May 7. He and his wife, Esther, started the business, initially as a frame shop, in 1952. Charles Paul “Charlie” Levandowski, 75, co-founder in the early 1970s of R&L Lumber Co., Waller, Tx., passed away May 8 after a battle with brain cancer. Building-Products.com

ADVERTISERS Index Materials Page

APA – The Engineered Wood Association www.apawood.org

Cover II

Arxada www.wolmanizedwood.com California Cascade has

Manufacturers Reserve Supply www.mrslumber.com

North American Wholesale Lumber Assn. www.nawla.org

Established in 1974, grown to become one of15the largest and mostBiewer trusted distributors in the building industry. Lumber 51 www.biewerlumber.com We offer a huge inventory of materials available at substantially competitive prices along with a team of experienced experts, 31 Boozer Laminated Beam Co. 25, Cover IV ready to get you what www.boozerbeam.com you need. 43 have treating facilities Coastal Products 28 and We in Forest Junction City, OR, Woodland, CA www.ironwoods.com two in Fontana, CA along with our distribution and manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Coastal CA. Plywood With more than 20 trucks in our 40 47 fleet, www.coastalplywood.com California Cascade delivers value to your business with prompt, economical and timely delivery. Rail spurs are available39 at all 48 Crumpler Plastic Pipe locations to minimize www.cpp-pipe.com shipping costs for large projects, will call pickup is available at all locations. 7

Culpeper Wood Preservers www.culpeperwood.com

Our reputation has been built upon the success of our customers and we our years of experience with Cover III look forward toDosharing it Best Corp. 36 you. www.doitbestlbm.com

Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. www.nelma.org Redwood Empire www.buyredwood.com RoyOMartin www.royomartin.com Sakrete www.sakrete.com Scotch Plywood www.scotchplywood.com Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com Swanson Group Sales Co. www.swansongroup.biz

Eastern Engineered Wood Products www.eewp.com

Timber Products Co. www.timberproducts.com

Everwood Treatment Co. www.everwoodtreatment.com

TIVA Building Products www.tivabp.com

526 Events

U-C Coatings www.uccoatings.com

Great Southern Wood Preserving www.yellawood.com

Utah Lumber www.utahlumber.com

Cover I, 46

Hixson Lumber Co. www.hixsonlumber.com

Versatex www.versatex.com

Hoover Treated Wood Products www.frtw.com

West Fraser www.westfraser.com/osb

Humboldt Sawmill www.mendoco.com

Western Forest Products www.westernforest.com

Jordan Lumber www.jordanlumber.com

Weyerhaeuser Distribution www.weyerhaeuser.com/distribution

www.526.events 800-339-6480 • californiacascade.com

HIXSON LUMBER COMPANY

TALK Back RECOVERY WISHES Patrick, I was surprised by this month’s “Across the Board” (“Practice What You Preach,” June, p. 8). The irony of the circumstance given last month’s article is certainly not a coincidence. I’m sure your life will be changed for the better because of this experience. Time will reveal the story that could only have unfolded through this exact chain of events. Here’s to your complete recovery and future good fortune! Edward A. San Juan E.F. San Juan, Inc. Youngstown, Fl.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

Thank you for your article. As always, your writing inspires me. I hope and pray for your health and for you and your mother-in-law to fully recover. Yes, times like these are maybe by design by a higher divine authority, for us to see what’s important in our life. Godspeed, my friend through BPD. David Beckham Payless Surpus & Building Material, Fort Worth, Tx. I hope you are doing well. And so true: gratitude and appreciation for the ones who prop us up every day. Never take them for granted.Thanks for sharing! Dave Destiche Amerhart, Green Bay, Wi. Building-Products.com

CENTENNIAL Flashback

The 1980s

o mark this year’s 100th anniversary of BPD’s sister publication The Merchant Magazine, we are looking back each month, decade by decade, at the advertisers that have long supported us and are still growing strong to this day. This month we check in on the 1980s. • States Industries, Eugene, Or., originated in 1966 as a manufacturer of walls panels—showcased in their September 1981 ad— before eventually concentrating on industrial hardwood plywood. • Siskiyou Forest Products was started by Fred Duchi in 1974 as a remanufacturer/wholesale distributor, as shown in the July 1982 Merchant. The company now produces finish lumber as well as Reserve brand engineered siding and trim, at its 35-acre manufacturing plant in Anderson, Ca.

• Canfor began a s P a c i f i c Ve n e e r, Vancouver, B.C., in 1938, adding milling operations through the next decade and in 1947 taking on the new name Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Aggressive growth followed, including selling into the U.S. through a network of wholesalers (at right, November 1984). Canfor began establishing its now-formidable foothold in the Southeast U.S. in 2006 with its purchase of New South. • Velux’s founder, Danish inventor Villum Kann Rasmussen, came up with the idea that would transform dark attics into livable spaces full of daylight and fresh air. In 1942, he patented the first roof window, called VELUX—VE short for ventilation and LUX Latin for light. Within a few short decades, VELUX had opened roofs across the world, including domestically through VELUXAmerica, which appeared in The Merchant in May of 1985.

• Snavely Forest Products, Pittsburgh, Pa., was founded in 1902 and grew to five distribution locations by the time it was acquired in 2018 by Weekes Forest Products. Snavely first promoted its western distribution centers in The Merchant in December 1982. • Atrium Windows & Doors was formed in 1948 and from its facilities in Dallas, Tx., and Welcome, N.C., grew into one of North America’s largest producers of vinyl doors and windows. After first appearing in The Merchant in April 1987, Atrium merged with PlyGem in 2018, after both companies were acquired simultaneously by private equity firm CD&R.

n Building Products Digest n July 2022

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BPD July 2022

Articles inside

centennIal flashBack

neW prOducts

BusIness OperatIOns

apa On eWp

lumBer 411

transfOrmIng teams

Olsen On sales

acrOss the BOard

prOduct spOtlIght

Industry trends