LUMBER 411

A Special Series from Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association

Let’s learn more about eastern hemlock

E. Latin name: Tsuga canadensis. Also known as Canada hemlock or hemlock spruce. If you happen to live in the French-speaking regions of Canada, it’s known as pruche du Canada. No matter what you call it, let’s learn more about it!

Prevalent across New England and over into the Great Lakes states like Minnesota and Michigan, the eastern hemlock can also be found all the way down into the Appalachian Mountains (think: Northern Alabama and Northern Georgia) and even throughout western hio and into Illinois. In anada, you ll find the eastern hemlock in all provinces east of Ontario except Newfoundland and Labrador. The species flourishes in high-moisture areas, so check along rocky ridges, ravines and hillsides in areas of heavy moisture and high precipitation. Eastern hemlocks love shade and live an exceptionally long time.

What does it look like? It’s a native-grown, evergreen coniferous tree with heavily foliaged branches that sweep up. Most fully grown, mature eastern hemlocks clock in at around - feet in height and around - inches in width; one has been recorded at 5 feet 9 inches thick. One of the largest eastern hemlocks ever recorded was a whopping feet high and inches in width.

Its trunk is straight and almost never forks, while the bark is brown in color and deeply fissured. As the tree ages, theses fissures tend to get deeper. he twigs are a brown-yellow and gathered densely on the branches, which makes them perfect for ornamental planting. The needle-like leaves measure under one inch in length, and the eastern hemlock wood is soft-looking (and feeling) with a beautiful coarse grain.

A little history. From 1880 to 1930, the eastern hemlock was harvested primarily for its bark, which was— and is—a source of tannin for the leather industry.

Eastern hemlock lumber production reached its peak between 1890 and 1910, with the primary product uses being light framing, sheathing, roofing, subflooring, boxes, crates and general millwork.

The eastern hemlock stands are considered essential for shelter and the bedding down of animals like the white-tailed deer during the cold winter months. Snuggled up next to the deer you might find ruffed grouse, turkeys and other forest denizens.

Sometimes planted as an ornamental tree, the eastern hemlock offers good foliage color and is adaptable to shearing. The past several years have seen sporadic infestations by the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on the sap at the base of the needles. Control measures are in place today to stem the range of the bug and reduce damage and tree mortality rate.

How is it used? If you lived during the pioneer days, chances are strong you would have used an eastern hemlock broom for straightening your cabin. You probably would even have served tea from eastern hemlock twigs and needles to your pioneer friends! Another bonus? The inner bark can be eaten raw or boiled—especially in the winter and early spring to make flour. um

Today eastern hemlock is graded under the National Grading Rule. Although the species is moderately low in bending strength and shock resistance, eastern hemlock can be used in construction for light framing, sheathing, subflooring, and roofing. It s immensely popular in the manufacture of boxes, crates, pallets, and as paper pulp for newsprint and other low-quality papers. The unusually strong nail-holding capacity makes it perfect for holding spikes in railroad ties.

How much is used? Annually, more than 100 million board feet of lumber is manufactured by lumber mills located in the Northeastern U.S. The most common grades of eastern hemlock lumber and timbers are No. 2 or lower due to the prevalence of shake that develops within the tree over time, or through the drying process.

For more information on eastern hemlock or other New England/Great Lakes wood species, please visit www.nelma.org.

– Jeff Easterling is president of Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. Reach him at info@nelma.org.

BIP Acquires Warner Robins Under New SE Division

Building Industry Partners has formed a new regional LBM dealer organization, Southeast LBM Interests, in partnership with industry veteran Roger Farmer, most recently executive VP of Swift Supply. The start coincides with their acquisition of the assets of eight-location pro dealer Warner Robins Supply, Warner Robins, Ga. ounded in , arner Robins Supply operates in Warner Robins, as well as seven rural markets in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with nearly 200 employees and annual sales exceeding $80 million.

The deal addressed the Bayer family’s succession planning needs for the business. Mark Bayer will remain as an advisor to Southeast LBM and chairman of Warner Robins Supply post-transaction, after more than 40 years leading the organization. Farmer will serve as president of the platform Southeast LBM and succeed Bayer as president of Warner Robins Supply. The operations will retain their names, including Warner Robins Building Supply, Henson Building Materials, and Mountain Building Supply.

According to Matt Ogden, founder and managing partner of BIP, “Southeast is I s first new platform under our people-first purpose we ll be implementing broad-based employee ownership programs, with supporting programs designed to set in motion the virtuous cycle of investing in people. There is a wonderful opportunity ahead for this family of companies, our employees, our customers, and all of our business partners.”

BIP operating partner Nick Massengill, a Georgia native and Atlanta-based LBM veteran, will be part of the BIP Investment Team supporting Southeast LBM’s success.

Mead Buying Kansas Chain

Mead Lumber has agreed to purchase Heartland Building Center, with locations in Hays, Stockton and Russell, Ks.

Heartland’s current management, under the direction of general manager Derrick Bussman, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations under the 130-year-old Heartland name.

“Heartland Building Center is a great company with a tremendous reputation and long-standing history in the building community; we are excited to have them join our family,” said Dave Anderson, president of Mead Lumber. “This acquisition is a great opportunity for our company and fits our strategic plan to expand further into Kansas.” ead umber now operates locations in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and yoming, including five truss and wall panel plants.

SRS Expands in Chicago

SRS Distribution has acquired sister companies Acorn Roofing upply, Prairie State Exterior Products, and 55 Building Supply, distributors of residential and commercial roofing, siding and related products.

Headquartered in Chicago, Il., the combined companies were founded in 1984 by Richard Sawilchik and are run today by Bryan Sawilchik and Ross Ridder. Sawilchik and Ridder will continue to lead the division under their existing brands.

Builders FirstSource Divesting Gypsum Operations

Opting to focus on its core businesses, Builders FirstSource agreed to sell all assets of its standalone Eastern U.S. Gypsum Distribution Operations to L&W Supply.

L&W will acquire 21 facilities in the Northeast and Southeast, assume the real estate leases for those operations, and hire substantially all of the employees at its locations.

Builders FirstSource entered into the gypsum business through the acquisition of ProBuild in 2015.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

Roseburg Plans NC Sawmill

Roseburg Forest Products, Springfield, r., will e pand its operations in the Southeast with the construction of a high-capacity lumber mill in Weldon, N.C. he new , -s . ft. facility will be called Roanoke Valley Lumber and located on 200 acres of land in Halifax County. Construction on the state-ofthe-art sawmill is expected to begin in the first uarter of , with startup scheduled for later that year.

It will be one of the highest-capacity sawmills on the East Coast, capable of producing as many as 400 million bd. ft. of dimensional lumber per year.

Roseburg is already the largest private timberland owner in the Roanoke alley area, following its purchase of 158,000 acres of timberland in North Carolina and Virginia.

Connolly’s Do it Best Hard-

ware & Rental recently celebrated the grand opening of its Georgetown, In., location, which was acquired last year from Umber’s Do it Best.

84 Lumber added a 34,000-sq. ft. component plant in Statesville, N.C.

Indian Trail Hardware, Indian

Trail, N.C., has converted from Do it Best to Ace Hardware affiliation

and been renamed Ace Hardware

Indian Trail.

Driscoll’s Home Center, West

Pittston, Pa., opened location #2 in the former home of an Ace Hardware in Old Forge, Pa.

Ace Harware added an outlet inside Prenger’s Grocery, Brookfield, Mo. (MaryAnn Ratliff, mgr.).

Coronado Hardware, New

Smyrna Beach, Fl., is closing after 40 years.

Westlake Hardware is set to

open in Derby, Ks., on Aug. 20.

Tupelo Hardware, Tupelo, Ms., added a second location in town, 14,000sq. ft. Tupelo Ace Hardware.

US LBM completed its purchase of dealer American Construction

Source, operator of 70+ locations in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin, including Meek’s, Contractor’s Truss Systems, and Arrow Building Centers. US LBM is now the nation’s largest privately owned full-line building materials distributor.

US LBM has also inked a multi-year sponsorship agreement with legendary pro golfer Bernhard Langer.

L&W Supply has acquired the assets of DAICO Supply, Carrollton and Fort Worth, Tx.

Anniversaries: Carhart Lumber, Norfolk, Ne., 100th ... H.F. Rucker Lumber Co., Boston, N.Y., 100th ... Root Lumber Co., Kenton, Oh., 100th ... Britton Lumber Co., Fairlee, Vt., 75th ... Kodiak Building Partners, 10th.

PrimeSource to Acquire Wolf

Distributor PrimeSource Brands, Irving, ., signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wolf Home Products, ork, a., from affiliates of ene apital Management.

Wolf is a designer and supplier of branded decking, railing, cabinetry, vanities, countertops and other residential building products.

“We are thrilled to welcome Wolf into the PrimeSource Brands family,” said Tom Koos, CEO of PrimeSource. “CEO Craig Danielson and his team have created a terrific service model that differentiates olf from anyone in their space, and the national footprint and overall scale PrimeSource brings will enable them to expand rapidly. Their leadership in Wolf-branded products, combined with a focus on the high growth markets in and around residential repair and remodel and outdoor living, fits very well with our strategy.

Nation’s Best Adds On in NH

Nation’s Best, Dallas, Tx., has purchased Caron Building Center, Berlin, N.H.

Caron will continue under its existing name and key leadership team.

“Caron Building Center traces its roots all the way back to , said owner Mike Caron. “By combining our rich traditions with the strength of Nation’s Best, we’re taking steps to ensure that our store’s associates and our valued customers will continue to be served with great care and support for years to come.”

New England Chains Unite

Two-unit Hamshaw Lumber, Keene, N.H., has acquired Leader Home Centers, with five stores in assachusetts and Vermont.

Leader’s locations, which have long been a part of True Value, will be remodeled, updated and converted to the Hamshaw Lumber brand, which is a member of Ace Hardware.

US LBM Buys Brand Vaughan

US LBM has acquired Brand aughan umber o., operator of five locations in Georgia.

Founded in 1946 by R.L. Brand and Cy Vaughan, Brand Vaughan serves professional builders and contractors in the Atlanta, Columbus, Madison, Athens and Lake Oconee areas of Georgia. Its catalog includes lumber, engineered wood products, windows, exterior and interior doors and trim, rebar, roofing and siding, and the company provides an extensive range of installation services, such as structural framing, siding, windows, housewrap, millwork, and exterior and interior doors.

“We’re excited to join with US LBM, a partner that shares our commitment to people, innovation and delivering extra mile service,” said Brand Vaughan president/GM Jon Vaughan. “This partnership will allow us to continue to grow and create new opportunities for our valued team members and customers, building on our message of ‘Strength Lies Within.’”

NEW HAMPSHIRE’S Ricci Lumber is now part of Kodiak Building Partners.

Kodiak Purchases NH’s Ricci

Kodiak Building Partners has acquired Ricci Lumber, Portsmouth, N.H. ounded in , Ricci serves the lumber and hardware needs of builders and Seacoast institutions in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts.

Eddie Hayes will remain president of Ricci, as well as a part of the ownership group of Kodiak Building Partners. Ricci Lumber will join the Building Materials Group of Kodiak and will report to Pat Flood, executive VP.

To take Ricci Lumber to the next level, Hayes chose Kodiak to honor his family’s legacy and provide further opportunities for his 45 employees. He said, “Kodiak’s family-like philosophy mirrors our own, and they became the obvious choice among several suitors.” During the due diligence phase of the acquisition, Eddie was continually impressed by the Kodiak’s corporate office folks and was delighted to find everyone happy, pleasant, sharp and hardworking.

Oldcastle Seals the Deal with EP Henry

Oldcastle APG has acquired EP Henry, a privately owned manufacturer of hardscape and masonry products in the mid-Atlantic region.

Since 1903, EP Henry has manufactured pavers, masonry and walls, with seven manufacturing and distribution locations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland.

Woodgrain purchased Lowe’s Tennessee Millwork door shop

in White House, Tn. With the deal, Woodgrain will supply Lowe’s stores with ReliaBilt interior and ThermaTru Benchmark exterior doors in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

PJ Clark Lumber, Coppell,

Tx., is opening a new lumber facility in Cadiz, Ky. The 23-acre site, formerly home to Little River Dry Kiln,

already houses 11 dry kilns, planer/ grading facility, and warehouse.

CertainTeed started up production at a new stone-veneer system plant in Quakertown, Pa., expected to increase its capacity to produce STONEfaçade by tenfold.

The Marwin Co. has acquired Mastergrain fiberglass door/moulding manufacturer Millwork 360, Tampa, Fl.

Masonite, Tampa, Fl., will build a 370,000-sq. ft. door manufacturing facility in Fort Mill, S.C., projecting an early 2022 completion.

Canfor’s mill in Camden, S.C., is investing in new technology for its lineal edger and gang lines, including USNR’s BioLuma 3900L sensors.

Snavely Forest Products’

Houston and Dallas, Tx., DCs are now distributing Vista Railing Systems

railings to dealers in Texas and parts of Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Bon Tool Co., Gibsonia, Pa., acquired the operating assets of Plank-Ti, Inc. of Waynesboro, Va., manufacturer of Plank-Ti banding for scaffold planks.

Envision Outdoor Living Products is the new brand that encompasses both Envision Building Products composite

decking collections and the recently acquired Fairway railing systems.

Western Forest Products,

Vancouver, B.C., has released its 2020 Sustainability Report detailing the company’s progress and commitment to key sustainability initiatives, such as the completion of its first full lifecycle carbon accounting.

Make Money by the Truckload

Savvy buyers know that ordering lumber by truck can be more profitable than by car. How so? Just-in-time service by truck from regional mills delivers the right product, right when you need it, in 1-2 days instead of 2-3 weeks.

Smaller, faster shipments improve every facet of inventory performance:

Capital costs – Why pay a big car invoice for 110,000BF well before it arrives? You could already have the 27,500BF from a quick truck delivery sold and posted to your

A/R before its small invoice is even due. This does wonders for cash flow, typically dropping capital requirements and carrying costs by over 80%. GMROI – The same 110,000BF turns 4 times faster when received as needed in four truck increments than if received all at once by car. This triples gross margin return on inventory. And mixed trucks help keep inventory balanced, pushing GMROI higher still. Storage – Up to 82% of lumber storage space can be freed up for more productive, more profitable use. And stocking less wood may enable you to get it all under roof. Shelf life – Wood is perishable; the longer you own it the more culls develop.

Truckloads sell in 1/4 the time of carloads, saving needless cull losses. Reload costs – Eliminated. Save some $15/M on this needless step alone. Plus time.

Trucks turn 4x faster than cars, require 80% less capital and space, keep inventory balanced.

Idaho Timber’s just-in-time service from our 10 regional mills can lower your true lumber cost by greatly improving inventory performance for higher net profits. So kick the car habit. Call today and start making money by the truckload.