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A GREAT BUILD STARTS WITH JUST ONE PIECE. PREMIUM QUALITY LUMBER At Western Woods, we have the right lumber for every application, including decking, siding, framing, trim, and more. Regardless of the application, we have the perfect pattern - over 70 of them - including WWPA standard and custom. We also provide priming and staining services, ensuring each piece looks great and delivers long-lasting performance. Call us today to learn how we can help make your build a success.
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Volume 103 • Number 2
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building-products.com
DOMAN BUILDING MATERIALS GROUP UNIFIES OPERATING DIVISIONS UNDER A MASTER BRAND TO REFLECT ITS VISION AND EVOLUTION In a strategic move set to redefine the future landscape of our organization, we are pleased to announce a significant transformation within our various operating divisions. Moving forward, we will unite under the cohesive and powerful umbrella of the DOMAN brand — a name that has been involved in the industry for over 100 years — marking a pivotal moment in our journey. CanWel Fiber will be rebranded as DOMAN Timber, and our Canadian and US West Coast wood treatment facilities will become DOMAN Treated Wood. CanWel Building Materials and California Cascade will unify under DOMAN Building Materials, and Hixson Lumber will become DOMAN Lumber. This strategic decision is driven by our commitment to enhancing the synergy of our activities, fostering unity, and strengthening our market presence. With a global footprint of 29 distribution centers, 32 treating facilities, 5 specialty sawmills, 3 truss plants, 4 specialty planing mills, 2 post and pole peeling facilities, and 109,000 acres of managed forest, we are now in the position to emerge as one of the leading providers of building materials in North America.
“It’s the way in which we support and serve our customers that makes us who we are. It’s our commitment to their success that makes us valuable. And it’s our supply chain capabilities that makes us DOMAN.” — Amar Doman, CEO
Starting now, we will gradually implement the new brand across all touchpoints. Customers, partners, and stakeholders can expect a seamless transition with no disruption to our operations.
------------| CONTENTS
February 2024
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FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 12 14 16 18 20 46
08 ACROSS THE BOARD
FEATURE STORY What’s hot in outdoor living: fire features, heaters, kitchens and more
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT New deck framing materials aim to give treated wood a run for its money
MARGIN BUILDERS Understanding deck warranties
INDUSTRY TRENDS Builders’ evolving needs drive fastener innovation
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
22 OLSEN ON SALES 24 TRANSFORMING TEAMS 30 MOVERS & SHAKERS 38 NEW PRODUCTS 44 DATE BOOK
Distributors partner on private-label decking and railing
48 IN MEMORIAM
THE BIG PICTURE
48 ADVERTISERS INDEX
Exploring the influence of texture and modularity in outdoor living design
50 FLASHBACK
SELLING WITH KAHLE Are limiting beliefs holding you down?
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------------| ACROSS THE BOARD
WHAT YOU DO MATTERS ------------ BY PATRICK ADAMS THE PAST FEW WEEKS have been a bit tough and conflicting. My best friend, who I’ve mentioned a few times in prior articles, is moving away. While I’ve only known him for a handful of years, I recognize that it gets harder and harder to find a “best friend” the older you get (at least it has for me). As I’ve shared before, he’s a military veteran, an active police officer, and the type of person who makes you think about how to be “better” whenever you’re around him. Simply put, he’s a good man, with good values, who you can always count on. He’s been with the same department for almost 20 years—his entire policing career post military. There’s been a few times he’s considered leaving, but he never made the move for many good reasons at the time. Until now that is. He is in the final stretch of his time as my neighbor before he and his family head to Texas and his new department there. We were reflecting on good times and stories by the fire with our traditional whiskey and cigar in hand. I asked him what he will remember about his lengthy time here at his department that spanned from his time in the academy as a young man to now, part of command staff that grooms the next generation. His answer shouldn’t have surprised me coming from him, but it did. He said, “I will remember that what I did mattered.” A simple eight words that landed with a much heavier weight. Who can confidently say that about their career? Who thinks about their job in that way? He went on to tell me story after story about countless calls for service that would never make headlines or reality shows, but things that made a difference in people’s lives and the community. There were no shootouts or spoiled heists. They were stories about meals, washing machines, and replaced bicycles. They were introductions that led to jobs or a reliable vehicle for a reasonable price. After he left, I sat by the fire for a long time thinking about that conversation. It’s about perspective, isn’t it? If you’re reading this, perhaps you sell lumber or building materials. When people
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ask what you do, that may be the answer to how you think about your job: “I sell lumber.” At the end of your career when someone asks you what you will remember about your time, what will you say? From my perspective, you don’t sell lumber. You build communities. You help people achieve the American dream—something that exists nowhere else in the world beyond here. You sell lumber. That lumber builds homes that people purchase and live in. Those people living together build communities, that shape lives, and values and the future of those generations being raised there. You do that and it makes a difference to countless people. The lumber you sold today may, a year from now, become the home where a young couple brings their first born home for the first time, to raise them and keep them safe. They will grow, go outside, and play with other kids with the same privilege. I’ll miss my friend once he’s gone. But, he did it to provide a better life and environment for his family. It will make him and his family better now, and forever. They all will make new friends, and positively influence them as they did us. Among the countless ways that I’m better for having known him, is the realization that what I do, and what you all do, matters. Each day, we have the chance to make a difference in complete stranger’s lives. Although there are countless other influences pushing us in different directions, this is the perspective that I will try to move through this year with. That what we do matters. How we do it matters. And perhaps, we might just make a difference to a bunch of people that we will never know. Get up today, be proud of what you do, and make a difference. As always, I am humbled and grateful to serve such an amazing industry.
PATRICK S. ADAMS, Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com building-products.com
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------------| FEATURE STORY
DECKING EXPERTS stressed that clients ask for outdoor kitchens with lots of prep areas and extended counter spaces. Rather than guests huddling up around the interior kitchen or the hosts holed up with meal prep indoors, outdoor kitchens create a collaborative environment so everyone can participate in the party as it’s happening. (Photos by Premier Outdoor Living)
FEATURES, WHAT’S HOT IN FIRE HEATERS, KITCHENS AND MORE OUTDOOR LIVING HOMEOWNERS ARE prioritizing a balance of form and function to create flexible-use spaces that enhance their enjoyment of the outdoor experience, according to leading builders consulted for Deckorators’ annual Outdoor Living Report. The 2024 report focuses on what homeowners have been requesting most for their outdoor spaces, including functional design, regional color trends, and more. Among the top trends cited:
1. Functional Design: Homeowners are looking to utilize their outdoor spaces for multiple purposes, and in all kinds of weather, from season to season. Flexible-use zones throughout the deck are becoming a design standard, revealing a trend toward maximizing utility and prioritizing spatial flow. 10 • the merchant magazine • F
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2. Cocktail Rails: Signifying a shift away from the structured dining table, the recent spike in bar rail additions frees up space on the deck and creates additional opportunities for socializing. 3. Monochrome Moment: Homeowners’ preferences for deck colors are becoming more minimalistic, opening up more opportunities for pops of color and texture elsewhere that can be easily updated with changing trends. Catherine Lippincott of Premier Outdoor Living, Palmyra, N.J., noted the recent shift toward monochromatic decking palettes: “We find that a lot of clients want to bring the project to life with more textures, mixed materials, and greenery instead of really bold color choices. A lot of people are moving more towards building-products.com
because you’re able to enjoy the space an extra three months out of the year. I think it’s worth it on every project.”
7. Dock Upgrades: Waterfront spaces are evolving to include upgraded elements that encourage gathering and connection. 8. Designer/Homeowner Collaboration: Overall, homeowners are showing more interest in being involved in the outdoor design process, from start to finish. “Nearly everyone who contacts us recently has been requesting an outdoor kitchen in some capacity,” Collinsgru said. “And people are putting a lot more thought into those kitchen areas. On some projects, it feels like we’re designing an interior kitchen for our clients, because they really dial into every appliance, every little detail.” MM REGIONAL COLOR TRENDS AS HOMEOWNERS spend more and more time outside, experts note that builders are incorporating outdoor heaters and fire features on most of their projects.
neutrals for something that’s muted and not super loud.” Premier’s Sean Collinsgru said the colors their customers are asking for are trending toward neutrals that can work with the exterior of the house. “People just want something that’s natural and neutral, not in your face. They want more textures to bring the project to life, rather than the colors,” he added.
4. Privacy Walls & Shade Structures: These features make the outdoor experience more comfortable, offering seclusion from neighbors and protection from the elements. Privacy walls commonly serve dual purpose, incorporating entertainment centers and greenery. 5. Outdoor Kitchens: Homeowners are treating the outdoor kitchen as a place for both cooking and camaraderie, showing increased interest in upgrades such as extended counter space and built-in appliances. 6. Heaters & Fire Features: Homeowners are challenging the seasonality of their outdoor spaces with heated elements, whether it be the sleek, discreet warmth of outdoor heaters or the eye-catching ambience of a central fireplace. Collinsgru said fire features are a huge request from almost all of Premier Outdoor Living’s clients, and 90% of those are gas so the customers can come out and turn it on, enjoy the fire, and when they’re done, simply turn it off and walk inside with no mess or no smell. Joe Hagen, All Decked Out, Cincinnati, Oh., said, “Electric heaters are very popular in our area. We recommend adding heaters to nearly any roof structure, building-products.com
The Rockies “My customers really tend to gravitate towards browns—a lot of Khaya, with Dark Slate. We don’t do too many grays.” – JONATHAN MOELLER, COLORADO CUSTOM COVERS & DECKS
East Coast “90% of our jobs are Costa. We find that it’s a great color to pair with nearly any house. If you pair it with a brown, it pulls out more of the brown tones in the color… whereas if you pair it with black or gray, it’ll pull some of the grays out of that color. It’s really versatile.” – CATHERINE LIPPINCOTT, PREMIER OUTDOOR LIVING
Midwest “We don’t see many red tones being used in our outdoor living projects, like you might see in more mountainous areas. Lighter colors are very common here—we use a lot of Tundra and Khaya. We do still get requests for gray in our market; I’d say it’s about 50-50 between browns and grays here. People either go with the combination of Sierra and Slate or they’ll go with Costa and Khaya.” – JOE HAGEN, ALL DECKED OUT
Pacific Northwest “We used to do a lot of grays; that was the popular mix for a while. This year, we’re doing a lot more brown. Costa is extremely popular. We still do a lot of projects with a different colored accent board, but a lot of customers are wanting the same color accent board as their field board, for more of a minimalistic look.” – LEIF WIRTANEN, CASCADE FENCE & DECK
February 2024
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------------| PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
FRAMING ARGUMENTS
NEW DECK FRAMING MATERIALS AIM TO GIVE TREATED WOOD A RUN FOR ITS MONEY
------------ BY SARA GRAVES ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY of decks are still built on pressure-treated wood frames, builders now have an array of choices. New deck framing materials, including steel, aluminum, engineered wood, and composite, have recently been introduced, attempting to tempt builders with higher-end products.
treme changes in temperature, he explains. Fortress’ Evolution steel framing boasts a Class A fire rating. In application, steel frame profiles will remain straight and true over time. This makes for an enduring, dimensionally stable underdecking solution that keeps surface boards flat and smooth underfoot. Fortress’ latest development, introduced in response to feedback from pros who already use Evolution, are 5.5” x 5.5” posts that are 20 ft. tall. With steel posts that extend high in the air, builders can give homeowners more usable space between the first, second and even third levels of a deck structure. A powder-coated finish provides improved corrosion resistance and UV protection.
STEEL Steel emerged in the last decade as the first real alternative to pressure treated wood for deck framing. “Over the last few years of high-renovation activity, we’ve seen a major shift in homeowner priorities and purchasing decisions,” said Jeff Schulz, senior VP of sales and marketing at Fortress Building Products. “Many are gravitating toward wood-alternative building materials that check multiple boxes: high performance, stylish, low maintenance and sustainable.” Schulz says steel is strong enough to support the added weight of today’s most in-demand outdoor amenities (such as outdoor kitchens or steel pergolas). “That’s why so many builders have already made the switch from lumber to steel for underdecking construction,” he explains. “Builders who frame a deck with steel can create a lasting outdoor space that exceeds their customers’ expectations. Steel deck framing systems leverage steel to support today’s ever-evolving deck functions and enormous loads.” In addition, steel is resistant to long-term exposure to moisture, splitting and warping as a result of ex-
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ALUMINUM TimberTech is known for its composite decking and composite and aluminum railings. It believes the future of deck framing is in aluminum. In fact, it introduced its new Aluminum Framing product last November. Ideal for decking projects in fire-prone areas, the framing product is compatible with all TimberTech decking and railing systems, and provides a solution with engineered components designed to work together. It will not split, rot or decay, and comes with a 25-year limited product warranty. TimberTech’s senior VP of product management, Patrick Barnds, adds there are a few steel-based systems on the market that have some of the advantages building-products.com
of using metal to replace wood. They are straight and more consistent than wood, and if installed carefully and inspected and maintained over time, they can last for 15 to 25 years—or more. While steel may be cheaper, Barnds claims that it is susceptible to rust, even with routine maintenance, and is generally not recommended for use in coastal regions or other challenging environments. It also requires cut ends to be prepped and painted on the jobsite, is harder to work with, takes longer to install, and requires special tools. Barnds stresses that aluminum doesn’t have any of those issues. The ease and speed of installation, strength and quality of the finished product, extended durability (even in coastal environments), lack of rust, sustainability (it’s made from up to 50% recycled material and is recyclable at end of life) and other benefits make it a logical choice of material for this application. He illustrates that cutting aluminum is much easier than cutting steel, because it doesn’t produce any sparks, and is non-combustible, making it a great building material for use in WUI regions or fire-prone areas. In addition, it is much lighter than steel–a single 12-ft. joist weighs less than 30 lbs.—making it easier to move. Barnds shares that his company commonly hears complaints from decking contractors about the inconsistency of wood framing when it arrives on the jobsite. “Contractors don’t want to spend half the day shimming, planing, blocking and otherwise having to fix the boards of a wood subframe to get a flat, level, stable and consistent deck surface. Then, after installation, a wood subframe has the potential move and change with the seasons and over time, which could result in a contractor callback.” And although the upfront cost of aluminum is more expensive than a deck substructure made from traditional pressure-treated lumber, Barnds says it’s a different story in the long run. “Once you figure the cost of repairing and replacing a wood substructure every 15 years or so in many climates, there is less of a cost difference over the lifetime of the deck with an aluminum substructure, if any at all.”
ENGINEERED WOOD From both a lineal foot basis and from a system perspective—when constructing the entire deck substructure—PWT Treated LVL costs less than steel and aluminum, says Duane Smith, VP of marketing and building-products.com
business development at PWT. It is more expensive than pressure-treated lumber on a product vs. product basis, but when you think of the substructure holistically and factor in the labor savings, it’s not much more to use PWT Treated LVL–and it won’t crown, twist or warp. Contractors who frame with PWT Treated LVL can eliminate a mid-beam line, columns and footings and you end up saving on labor because they don’t have to crown every joist to make sure it’s perfectly flat. Smith adds that being a wood product with the benefits of metal, PWT Treated LVL provides the best of both, and it doesn’t cost a lot more than pressure-treated lumber. “Think about the deck’s substructure holistically, and don’t limit your thinking to just the front beam. PWT Treated LVL can be used to eliminate sight lines in that capacity, but it can also be used for deck joists, ledger boards, blocking, stair stringers and every other aspect of the substructure. The benefit of applying it this way is labor savings: teams don’t have to hand-crown every piece, but they still get a perfectly flat deck surface,” Smith says.
COMPOSITE An entirely new material—a structural wood-free composite—is being rolled out. Owens Corning’s OC Lumber is specifically designed for deck and dock framing applications (as well as deck boards and posts). It is reinforced with Advantex Fiberglas, a proprietary corrosion-resistant technology that adds strength and durability, while resisting mold, mildew and pests. The product cuts and installs like wood, yet remains flat and uniform. The product is an extension of Owens Corning’s 2022 acquisition of WearDeck. As executive VP and CFO Kenneth S. Parks noted, “With opportunities to displace traditional materials and expand our product lines across residential and commercial structures, we didn’t just acquire a decking company. We gained a new technology and capability to enter new markets and build a much bigger business. OC structural lumber is a great addition to our family of market-leading products and solutions and a great example of how investments in product innovation are helping our customers win and grow in the market while creating new growth avenues for our company through material conversion opportunities.” For dealers, more options in deck framing mean more upsell opportunities. MM February 2024
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------------| MARGIN BUILDERS
UNDERSTANDING DECKING WARRANTIES BEFORE CUSTOMERS hand over their hand-earned money, they want assurance that what they purchase will perform as promised. That’s where warranties come in. A warranty is a written promise of performance regarding a product’s quality and durability. It’s the company’s assurance to customers guaranteeing the reliability of their product to perform as stipulated without defect or breakdown. Warranties are public statements of the company’s commitment to excellence—both in terms of their product quality and customer satisfaction. Think of it as insurance. As a legally binding contract of the company’s belief in their product’s ability to function in a particular way—and their readiness to accept responsibility and redress if it doesn’t—a warranty provides peace-of-mind and protects your investment in the long run.
A Warranty vs. a Guarantee Warranties are often confused with guarantees—the major difference being that a warranty is a written guarantee. The guarantee is implicit in the warranty covering a product. The warranty applies to the product only. A guarantee includes not only the product, but also the service, people and customer satisfaction, and even covers money-back conditions. Warranties can vary from free repair to complete replacement with authorized repairers. They generally exclude wear and tear from breakage, misuse or lack of maintenance. The warranty outlines the procedures for addressing defects or damage in the goods, detailing the time frame and the specific terms and conditions governing these remedies. It’s crucial to grasp these limitations and
terms to prevent disappointment, extra costs, and unsatisfactory results.
Common Misconceptions Regarding Warranties Let’s be clear about what a warranty is NOT: it is NOT a catch-all contract guaranteeing continual repair and replacement for negligence or breakage. However, it IS a contract to repair or replace a faulty product that does not function as it should during the specified period. Most warranty claims require Proof of Purchase, details of the problem, and a copy of the warranty obtained at the time of purchase. The warranty will continue after replacement, without extending the terms of the original contract. Let’s understand these differences using a practical example: Eva-Last offers various limited warranties on their different decking brands. The warranty for that brand details the expected durability and performance over the warranty period, in terms of colorfastness and wear and tear of the product over its lifespan. So, if a deck were to develop any abnormality, which when assessed is deemed a product failure, the manufacturer will replace or repair the affected boards. However, if for example, a surface change was caused by the homeowner cleaning it with an abrasive chemical (not recommended) that damaged or discolored the surface, it will not be covered. The warranty does not cover poor workmanship of contractors or resultant damages that may occur from an incorrect installation. Every claim is considered on its individual merits. Say, for instance, an installer overlooks the load requirements of a deck or fails to consult an engineer for a commercial application, incorrect joist spacing could result in deck instability. This might lead to warped boards or create potential safety hazards. This is not considered a product failure, but rather an installation failure.
Buyer Beware!
PROPER INSTALLATION per building code regulations and manufacturers’ guidelines are needed to preserve a warranty’s power. (Photo by Eva-Last)
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Laws like the Consumer Protection Act or Consumer Product Safety Act (or similar regulations) govern the assurance of safe, high-quality products. Consumers have the right to expect products of good quality, in proper working condition, and devoid of any defects. Be aware of unscrupulous suppliers that don’t offer clearcut warranties, leaving you in the lurch. Reputable companies back their products with class-leading warranties. As evidence of their uncompromising commitment to quality, safety and customer satisfaction, you can rest assured their products will perform as promised. MM building-products.com
------------| INDUSTRY TRENDS
BUILDERS’ EVOLVING NEEDS DRIVE FASTENER INNOVATION ------------ BY DAVID KOENIG INNOVATION in construction fasteners is driven by, more than anything else, the desire to help installers do their jobs better. Consequently, the leading trends in fasteners are solutions to users’ most pressing needs:
Better Looking “The demand for products with longevity is high,” says U2 Fasteners’ Kurt Hogard. “For example, when using treated wood that lasts 25 years why would someone be foolish enough to use screws that will rust and corrode after five years to save a couple dollars? They would rather do the job once than twice.” With the slowdown in new home construction, there’s a simultaneous uptick in remodeling jobs, which frequently show off the new materials, rather than hide them behind walls. So how the fastener looks installed—and continues to look into the future—matters. Maze Nails, according to marketing director Lisa Martin, “always keeps a close eye on the new building materials being introduced to the market—to ensure
PAINTED COILS of specialty nails from Maze Nails are offered in hundreds of colors to match the builder’s preference.
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that we have the best nails for applying those products. For example, prefinished siding and trim require highly corrosion-resistant, prefinished nails to match those products. To keep up with this trend, Maze has increased the capacity of our modern and efficient automated paint lines. We manufacture hand-driven nails, 20˚ stick nails and 15˚ coil nails in hundreds of colors to match the application preference of the builder—and to keep homeowners happy with the look of their new siding and trim.” Maze can accommodate both large and small paint orders with very short lead times.
Engineered Fasteners The need for fasteners that offer added capabilities, such as self-retention, vibration resistance, or the ability to be installed in tight spaces, has led to the design of ingenious new “engineered fasteners.” For instance, says Greg Groenhout, National Nail’s CAMO product manager, “The increase in popularity of grooved composite usage among both DIY consumers and professional builders has created a demand for advanced fastening systems. Our products, such as WEDGE Clip and EDGE Clip, when used with our LEVER and ClipDRIVE tools, illustrate our commitment to providing solutions that ensure easier, faster and universally compatible clip installations.” Midwest Fastener Corp., Kalamazoo, Mi., has seen newer, engineered fasteners taking over for more traditional fasteners or applications where brackets or inferior fastening practices were being used. For example, says category manager Nick Thies, “we see post-installed concrete screw anchors and wedge anchors replacing traditional cast-in-place ‘J-Bolt’ anchor bolts for anchoring sill plates to foundation walls. Using post-installed anchors eliminates headaches for the contractor in the foundation planning and pouring stages and provides more flexibility and placement options for floor joists and other framing members.” Thies also sees engineered screws replacing hurricane brackets or straps for connections between building-products.com
trusses and top plates and bottom plates to rim boards. “These engineered fasteners accomplish code-compliant connections with much lower installation time. In the pneumatic tool/fastener space, subfloor nails have been developed that function similar to screws,” he notes. “They can be fired much more quickly than screws while still retaining the superior holding power of a screwed down subfloor assembly.”
Working Quicker, Easier and More Efficiently Thies says the changes above are being driven by a demand for greater efficiency on the jobsite. “Users want faster and easier installations that don’t compromise building integrity or safety, and the fastener industry is innovating to keep up with these demands.” Scott Park, director of fastening systems for Simpson Strong-Tie, agrees: “Today, contractors want a strong, secure connection, but they are also looking for fast and easy installation. The Strong-Drive SDWS Timber screw that we introduced is designed to provide an easy-to install, high-strength alternative to through-bolting and traditional lag screws. This screw is ideal for the contractor and the DIYer. When you have a product that helps the contractor, they keep coming back for that. Considering the industry is still feeling the pinch of the labor shortage, supplying new and innovative systems that allow them to work faster and safer is a goal of ours.” Speedy and problem-free installations drop right to a contractor’s bottom line. They want “products that improve productivity to offset inflationary costs,” says Jacek Romanski, channel marketing director for ITW Residential Construction, owner of such brands as GRK Fasteners, Paslode and Tapcon. “Contractors are always looking to complete their jobs quickly, more efficiently without rework or hassles to save on costs. Whether they are tools, nails, screws to anchors, most pro contractors want to quickly connect their building materials, finish their work, and move onto the next job.”
building-products.com
NEW STRONG-DRIVE SDWS Timber screw from Simpson Strong-Tie is designed to provide an easyto-install, high-strength alternative to through-bolting and traditional lag screws on projects like constructing a raised bed.
Basically, that means fewer hassles, which is driving the demand for cordless. “From drills to nailers, cordless tools are growing exponentially on job sites,” Romanski notes. The new Paslode Cordless 1-1/2” Positive Placement Metal Connector Nailing system allows contractors quickly fasten hangers and ties with the same innovative nose probe we invented so many years ago, but now without the inconvenience of a hose and compressor. Yet, adds Romanski, “not all cordless tools are made equal. Contractors are already carrying and moving heavy building materials, and their bodies take a beating. One of the top requests by contractors is to keep making their cordless tools lighter and more maneuverable.”
traditional fastening systems, it’s made from renewable raw material European beech, and so on.”
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Ready for Purchase
April Clohessey, marketing manager with Beck America, is convinced end-users care about how the tools and fasteners they use are produced. “Beck has developed a fastener called LignoLoc—the world’s first shootable collated wooden nail,” she says. “You can just imagine the possibilities with this innovative fastener. For example, it can reduce emissions by up to 66% when compared to
Finally, professionals expect reliable sources of supply. “Customers want to be confident that the product that they need—or is in the plan—will be available to them,” says Simpson Strong-Tie’s Scott Park. “Things are definitely not normal, or even pre-pandemic. We still see a lot of up and down availability in the construction market in raw materials, packaging or any number of things.” MM
Increased Automation The drive to become more efficient has led fastener and tool manufacturers to introduce products that increase automation. Beck, for example, developed a flexible, digital robot platform for the automatic production of ecological wall and ceiling elements using LignoLoc. “We also have items such as FASCO and MEZGER nailing and stapling heads, FASCO InMotion hand-held carriages, etc.,” Clohessey adds. “They reduce the number of fasteners that might be used due to the accuracy of robotic placement of the fastener.”
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 17
------------| PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
DISTRIBUTORS PARTNER ON PRIVATE LABEL DECKING & RAILING ------------ BY DAVID KOENIG
NEW PRIVATE label stainless steel railing system from AGS boasts elegant posts, a unique electropolished cable, and TIG-welded post connections.
LARGER DEALERS and distributors looking to promote their own brand rather than the product manufacturer’s brand are teaming with decking and railing producers to introduce their own private-label products. LMC’s ModernView composite decking, Home Depot’s ArmorGuard composite decking and railing, Lowe’s ChoiceDek composite decking and railing, Lowe’s Pre-assembled Aluminum Rail, and Wolf’s cellular PVC decking, composite decking, and vinyl railing are all produced by other manufacturers, but boast the dealer or
distributor’s private brand, packaging and marketing muscle. AGS Stainless, Inc. is the latest manufacturer to begin offering private-label products. Available exclusively to LBM distributors, the stainless steel railing system can be customized with a variety of top rail materials and branded with the wholesaler’s trade name. The new product allows LBM distributors to further capitalize on the public’s growing demand for cable rail products, while better supporting their dealers by giving them a product that their builders will see as an
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ebruary 2024
alternative to the high cost of local custom stainless railing fabrication. This A316 marine-grade, stainless steel railing system is built to the same high standard of quality that AGS Stainless is known for, but is priced to compete with railing systems made from less visually attractive materials than stainless steel. The system installs with minimal field modifications. It was designed to give builders and DIYers a stainless railing product at a price point that is similar to the pricing of an aluminum railing system. But, rather than wait weeks for local stainless fabrication, these railing system components are pulled from dealer inventory and can be installed the same day. Kevin Harris, director of sales & marketing for AGS Stainless expects that most larger distributors have existing brands or the resources to create a new one on their own, although AGS is happy to help. Logos can easily be printed or stickered on the box that the posts ship in. “The market for outdoor living products is resilient,” Harris adds. “Building material dealers are reporting strong year-over-year sales in railing products. When you factor in that homeowners are increasingly interested in higher-quality deck and stair railing products, this new Private Label system is the right product at the right time.” Larger distributors and dealers should investigate whether offering their own branded decking and railing can pay dividends for them. MM building-products.com
EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF TEXTURE AND MODULARITY IN OUTDOOR LIVING DESIGN ------------ BY JOE RABOINE DESIGNING OUTDOOR LIVING spaces has become more complex and intricate in recent years. To please customers, backyard project planners must go beyond aesthetics and create intentional custom designs that acknowledge an organic connection to nature while honoring the style of the home and meeting the needs of the homeowner. Functionality now plays an essential role in how design elements are brought to life, but also, it’s important to consider the psychological influence that a space has on a homeowner and how that experience can be elevated.
Texture as a Biophilic Element The power of texture in creating a sensory experience is significant as it pertains to not only aesthetics, but functionality. The textures chosen can add a dimensional aspect or an element of sophistication that levels up a small space or shines in a large-format project. With the technology available today, hardscapes are no longer limited to a few neutral tones and flat tex-
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tures. You can find dimension in the tone and texture of concrete, porcelain and permeable pavers whether it be sculpted, cobbled, dimpled, smoothed, distressed or more. Hardscape manufacturers are capitalizing on the trend of textured pavers, creating interesting patterns in the material that complement any design style. Pavers with a texture like organic rock or stone pair well with both modern and rustic design styles. Creating a quality, functional design highlights your teams’ skills and helps deliver impressive results. One way to create a truly unique space that reflects the client’s personality is creatively using a mix of different materials. For more contrast, pair organic hardscapes with other materials like metal, glass, wood and composite decking. This helps spaces feel less flat and linear. Other accents and accessories like water features, fire pits, or even decorative gravel can add more texbuilding-products.com
ture to a space that is traditionally ordinary. Mixing these elements adds a new layer of functionality to a backyard, creating multi-use spaces the homeowners can use to relax, entertain, work and more. In addition to incorporating these textures and mixing materials, natural elements such as plant life and gardening are a great way to influence an area to be more welcoming and brighter. Biophilic design is a growingly popular concept that emphasizes the importance of using elements in a design that connect homeowners to the nature around them. The style lends itself to a more organic look and feel, usually leaning away from defined breaks and relying more on rougher, irregular edges and natural materials. By creating an illusion of pavers entangling with a lawn or creating a steppingstone effect, homeowners feel more drawn the nature around them and in turn benefit from positive psychological effects. Belgard’s new Papyrus modular paver line is a perfect example of introducing texture and biophilic elements into your design. Reminiscent of handmade textiles or dried earth, Papyrus looks natural and seamlessly blends into a space, simplifying the design process. Whether it is for a welcoming patio or a pathway to the garden, Papyrus infuses the hardscapes with the surrounding landscaping.
Modularity Increases Functionality Modular, linear design is a trending style among today’s homeowners, but also has benefits for contractors and crews. Modular design uses individual parts to create a holistic plan more efficiently. With this easier and faster installation method, outdoor product manufacturers and contractors can optimize their workflow and free time for additional projects and more creative designing time. It’s no secret that the growth of the outdoor living industry and the increasing expectations of homeowners now enables designs to become more complex and customized. Introducing modular, geometric standard patterns comprised building-products.com
LARGE-FORMAT modular panel systems can take hardscape projects to a new level. (Photos by Belgard)
of clean lines and simple formats creates an uncluttered aesthetic, while allowing the homeowner to include various features in their spaces efficiently. To maximize space and build fully functional backyards, it’s essential to be intentional with each element. Can an outdoor dining table double as an office space, or can a wall double as seating? Offering design services that take these questions into consideration and can provide simple solutions is key to success in the future of the outdoor living industry. Belgard Artforms is a great example. Artforms is a large-format modular panel system that can create various shapes and elements. Contractors can use Artforms to build seating, grill areas, fire features, and more. It is versatile and can help establish a cohesive aesthetic in a bigger way. Another example of recent innovation in modular design for outdoor living—pavers, which work
off common nominal sizes, allowing contractors to play more with shape, size and texture within the design. The modular fashion makes integration easier, as less installation time is required. When contractors master the art of harmonizing both texture and modularity in their designs, you find more cohesive and inviting outdoor spaces. Biophilic elements like texture and color, as well as functional benefits like modularity and multi-use spaces, will remain drivers in homeowner decision-making, so those that implement new technologies and stay ahead of emerging trends will continue to be successful. MM
JOE RABOINE Joe Raboine is VP of design for Oldcastle APG, overseeing the Belgard Residential Program (www.belgard.com).
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 21
------------| OLSEN ON SALES
LEARNING CONVERSATIONS ------------ BY JAMES OLSEN I WAS THINKING the other day about one of my best customers and the things I learned from him. Chuck (pseudonym) and I were different. He was from the deep South, and I was from the left coast. He was raised by an entrepreneur who owned his own company, and I was raised by a musician/poet/English teacher who knew little about money. My father’s idea of “investing” was buying a $10 lottery ticket every week—which never cashed in. I majored in Spanish and eschewed anything close to a business course. Chuck majored in business. I called Chuck my third year as a lumber broker. I was still a poor excuse for a salesperson, but I worked hard, so I was surviving. Chuck had started his own distribution company a couple years before. My education began.
BN rail rate into Birmingham allowed me to sell Chuck lumber at a competitive price, so I was getting a lot of his business. We did this four times as the market ran from $495/MBF to $695/MBF. I sold Chuck the last 20 and bought another five carloads. Then the market dropped $200/MBF in two weeks! I called Chuck on a Friday. “Hey, Chuck, how ya doin’?” “Jimmy,” he said in a sub-zero tone, “ya top ticked me.” I’d never heard that term before, but I knew exactly what he meant. “I’m never buying trucks from you out of Birmingham again. Have a nice weekend.” At the time Chuck was about 50% of my business. I went home and asked my wife, “How do you like our new home?” She said, “Great, why do you ask?” “Because we might not be living here much longer.” I’m upside down $112,000 and my best customer just told me he’d never buy from me again. I learned that customers get mad, but they get over it. Chuck eventually continued to buy from me. I also learned that adversity made me a better seller. I eventually got out of that position with a lot of sweat and sleepless nights, and had a decent year.
First Call “Yeah, you can keep calling me if you want, but I already have the four best brokers in the business calling on me. I call them ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.’” Seven years later, Chuck was buying half his wood from me, the other half from a sawmill friend of his, and the horsemen were all gone. I learned not to be intimidated by the “I’m happy with my current supplier” objection. I’ve outworked every competitor I’ve ever had.
The Counter
I was buying five carloads at a time out of Canada, shipping them to a Birmingham reload and selling 20 trucks at a time to Chuck’s warehouse. The
Chuck was a grinder. He never just gave me the business because he liked me. One of his favorite sayings after giving me another unreasonable counter was, “Jimmy, show me how good you are.” One Friday I called him with a
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Ya Top Ticked Me
ebruary 2024
great deal. The market was moving, and I had bought a load right. I called Chuck and quoted him a price. Of course, he countered me, “I’d take that off your hands for 10 bucks less.” I said, “Hey, Chuck, are you just countering me to counter me because I can sell this for 20 bucks more a 1,000 on Monday.” He just laughed and gave me his order number. I learned that sometimes you have to call their bluff.
New Buyer “Jimmy, it’s been a great run, but we are to the size now where I can’t do the buying anymore. I’ve hired a professional buyer.” I said, “Well, that’s a bummer. As long as it’s not Sean Borland (pseudonym), I’ll still be able to sell your company lumber.” Long pause. ”Sorry, Jimmy, it is Sean Borland.” I had a terrible relationship with Sean. Had tried to sell him for years with little to no success. I learned that “It’s not a question of if, but a question of when you’re going to lose your best account,” so always prospect for new business. Chuck and I are still friends. We talk once a month. Everything I know about business I learned from him. MM
JAMES OLSEN James Olsen is principal of Reality Sales Training, Portland, Or., and creator of SellingLumber.com. Call him at (503) 5443572 or email james@realitysalestraining.
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REDWOOD
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Redwood is always available in abundance of options. So stock the shelves! Unlike mass-produced and inferior products, Redwood is strong, reliable and possesses many qualities not found in artificial products. They maintain temperatures that are comfortable in all climates. Redwood Empire stocks several grades and sizing options of Redwood.
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------------| TRANSFORMING TEAMS
WHAT CHANGES AS YOUR COMPANY GROWS ------------ BY PAIGE McALLISTER CONGRATULATIONS! Your company has grown, business is booming, and you have hired more employees to help you meet the new demand. Not every company is able to say they are having that success. Did you know… As you add employees, the number of employment regulations your company falls under changes as well. So, while you are managing additional payroll, scheduling and benefit responsibilities, be sure to keep these laws and their regulatory obligations in mind. Please note: While this article focuses on federal laws, many state and local laws are also based on company size, so be sure to research those as well.
One or more employees: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Often referred to as the “wage-and-hour law,” FLSA defines key concepts including employees and independent contractors, exempt and non-exempt, overtime, minimum wage, nursing mothers, compensable and non-compensable time (i.e., travel, breaks, and sleeping), child labor, payday requirements, and recordkeeping. Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA): Establishes requirement to only employ workers who are authorized to work in the U.S., to verify eligibility using the Form I-9, and recordkeeping requirements. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA): Establishes the requirement to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for their current or past military service and defines requirements for providing leave or rehiring employees who return from extended military service. National Labor Relations Act (NLRA): Protects employees’ rights to form a union or take other action in
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order to improve the working conditions for themselves or others. Equal Pay Act (EPA): Requires all employers to provide equal compensation to men and women who perform equal work. Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA): Establishes minimum standards for employee benefit plans (i.e., retirement, 401(k), and health insurance) and required communication to employees. Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA): Prohibits most employers from subjecting employees or applicants to a polygraph. Consumer Credit Protections Act (CCPA): Prohibits employers discharging employees for a wage garnishment and limits the max amount a wage garnishment can be. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT): Establishes protections against identity theft and how employee and applicant personal data is handled. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Establishes requirement to keep employees’ health information confidential and that employers cannot receive information from health care providers without permission. Jury Systems Improvement Act: Prohibits employers from taking adverse employment action against an employee summoned to federal jury duty service.
15 or more employees: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII): Establishes protections for employees and applicants against discrimination or adverse employment action based on their being in a protected group, including race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA): Estabbuilding-products.com
lishes protections for employees and applicants with a real or perceived disability which limits a major life function from discrimination in the workplace or other employment practices; defines “reasonable accommodation” and its process. Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA): Establishes protections for employees and applicants due to their pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related disability. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA): Prohibits employers from using an employee’s or applicant’s genetic information in employment decisions.
20 or more employees: Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Establishes protections for employees and applicants against discrimination in employment based on being over 40 years of age. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA): Requires employer-sponsored group health plans to offer options to eligible employees and/or their dependents for continuing coverage when their coverage would otherwise end (i.e., due to termination, divorce, reduced hours, etc.).
50 or more employees—all employers: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Establishes an up to 12- or 26-week job-and benefit-protection for eligi-
Q. Our power went out midway through our regular shift. We waited a couple of hours to see if it would come back on, but eventually sent our employees home for the day. How much time do we need to pay them? A. FLSA outlines a few factors in determining how much an employee needs to be paid for a partial day’s work when, as in this case, their inability to work is not due to their personal need for time off. Exempt employees need to be paid for the full day if they work any part of it. In fact, if the outage lasted longer than a day, they need to be paid their full salary for any week in which they worked at all regardless of how much or how little that was. Non-exempt employees need to be paid for all compensable time. This is where it may get tricky. Of course, they need to be paid for any time they actually worked. If you required them to stay on-site while waiting for the power to come back on, they are considered to be “engaged to wait” which is also compensable time. However, if they took a break (i.e., they ate their lunch) while waiting, then that can be considered their usual break time, which can be unpaid if longer than 20 minutes in duration without interruption. Once you let them leave, they are off-theclock and no longer need to be paid unless they are doing work for the company (i.e., running errands or delivering a shipment) on the way home. To add a bit more confusion, some states have reporting pay or predictive scheduling laws which require employees be paid a minimum amount of time if they report in as scheduled, but are sent home before the end of their shift. The safest course of action is to pay all employees for the full day if they intended to work but could not due to circumstances beyond their control.
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ble employees needing leave for a covered reason. Affordable Care Act (ACA a.k.a. “Obamacare”): Establishes requirement to offer full-time employees qualified health insurance benefits or pay a penalty; establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
50 or more employees—employers with $50,000 or more in federal contracts: EEO-1 Report as required under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII): Requires covered federal contractors and subcontractors with 50 or more employees to file an annual report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) providing a breakdown of their employees’ demographics data (race/ ethnicity and gender) by job category. Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) as required under Executive Order 11246 and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Requires covered employers to create programs to ensure fair employment practices and opportunities for employees in protected groups (including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or other factors). Requires covered employers to file an annual AAP report to detail the demographics of their workforce as compared with the demographics in their local region as well as their plans and initiatives to increase employment and promotion of employees in under-represented groups.
50 or more employees—employers with $150,000 or more in federal contracts: VEVRAA Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) as required under Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance ACT (VEVRAA): Requires covered employers to create programs to ensure fair employment practices and opportunities for employees who are protected veterans: requires covered employers to file an annual VEVRAA AAP report to detail the demographics of their workforce and their initiatives to increase employment and promotion of employees who are veterans.
100 or more employees: Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN ACT): Establishes requirement for employers to provide 60-day advanced notice to employees who will be impacted by a covered closing or mass layoff. EEO-1 Report as required under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII): Requires employers with 100 or more employees to file an annual report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) providing a breakdown of their employees’ demographics data (race/ethnicity and gender) by job category. MM
PAIGE McALLISTER Paige McAllister, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is vice president for compliance with The Workplace Advisors, Inc. Reach her at (877) 660-6400 or paige@theworkplaceadvisors.com.
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 25
CAL CASCADE, SISTER OPERATIONS REBRANDING AS DOMAN Doman Building Materials, Vancouver, B.C., is uniting its various divisions under the Doman name. California Cascade and CanWel Building Materials will be renamed Doman Building Materials, effective Jan. 15. Hixson Lumber locations will rebrand as Doman Lumber. CanWel Fiber will be rebranded as Doman Timber, and Canadian and U.S. West Coast wood treatment facilities will become Doman Treated Wood. For now, the Honsador name will continue.
According to Doman, the “strategic decision is driven by our commitment to enhancing the synergy of our activities, fostering unity, and strengthening our market presence.” The company operates 29 distribution centers, 32 treating facilities, five specialty sawmills, three truss plants, four specialty planing mills, two post and pole peeling facilities, and 109,000 acres of managed forests. “It’s the way in which we sup-
port and serve our customers that makes us who we are. It’s our commitment to their success that makes us valuable. And it’s our supply chain capabilities that makes us Doman,” said CEO Amar Doman. The new brands are being rolled out gradually. Doman expects “a seamless transition with no disruption to our operations.”
------------| NEWS BRIEFS Van Marcke’s Ace Hardware hosted a Jan. 12-14 grand reopening at its newly renovated flagship store on Tropicana Ave. in Las Vegas, Nv. (Melissa Dominguez, store mgr.).
Hollywood Hardware, Sacramento, Ca., is liquidating after 75 years. Tucson Estates Ace Hardware, Tucson, Az., held a grand opening celebration event Jan. 12-14 (Janet Beatty, owner).
Panda Windows & Doors held a grand reopening Feb. 9 for its San Francisco Showroom in Burlingame, Ca. (Eli Saavedra, general mgr.). Oldcastle APG has acquired the Waupaca Northwoods facility in Nampa, Id., a manufacturer of soils, barks, mulches and decorative stone products. It expands APG’s Lawn & Garden business into the West. Freres Lumber Co., Lyons, Or., has filed a $33-million lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service for negligence in slowing the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire, which killed five people and burned 193,000 acres— including a third of Freres’ private timberland.
Great Minds Build Alike Before Naples Lumber & Supply began designing their newest location in Venice, Florida, they brought in the only team they could trust to know what they were thinking – and then seamlessly bring it to life.
Scan for the full story and video
CT-Darnell.com n Sunbelt-Rack.com n 800-353-0892
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© WTD Holdings, Inc., 2023. All rights reserved.
LBM Advantage presented 2023 Vendor of the Year Awards to Simpson Strong-Tie (specialties), Woodgrain (millwork), CertainTeed Gypsum (commodities), and Cabinetworks Group (kitchen & bath). Derby Building Products has officially renamed its Tando division Tando Composites, paying tribute to its state-of-the-art composite technology. Perma-Column deck posts were voted one of the year’s most innovative deck-building products at the recent Deck Expo.
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HAYWARD PURCHASES ECONOMY
centers, a pro tool and repair shop, one truss plant, four rail yards, and a combined workforce of roughly 270 employees across California.
Hayward Lumber, Monterey, Ca., has acquired fellow family-owned business Economy Lumber, Campbell, Ca., enhancing the chain’s offerings and extending its reach into Santa Clara County. Founded in 1936, Economy Lumber is led by John D. Saunders, third-generation president and CEO. “We believe in the strength of family-owned businesses, and in joining forces with Hayward Lumber, it became clear that this partnership was strategically sound and aligned with our core values,” Saunders said. “Our employees are at the heart of our success, and this union provides exciting opportunities for career growth within a company that values its team members. We are confident that this decision will bring positive outcomes for our customers, employees, and the local communities we proudly serve.” Both companies are strongly affiliated with LMC. Hayward’s acquisition of Economy will result in an expanded footprint, encompassing eight lumberyards, six design
HAMPTON BUYS EWP GIANT REDBUILT Atlas Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement to sell RedBuilt, LLC, Boise, Id., to Hampton Lumber Mills, Portland, Or. Atlas formed RedBuilt when it acquired the commercial division of Trus Joist from Weyerhaeuser in 2009. Over the next 14 years, the company became an industry leader in the engineering, design and manufacturing of proprietary woodbased structural solutions serving the low-rise commercial construction market. The deal is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2024. Hampton is a fourth-generation family-owned company. Today, its 1,700 employees operate 10 sawmills across Oregon, Washington and B.C. RedBuilt’s 400 associates deliver nationwide sales and support out of four manufacturing plants in Chino, Ca.; Delaware, Oh.; and Stayton and Hillsboro, Or., and four design cen-
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ters in Boise, Chino, Hillsboro and Delaware. “The decision to conclude our extraordinary partnership with the team at RedBuilt is bittersweet. The journey over more than 14 years to build the company in partnership with Atlas operating partners Tom Denig, Bill Corbin, and Kurt Liebich and current CEO Don Schwabe has been long and rewarding, but the time is right to transition RedBuilt to great new partners in Hampton Lumber,” said Atlas co-founder and managing partner Andrew Bursky. Hampton CEO Randy Schillinger said, “Building on over 80 years in the lumber and forest management business, this acquisition complements our existing operations and propels Hampton into the impactful world of value-added wood products design and manufacturing. As a subsidiary company, RedBuilt will have our full support as it continues to deliver leading-edge products and building systems and opens up new and important opportunities in green building solutions.” “This move will provide both businesses with exciting new opportunities to expand our service and product offerings,” added Don Schwabe, CEO of RedBuilt.
HAMPTON CLOSES BANKS MILL Hampton Lumber, Portland, Or., has indefinitely closed its Banks, Or., which had curtailed operations in October. There has been a lumber mill in Banks since 1961, a rural town of fewer than 2,000 people. The mill employed 58. “No one wants to see a mill close,” said CEO Randy Schillinger. “However, with the current log supply restrictions in Oregon and the likelihood of additional restrictions on state forests in the coming years, we just can’t see a viable future for the Banks facility.” Hampton took over the Banks mill in 2016. Hampton will maintain operations at its three remaining sawmills in Northwest Oregon in Willamina, Tillamook, and Warrenton, which collectively employ more than 600 people.
Wood treatment plant manufacturing, worldwide since 1983.
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building-products.com
TUF-TRED
®
INDUSTRIAL PANELS
TUF-TRED® IS A SKID-RESISTANT, TEXTURED, OVERLAID PLYWOOD OFFERING: • • • • • •
Superior skid resistance Surface durability Weatherability Moisture resistance 4x8 panels, ¾" thick ADA Approved
Swanson Tuf-Tred is ideal for interior or exterior stair applications where skid-resistant surfaces are desirable.
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Swanson Group Manufacturing 1651 South F Street Springfield, OR 97477
Phone: 541-492-7516 Email: greg.bess@swansongroup.biz
------------| MOVERS & SHAKERS Susan Hoshida has been named chief financial officer for TAL Building Centers, Vancouver, Wa. Jessica Amundson has joined Dunn Lumber, Seattle, Wa., as purchasing mgr. Frank Duran is serving as interim GM at Builders FirstSource, Thousand Oaks, Ca. Cameron Monty is now assistant GM in West Jordan, Ut. Ron Lnenicka, ex-Cedar Sales, is a new product mgr. with BlueLinx/ Vandermeer Forest Products, Seattle, Wa. Carson Soares is new to outside commercial sales at Honsador Lumber, Honolulu, Hi. Tom Hoffman, senior VP, Boise Cascade, Boise, Id., is retiring March 1 after 43 years with the company. Casey Redwine has been promoted to operations mgr. for Roseburg Forest Products, Medford, Or. Ed Shubin has been named sales mgr. at Brazilian Lumber, Gardena, Ca. Matt Page, ex-Capital, has joined OrePac Building Products, Salt Lake City, Ut., as regional category mgr.
Sean Newton joined outside sales at Big Creek Lumber, Vallejo, Ca. Thatch Elmer is new to inside sales at Rustic Lumber Co., Kaysville, Ut. Zach Shearer, Boise Cascade, Boise, Id., has been promoted to EWP multifamily/light commercial mgr. Joshua Patterson was named branch mgr. of L&W Supply, Denver, Co. Scott Reynolds has been promoted to Eastern regional business development mgr. for PWT, Burlington, Wa. Bill Moulds has moved to BPWood Ltd., Penticton, B.C., as VP of business development. Trevor Pochurko has been promoted to sales mgr.-North American industrial lumber at Western Forest Products, Vancouver, B.C. Brad Rosse, president, Woodtone Group, Chilliwack, B.C., will succeed owners Chris and Kevin Young as CEO. Timm Locke is now marketing director for the Western Wood Preservers Institute, succeeding Butch Bernhardt, who was promoted to executive director in November.
SEE THE VIEW... NOT THE HARDWARE
Composite Fascia Board Fastener Cutting Wings create an over-sized hole to allow for expansion and contraction Type-17 Point for quick start Oversized Flat Top Head provides increased bearing surface and maximum hole coverage Colors Available
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Ernest Todd Acosta has joined the sales team at CA Supply, Salem, Or. Aaron Sluder has left OrePac Building Products to become director of sales for Wausau Supply Co. Jessica Standley, Oregon Wood Specialties, is the new president of the Portland Wholesale Lumber Association, succeeding Terry Haddix, Patrick Lumber. Dan Ettelstein, Northwest Specialty Timber, is VP and Aly Kingsley, Wildwood Trading Group, is executive secretary. George Albertson, BHP Steel, retired after 33 years of providing packaging and innovation to the redwood lumber industry. Don Plunkett, Plunkett Distributing, was elected North American Building Material Distribution Association president, succeeding Matt Huber, Allegheny Plywood. President-elect is Jon Minnaert, Aetna; VP John Geraghty, Wurth Baer Supply; treasurer Chris Burns, EB Bradley; and directors Steve Hollinshead, Aetna; Andrew Northrop, Spokane Hardware Supply; Craig Ratchford, Hardware USA; Jonathan Dixon, Salice; Melissa Herman, Formica;
New improved thread design drills easier with LESS MUSHROOMING in composite lumber.
T-20 Star Drive eliminates driver bit camout
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Trim Undercut Head traps loose material while countersinking Top Threads push composite material back into the deck (no mushrooming) Deep Tri-Thread Design for superior holding value
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ebruary 2024
building-products.com
Cayce Hewlett, Chemcraft; Lorne Smith, Berenson Corp.; Pat Lynch, Arauco; Don Raymond, Uniboard; and Jeff Winters, Kessebohmer. Rich Lynch has retired as Do it Best’s VP of marketing after nearly 13 years with the company. Mike Massimino, former astronaut, will keynote LMC’s annual conference March 5-7 in Houston, Tx. Kendall Hoyd, ex-Oregon Truss; Jim Moody, ex-Construction Suppliers Association; and Sharon Hoyd have joined the Misura Group, Hudson, Wi., as consultants. Jessie Zundel, contractor sales, Parr Lumber, Spokane, Wa., was presented the 2023 President’s Award by the Spokane Home Builders Association. Earl E. Bird is now working the opening shift at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.
HOOD RIVER YARD UP IN FLAMES Gorge Building Supply, Hood River, Or., suffered intense damage from a two-alarm fire that broke out just before 2 a.m. on Dec. 22.
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The 100-year-old business, which shares its quarters with Krieg Millwork & Building Supply, lost multiple buildings. The cause is still undetermined, as the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office continues its investigation. No injuries were reported.
NORTH AMERICA’S TALLEST MASS TIMBER BUILDING READY TO RISE At 32 stories tall, The Edison in Milwaukee, Wi., is on track to become one of the tallest mass timber buildings in the world. The multifamily project will consist of 381 for-rent apartments, situated alongside the beautiful Milwaukee RiverWalk. Its design will bring nature into the urban environment by incorporating garden terraces, vegetable planters, and small trees growing on the amenity deck. The mass timber will add a biophilic atmosphere by exposing the wood on the ceiling, the beams, and columns of the building. The project is expected to break ground later this year.
GANAHL BEGINS CELEBRATION
To mark its 140th anniversary in 2024, Ganahl Lumber kicked the year off with special anniversary pricing on pro-grade tools, building materials, and more at its 11 Southern California stores. Many of the mark-downs are tied to the numbers 140 and 1884, the year the company started. Anaheim-based Ganahl—now in its fourth generation of family ownership—is California’s oldest lumber dealer. Expect additional promotions and monthly specials throughout the year.
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 31
LMC DEALERS CELEBRATE A CENTURY-PLUS OF BUSINESS LMC recently commended 92 of its dealers that are set to celebrate a century or more in business in 2024. “The enduring success of our dealers make them cornerstones of our industry and their communities,” said LMC president and CEO Paul Ryan. “Their lasting commitment to their employees, customer service, and their business partners is a testament to the foundations upon which LMC is built.” Celebratings are: Hancock Lumber Co. (176 years), Richardson Industries (176), William B. Morse Lumber Co. (171), Moore Lumber & Hardware (170), FA Requarth Co. (164), Fakes & Hooker (157), Squier Lumber & Hardware (150), Morsches Lumber (153), J. C. Snavely & Sons (146), Southern Builders Supply (144),Smith-Phillips Lumber (144), Beeson Hardware Co. (141), Crane Johnson Co. (141), Legg Lumber (140), Mahoney’s Building Supply (140), Sanford & Hawley (140), Home Lumber Co. (139), Humphrey’s Building Supply (139), Randall Brothers (139), Steinkamp Home Center (139), Shaw Acquisition Corp. (138), and.... Schoeneman Brothers Co. (136 years), Curtis Lumber (134), Stacey Holdings (132), Seiffert Building Supplies (132), White’s Lumber (132), Ruffin & Payne Inc. (132), Better Living Inc. (131), Vowell & Sons Inc. (129), Matthews & Fields Lumber Co. (128), Belletetes, Inc. (126), Graves Lumber (125), Gennett Lumber Co. (123), Rings End Inc. (122), Building Center Inc. of Gloucester (121), City Lumber Co. (121), Friel Lumber Co. (121), Iffland Lumber Co. (121), Morton Buildings (121),
Lang Building Supply (119), GW Smith Lumber (119), Congleton Lumber (119), Union Lumber Co. (119), and... Braun Building Center (119 years), Kirchner Building Centers (118), Dunn Lumber Co. (117), Fitch Lumber Co. (117), Moxham Lumber Co. (117), Tindell’s Building Materials (117), Builders Supply Co. (116), Wheelwright Lumber Co. (116), Cellar Lumber Co. (116), Tague Lumber (116), Ansonia Lumber Co. (115), Dykes Lumber Co. (115), Lawrenceburg Supply Co. (115), Sterling Lumber & Investment Co. (115), Arnold Lumber Co. (113), Burton Lumber (113), The Miller Lumber Co. (113), Forcum-Lannom (112), Kuiken Brothers Co. (112), and... Mead Clark Lumber Co. (112 years), Beaver Builders Supply (111), Benson Lumber & Hardware (111), KBP Bellingham (111), Linn S. Chapel Co. (111), NelsonYoung Lumber Co. (111), John Sixt & Son (111), Dugger Investment Co. (111), Woodson Wholesale (111), Ogden & Adams Lumber (111), Arlington Coal & Lumber Co. (110), Home Lumber Co. (110), Western Materials, Inc. (109), Elliott Lumber (107), Garris-Evans Lumber Co. (105), Hayward Lumber (105), National Lumber Co. (105), Holman Supply Co. (104), Randall Lumber & Hardware (103), EW Stewart (103), Mentor Lumber & Supply Co. (102), Morrison Brothers Building Center (102), American Lumber Co. (101), Denver Lumber Co. (101), Christensen Lumber (101), Davis-Hawn Lumber Co. (101), Guy C Lee (100), Hamilton Building Supply Co. (100), Learned Lumber (100), and Heller Lumber Co. (100 years).
MccMinnville innville, Oregon regon • (503) 474-4446 • elkcreekforest elkcreekforest.com com 32 • the merchant magazine • F
ebruary 2024
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Serving the Pacific Northwest since 1971. Located in Sumner,Washington,Western Wood Preserving Co. has been a manufacturer of pressure treated wood products, supplying residential, commercial and industrial markets of the Pacific Northwest since 1971. In addition, our strategic location near the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, provides easy access to the Alaskan, Hawaiian and Pacific Rim markets. Our facility includes 12 acres of treatment, drying and storage areas, and produces top quality treated wood products for residential and commercial consumers in the wholesale market.
Residential & Commercial Lumber, Timbers, and Plywood
253-863-8191 • 800-472-7714 • westernwoodpreserving.com NatureWood®, FlamePRO®, and Advance Guard® are registered trademarks of Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. NatureWood, FlamePRO, Advancebuilding Guard, and CCA treated wood.products -products com are produced by independently owned and operated wood treating facilities. © 2/2024
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 33
LOUWS TRUSS has created a safer, more efficient work environment by investing in robotics and automation.
WASHINGTON TRUSS MANUFACTURER LEADS THE WAY WITH ROBOTIC PLANT
Founded in 1952 by John Louws Sr., Louws Truss has served Washington State as a truss manufacturer for over 70 years. Under the leadership of third-generation owner B.J. Louws, the company has maintained its position as an industry leader with a focus on technology. John Louws Sr. began manufacturing wall panels and roof trusses in the 1970s, the early days of component manufacturing. B.J. Louws has taken another step into the future by working with House of Design to build one of only a few robotic roof truss assembly plants in the United States. Installed in 2022, the robotic roof truss line concept is not new: the basics have been in place since 2013 and BJ and his team have tried and tested new processes regularly, always adhering to lean manufacturing principles. Even prior to the installation of the robotic system, Louws was pursuing continuous improvement and eliminating waste at all times. “One of the differences
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between an old process and an improved process is that we used to touch a piece of lumber 14 times and now we touch it between four and five, depending on the product mix. It was both more efficient and less impactful on people.” “We are a third-generation company that wants to become a fourth and fifth generation company and people make that happen. We are trying to build a company where people can build their careers,” said Louws. “People and culture and innovation all go hand-inhand,” Louws continued. “With the right culture and team all pulling in the same direction, we are able to constantly pursue innovation. The team members are a big part of our success.” Investments made in robotics and automation and a commitment to lean manufacturing helps Louws Truss avoid some of the pain points experienced by the industry, such as the skilled labor shortage and avoiding injuries. Louws Truss is looking forward to replicating the success of its robotic roof truss assembly plant with a new robotic floor truss line in the coming years. With plants in Burlington, Cashmere, Ferndale and Lacey, Wa., Louws has been a member of LMC since 2006.
LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR ACQUIRES VENERABLE ARIZONA LUMBERYARD
Johnson True Value Lumber, Wickenburg, Az., has been sold to a local entrepreneur after nearly 75 years of Johnson family ownership. Jesus “Chuey” Gonzalez, the owner of Premier Landscaping, Premier Moving, and Premier Hay, has added the lumberyard, now dubbed Premier True Value & Lumber, to his holdings. “My goal is to revitalize this place but not take away its historic nature,” Gonzalez told the Wickenburg Sun. “We do want to give it a facelift, though. The number one priority we’re doing right now is maximizing space.” He hopes to retain—and add to—all employees.
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Great software for building great outdoor structures.
© 2024 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. PERGDECKPLAN20-D
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Help your customers build their dream backyard with Deck Planner Software™ and Pergola Planner Software™ from Simpson Strong-Tie. Easily design a strong and beautiful deck, pergola or other popular structure in just minutes using prebuilt templates or custom dimensions. Work in 2D or 3D environments and select wood species or additional features from a full library of options. Then just print out the plan view and materials list. Your clients, and your business, will thank you. To learn more about our free downloadable software, visit our website at go.strongtie.com/pergolaplannersoftware or call (800) 999-5099.
Outdoor Living Solutions | Products, Software and Service for Smarter Building
DEALER ON IN CORRIDOR OF CONTAINERS ------------| CARRIES DATE BOOK
A Chewelah, Wa., hardware store that was totaled in are summer often submitted months inoperating advance. Always verify dates and aListings fire last continues on its existing locations with sponsor before making to attend. site—despite the fact that theplans store has yet to be rebuilt. Across the Alliance street from the former garden of World Millwork – Oct. 8-12, convention & show,center Indianapolis, Sety’s Ace Hardware now sit 13 steel shipping containIn.; www.worldmillworkalliance.com. ers, arranged in an L shape. Inside are mini-hardware Fastmarkets – Oct. 9-11, 38th annual Forest Products North America store departments, with shelves along each side holding Conference, Hyatt Regency, Boston, Ma.; www.fastmarkets.com. tools, supplies. Pacificelectrical Northwest and Assn.plumbing of Rail Shippers – Oct. 10-11, fall meeting, Three of the containers have heating to prevent Seattle Marriott Waterfront, Seattle, Wa.; www.pnrailshippers.org. products like paint and adhesives from freezing. OutSouthern California Hoo-Hoo Club – Oct. 13, Don Gregson Memorial doorGolf fireplaces line the exterior check-out area to Tournament, Los Serranos Country Club, Chino, Ca.; keep www. shoppers warm in the winter months. hoohoo117.org. The Aug. 17 blaze– destroyed Sety’s Whistler, historicWhistler, brick B.C.; Hardlines Conference Oct. 16-18, Chateau building and everything inside. The cause has not been www.hardlines.ca. determined, though investigators speculate it may have North American Young Lumber Employees – Oct. 16-20, timber tour, beenWhitefish from batteries the middle of the store. Eventuand Missoula,inMt.; www.nrla.org. ally, a new store will be built inside the shell of the old West Coast Lumber & Building Material Assn. – Oct. 18-20, annual one.convention, Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego, Ca.; lumberassociation.org. Since 1980
In the meantime, regional for co-op Sacramento Hoo-Hoo Club – Oct. representatives 25, guest speaker meeting, The AceOfficers Hardware suggested using the shipping containers. Club, McClellan, Ca.; www.hoohoo109.org. They got thePreservers idea fromInstitute other –Ace have Western Wood Oct.dealers 29-Nov. 1,who annual meeting, used containers for seasonal pop-ups in such remote Adero Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Az.; www. areas as Alaska. wwpinstitute.org. Processing Technologies for the Forest & Biobased Products Industries Conference – Oct. 30-Nov. 1, King & Prince Bach & Golf Resort, St. Simons Island, Ga.; www.ptfbpi.com. GlassBuild – America Oct. 31-Nov. 2, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; www.glassbuildamerica.com. Western Building Material Association – Nov. 1-2, Build Your Competitive Advantage conference, Tulalip Resort, Marysville, Wa.; www.wbma.org. West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association – Nov. 3, NorCal 2nd Growth Sporting Clays Shoot, Birds Landing Hunting Preserve, Birds Landing, Ca.; www.lumberassociation.org. Pomona Fall Home Show – Nov. 3-5, Pomona, Ca.; www.fairplex.com.. LMC – Nov. 6-8, LMC Expo, Philadelphia, Pa.; www.lmc.net. North American Wholesale Lumber Association – Nov. 8-10, annual Traders Market, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Oh.; www.nawla.org. Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association – Nov. 9, Build Your Competitive Advantage seminar; Nov. 10, annual Brewfest, Mile High Station, Denver, Co.; www.mslbmda.org. Heart of the Valley Home & Garden Show – Nov. 10-12, Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, Salem, Or.; www.oregonstateexpo.org. Bay Area Home Show – Nov. 11-12, Santa Clara Convention Center, SETY’S ACE Hardware, Chewelah, Wa., has been operating out of a campus Santa Clara, Ca.; www.homeshowsanjose.com. of shipping containers seven days a week, ever since a fire six months ago. Los Angeles Hardwood Lumberman’s Club – Dec. 2, holiday dinner, Zov’s, Tustin, Ca.; www.lahlc.net.
GAINS IN CONSTRUCTION SPENDING TO SPUR WOOD MILLWORK DEMAND The Most Stable & Beautiful Hardwood Decking & Cladding Available • Environmentally friendly manufacturing process • Made from American hardwoods • JEM™ (Joint End Matched) Machined End Joints • Thermal modification stabilizes the wood, making it 7 times less likely to warp, check, bow, cup, twist, expand or contract • Class 1 durability rating
Also in Stock: Domestic & Imported Hardwood Lumber & Plywood • Custom Moulding & Flooring Hardwood S4S • Solid Wood Glued-Up Panels & Countertops
Mount Storm Forest Products 5700 Earhart Ct., Windsor Ca. 95492 Fax 707.838.4413 • Mill Fax 707.838.9690 www.MountStorm.com • Phone 707.838.3177
88 36 • the merchant magazine • FO
ctOber 2023 ebruary 2024
U.S. demand for wood millwork is forecast to increase 1.9% yearly through 2027, according to a new Freedonia report. Suppliers are projected to benefit from rising building construction expenditures, the aesthetically pleasing properties of wood, and the perception of wood as an environmentally friendly material. The number of housing starts in 2027 is projected to register at a similar amount to the historically high levels in 2022—preventing faster gains but supporting continued elevated demand levels. However, further growth will be limited by the drawbacks of wood (e.g., susceptibility to cracking and decay). Strong competition from products made from cement, metal and plastic materials will restrain further gains. In 2023, demand888-807-2580 was projected to fall 5.6% as residential construction activity dropped 6.1% in nominal Bend, OR terms and inflation in the price of building products www.pelicanbayfp.com eased amid improvements in supply chain bottlenecks created by the pandemic. DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS Furthermore, residential and Colton / Fontana / Modestobuilding / Salinas /improvement Stockton, CA repair expenditures in nominal terms, which expandPRODUCTS & SERVICES ed Framing strongly during the 2020-2022 period, was foreLumber / Pallet Stock / Industrial Lumber / Softwoods cast to fall slightly in 2023. In unit terms, conventional Hardwoods / Cedar / Fencing / Decking / Redwood housing Custom startsCut were projected to fall/ 17% in 2023 Stock / Treated Lumber Tile Battens while3-Hole conventional housing completions dropped & Slotted Vents / Custom Cutting / Remanufacturing Treatingstarts / Fire &and CCA Treating 13%. However,Heat housing completions are expected to return to historically high levels by 2027, supporting sales of wood “Focused on the future millwork. with respect for tradition” building building--prOducts products.cOm com
THE TECH
Tensions faster than politics at the dinner table. RDI® Elevation™ Rail with exclusive OneTen™ technology eliminates the need to tension cables individually. Which means it installs 38% faster.*
OneTen™ Centralized Tensioning
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See how it works at RDIElevationRail.com * Claim based on a 12' x 18' deck with 8 posts and 7 panels (RDI Elevation Rail installed 49 minutes faster than competitive cable railing install of 129 minutes) building-products.com
Faster Install February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 37
------------| NEW PRODUCTS
PLATINUM CONSTRUCTION LAGS
FAST TO FASTEN FastenMaster’s new FrameFAST fastener now features its patented TORX ttap Drive system. The new design gives pros the choice of using a standard impact driver or the FrameFAST tool. FrameFAST replaces many commonly used hurricane ties, installing five times faster without the need for compressors, nailers, and hoses. The new 50-piece box and 250-piece bucket will include a free alignment guide ensuring a code compliant connection and TORX ttap driver bits that deliver a wobble-free drive. The new fastener is certified for continuous load path applications including securing roof trusses, wall studs and plates, in addition to attaching deck joists to carrying beams. Backed by a ProjectLife Guarantee, the fastener is guaranteed for the life of the project and is approved for use in ACQ pressure treated wood.
SaberDrive Platinum Construction Lags from Midwest Fastener Corp. offer exceptional quality and outstanding results. Fasteners come equipped with a star drive, serrated threads, XL1500 coating, and ICC certification to meet code.
FASTENERCONNECTION.COM (800) 444-7313
FASTENMASTER.COM (800) 518-3569
, MEDIUM-CAPACITY COLUMN CAP
DUAL SPEED SQUARE Using Rapid Rafter, a dual speed square, allows a carpenter to lay out and mark ridges, hips, valleys and rafter tails with greater speed and accuracy that results in a significant reduction in work time. When the square is opened and placed over a timber, the user can mark three sides of the board at once from the same location. In its closed position, the tool is just .1” larger and 1.2 oz. heavier than a traditional 1-dimensional version, but still contains the standard markings, scribe lines, and angles, and fits easily into a nail bag.
RAPIDRAFTER.COM
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Simpson Strong-Tie has added a medium-capacity option to its line of column caps. Filling the gap between the existing light-duty PCZ/AC post caps and heavyduty CC/CCQ column caps, the versatile new ACHZ post cap offers a medium- to higher-level allowable load. Its two-piece design creates an easy connection between a beam and post in new or retrofit residential applications. It delivers a lower-cost alternative to heavy-duty welded caps when the highest loads are not required. The ACHZ allows for field bending for endbeam conditions, providing one connector for both midand end-beam conditions. Two models are available—the ACH4Z and the ACH6Z—for use with 4x and 6x lumber.
STRONGTIE.COM (800) 999-5099
building-products.com
THE POSSIBILITIES KEEP GROWING:
REDWOOD Nature’s majestic pillars. dwood iis so on ne o off tth he s sttrongest a an nd ffa as t e s t g grrowing s so oftwood spe spec cies. It thrives in Re Red some of the most productive timberlands in the world. Redwood is known for its timeless durability without the use of chemicals. Due to its flawless formation, there has never been a Redwood recall. There is a grade of Redwood for every application, every budget, and every customer.
“Growing beyond measure.” Call or visit us today. Our family of Redwood timberland owners will continue to be your reputable and reliable source of Redwood.
Call us at 707.894.4241 Visit us at buyRedwood.com
REVAMPED COMPOSITE DECKING
WATERBORNE WOOD COATING
TimberTech has developed more sophisticated aesthetics featuring multi-color variegation and more realistic emboss patterns, while still maintaining the scratch-resistant durability of the original Terrain Collection of composite decking. Featuring protective four-sided capping, the Terrain+ Collection will continue as a great option in scalloped-back decking. The palette includes three on-trend colors—Weathered Oak, Natural White Oak, and Dark Oak—each delivering a sophisticated, versatile and natural wood look.
A new factory-applied, waterborne wood coating from Sherwin-Williams can be applied across a wide spectrum of environmental conditions without the productivity-sapping performance trade-offs commonly associated with waterborne coatings. Designed for spray-on application to interior building products such as windows, doors and trim, SHER-WOOD EA Hydroplus is a self-sealing, water-reducible acrylic system available in both clear and pigmented finishes. It reportedly provides outstanding film hardness and chemical resistance for a superior, high-quality finish.
AZEKCO.COM (877) 275-2935
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS.COM/EAHYDROPLUS (844) 290-6044
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,
MORE CABINET OPTIONS Wolf Home Products is expanding its popular Wolf Classic Cabinetry line, with three new door styles, five new paint options, and one new stain. New door styles are Waverly (slim shaker door), Grove (full-overlay five-piece shaker style), and Grantley (straightforward style with an exceptional finish). New finishes are Cape, Silhouette, Evergreen, Goldleaf and Currant. The new stain is Hazelnut.
WOLFHOMEPRODUCTS.COM (800) 388-9653
,
COASTAL COOL Envision Outdoor Living Products is combining comfort and beauty with three composite decking colors featuring its new Cool Tread Technology. Part of its Distinction Collection of capped composite decking, they boast a surface that’s up to 25% cooler with 25% better traction and 61% less moisture absorption than average leading competitors. The new coastal-inspired colors are: Nantucket Shore, a warm gray reminiscent of a light mist on the shorefront; Hampton Dunes, a blend of sandy tones found on a beach; and Seaside Pier, a greige that mimics the shades of a weathered boardwalk. The decking is crafted with Compress Technology, which pairs its EverGrain Core with a high-density cap to create durable, low-maintenance decking. The manufacturing process results in decking that offers authentic, deep, non-repeating grains; is resistant to staining, splintering, cracking, rot and insects; and doesn’t require staining, sanding, or sealing.
ENVISIONOUTDOORLIVING.COM (800) 598-5245
building-products.com
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 41
,
,
UNIVERSAL DECK CLIP
TRANSCENDENT GRAY CLADDING
National Nail’s CAMO brand has launched CAMO Wedge and WEDGEMETAL clips. Designed to fit any board in any deck pattern, Wedge clips outperform deliver a faster, easier, better installation experience. Clips stay in the groove until you’re ready to fasten for one-handed installation, and fit in all deck board brands. Pre-assembled clips mean one-pass fastening, with superior uplift holding power and reduction in lateral movement. WedgeMetal clips feature a 410 Stainless Steel drill point screw for use on 14-18GA metal joists. Both clips can be installed with the CAMO NeverMiss Guide or up to five times faster with the CAMO ClipDRIVE or DRIVE stand-up tools.
Norx has added two new colors to its New York and Los Angeles composite cladding collections. Named Rockefeller and Venice, the new hues boast a distinguished gray tone that captures the essence of timeless sophistication inspired by the natural textures found in New York and Los Angeles. They offer a 30-year warranty.
NORX.US
CAMOFASTENERS.COM (800) 968-6245
,
STRAIGHT FINISH NAILER
Yard Lite from Regal ideas offers a series of high-performance accent lighting for outdoor projects. They can be used to light up areas to ensure and improve safety, create ambiance, or accent that perfect outdoor masterpiece. The lights are easy to install and plug directly into the Regal ideas and Crystal Rail LED systems. The LEDs are offered in white, gold and blue.
RIDGID’s new 18V Brushless 16 Gauge Straight Finish Nailer delivers maximum performance and longer runtime, while packing the power to quickly drive 1-1/4” to 2-1/2” 16-gauge finish nails into hardwoods 35% faster than the previous model. Ideal for exterior trim, door jambs, crown molding, baseboard, door/window trim, and staircase treads, the versatile tool can drive 1,700 nails per charge at any angle, reduces jams, eliminates MDF trim blowouts, and doesn’t leave driver blade marks on the work surface. Tool-free power-adjustment and depth-of-drive adjustment dials regulate power for optimal results. A selectable mode switch allows contact actuation or single sequential driving. A tool-free jam release makes it easy to clear nails in case of a jam.
REGALIDEAS.COM (800) 819-4344
RIDGID.COM (800) 474-3443
BRIGHT ACCENTS
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building-products.com
Ace Offers Extra Mile Guarantee
Ace Hardware is rolling out its Extra Mile Promise, a guarantee that Ace has the expert advice and supplies needed to help consumers successfully tackle any paint project with just one trip to the store. Available at participating stores nationwide, the vow was created to address and relieve the frustration consumers deal with when faced with the proposition of yet another trip to the store as a result of forgotten items or not enough paint. Ace is so confident in its one-trip guarantee that it will provide free delivery to consumers who may be in need of additional paint supplies. “While it hurt our pride to learn this, the truth is that while consumers trust Ace as the Helpful Place, far too TO MARK Lumber’sthat centennial, CEO Bill Hayward sliced the many of Hayward them believed our speedy sized stores didn’t birthday cake Hayward style—with a chain saw—during Sept. 7 celebrahave enough product to complete their paintaproject,” said tion in San Luis Obispo, Ca., that was attended by nearly 1,000. John Venhuizen, president and CEO. “We know this isn’t the case, so to assuage these misperceptions, we decided to stand behind our largeWeather paint assortment with the Extra Mile Housewraps, Barriers Promise. Our objective is simple: to be known as the #1, Trending in Residential Market best, most convenient, most helpful and most store PEARLY VENEERS Housewrap preferences are graduallycredible evolving, for paint in the neighborhood.” according to a recent presentation at the Housewrap 2019 A crisp, modern white color has been added to Ply Lumber Service, practices we supply conference tonReel builder and consumer by Ed Gem’s ClipStone ProPanel and ColumnWrap series of Weyco Recalls Coated I-Joists Hudson, Home Innovation Research Labs. domestic and foreign hardwoods. mortarless stone veneer solutions. Weyerhaeuser isthat recalling a 60% batch of of all TJI housewrap Joists with Flak Hudson shared about and The new color, Osceola, provides a sleek, upscale Our products and services include: Jacket Protection, after linking an odor in certainon newly look for on-trend exteriors that exude the timeless weather-resistant barrier (WRB) material is installed new • Hardwood & Pine constructed homes to is aLumber recent formula change in the being coatcharm of natural stone. With larger panels for quicker homes; the remainder installed primarily on homes Merchant 8-17 Layout.qxp_D SigNov03-1-8,41-48 1:18 PM ing that included formaldehyde-based resin. ThePage issue20is installation and a stair-stepped design that hides joints, & Veneers re-sided.• Hardwood Plywood7/25/17 ProPanel brings the beauty of stone to projects with no isolated to Flak Jacket product made after Dec. 1, 2016, DuPont’s Tyvek continues • Melamine Plywoodto dominate with nearly mortar and less mess. and does not affect any of the company’s other half the housewrap and WRB installations in products. new homes. Hardwood Moulding (alder, Flak •established Jacket Protection is a coating appliedcherry, to I-joists to DuPont leadership in technology and education MYCLIPSTONE.COM enhance fire resistance, and it is not widely in use. The mahogany, MDF, maple, red oak, paint early and have maintained that leadership for decades. Ace Offers Extra Mile Guarantee (888) 975-9436 pecan hickory, Acegrade, Hardware is rolling out itswhite Extra oak, Mile walnut, Promise, a guarantee that Ace has the expert advice and supplies needbeech) ed to help consumers successfully tackle any paint project • Milling (moulding profiles, S2S, SLR1E, with just one trip to the store. SLR2E, resawn lumber) Available at & participating stores nationwide, the vow • Woodworking Accessories (appliques, was created to address and relieve the frustration consumersornaments, deal with when faced with the proposition of yet butcher blocks, corbels, etc.) another trip to the store as a result of forgotten items or not • Woodworking Supplies (deft finishes, enough paint. Ace is so confident in its one-trip guarantee color putty, etc.) that it will provide freeadhesives, delivery to consumers who may be in need of additional paint supplies. “While itur hurt our prideare to learn this,used the truth products widely in is that while consumers trust Ace as the Helpful Place, far too interior finishthat carpentry, TO MARK Hayward Lumber’s centennial, CEO furniture, Bill Hayward sliced the many of them believed our speedy sized stores didn’t birthday cake Hayward style—with a chain saw—during aproject,” Sept. 7 celebracabinetry and hundreds ofpaint industrial have enough product to complete their said tion in San Luis Obispo, Ca., that was attended by nearly 1,000. John Venhuizen, president and applications. CEO. “We knowWe this isn’t and manufacturing the case, so to assuage these misperceptions, we decided to stock a complete line of complementary stand behind our largeWeather paint assortment with the Extra Mile Housewraps, Barriers products to complete any OPENING DAY Promise. Our objective is simple:virtually to be known as the #1, Trending in Residential Market woodworking or millwork project. best, most convenient, most helpful and most credible store Housewrap preferences are gradually evolving, PGT Innovations is launching dozens of new premifor paint in the neighborhood.” according to a recent presentation at the Housewrap 2019 um window products at IBS, including the Series 7665 Pass Through Window and a Water Management Sill conference on builder and consumer practices by Ed Weyco Recalls I-Joists from its Western Window Systems division. Hudson, Home InnovationCoated Research Labs. Weyerhaeuser is recalling a batch of TJI housewrap Joists with Flak Also new: Designer Black capstock frame options Hudson shared that about 60% of all and from Anlin Windows & Doors, Keystone Series Premium Jacket Protection, after linking an odor in certain newly weather-resistant barrier (WRB) material is installed on new 1321 N. Kraemer Blvd. (Box 879), Anaheim, Ca. 92806 1321 to N.aKraemer Blvd.change (Box 879), Garage Door from Martin Door, Sliding Glass Door constructed homes formula in the being coathomes; the remainder is recent installed primarily on homes Fax 714-630-3190 Anaheim, Ca. 92806 Series 8100 with Narrow Interlock and the Envista ing that included formaldehyde-based resin. The issue is re-sided. (714) 632-1988 • (800) 675-REEL Seamless Glazed Window Wall from Windoor, and Fax 714-630-3190 isolated to Flak Jacket product made after Dec. 1, 2016, DuPont’s Tyvek continues to dominate with nearly WinGuard Vinyl Preferred View Sliding Glass Door • (800) 675-REEL and does not(714) affect any theAve., company’s other 3518632-1988 Chicago Riverside, Ca. 92507homes. half the housewrap andofWRB installations in products. new Series SGD5570NS from PGT Custom Windows & Flak Jacket Protection is a coating applied to I-joists to (951) 781-0564 DuPont established leadership in technology and education 3518 Chicago Ave., Riverside, Ca. 92507 Doors. enhance fire resistance, and it is not widely in use. The early and have maintained that leadership for decades. www.reellumber.com (951) 781-0564 PGTINNOVATIONS.COM www.reellumber.com (800) 282-6019
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------------| DATE BOOK Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend. Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference – Feb. 8-10, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson, Ca.; www.sclcexpo.com. Pomona Home & Gardem Show – Feb. 16-18, Fairplex, Pomona, Ca.; www.homeshowconsultants.com. Batibouw – Feb. 17-25, Brussels, Belgium; www.batibouw.com. Orgill – Feb. 19-March 3, online buying event; www.orgill.com. LBM Advantage Feb. 20-22, annual buying show & shareholders meeting, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Fl.; www.lbmadvantage.com. Southern California Hoo-Hoo Club – Feb. 21, initiation/golf, Los Serranos Country Club, Chino, Ca.; www.hoohoo117.org. Western Wood Preservers Institute – Feb. 21-22, winter meeting, Vancouver, Wa.; www.wwpinstitute.org. Oregon Logging Conference – Feb. 22-24, Lane County Events Center & Fairgrounds, Eugene, Or.; www.oregonloggingconference.com. Orgill – Feb. 22-24, spring dealer market, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fl.; www.orgill.com. Bakersfield Home & Gardem Show – Feb. 23-25, Kern County Fair, Bakersfield, Ca.; www.bakersfieldhomeshows.com. International Builders Show/Kitchen & Bath Industry Show – Feb. 27-29, Las Vegas, Nv.; www.buildersshow.com. West Coast Lumber & Building Material Association – Feb. 28, 2nd Growth dinner meeting, Anaheim, Ca.; www.lumberassociation.org. Western Building Material Association – Feb. 28-29, management conference, Embassy Suites, Hillsboro, Or.; www.wbma.org. Tacoma Remodeling Expo – March 1-3, Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma, Wa.; www.homecentershow.com. International Hardware Fair/Eisenwarenmesse – March 3-6, Cologne, Germany; www.eisenwarenmesse.com. Fastmarkets – March 4-6, Forest Products Europe Conference, Istanbul, Turkey; www.fastmarkets.com. Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association – March 5, introduction to building material sales; March 6-7, estimating workshop, Thornton, Co.; www.mslbmda.org. LMC – March 5-7, annual meeting, Houston, Tx.; www.lmc.net. Black Bart Hoo-Hoo Club – March 6, initiation meeting, Ukiah, Ca.; www.hoohoo181.org. Frame Building Expo – March 6-8, Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Ia.; www.nfba.org. North American Wholesale Lumber Association – March 10-12, Leadership Summit, El Conquistador, Tucson, Az.; www.nawla.org. University of Innovative Distribution – March 11-14, Indianapolis, In.; www.univid.org.
888-807-2580 Bend, OR
www.pelicanbayfp.com DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS Colton / Fontana / Modesto / Salinas / Stockton, CA PRODUCTS & SERVICES Framing Lumber / Pallet Stock / Industrial Lumber / Softwoods Hardwoods / Cedar / Fencing / Decking / Redwood Custom Cut Stock / Treated Lumber / Tile Battens 3-Hole & Slotted Vents / Custom Cutting / Remanufacturing Heat Treating / Fire & CCA Treating
“Focused on the future with respect for tradition”
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Emery Jensen Distribution – March 12-13, Edge show, Dallas, Tx.; www. emeryjensen.com. Ace Hardware – March 12-14, spring convention, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Tx.; www.acehardware.com. Redwood Region Logging Conference – March 14-16, Eureka, Ca.; www.rrlc.net. National Wooden Pallet & Container Assn. – March 20-24, annual leadership conference, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl.; palletcentral.com. Do it Best – March 23-25, spring market, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Tx.; www.doitbest.com. International Mass Timber Conference – March 26-28, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Or.; www.masstimberconference.com. National Hardware Show – March 26-28, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nv.; www.nationalhardwareshow.com. building-products.com
LEARN NEW TRENDS, BUILD CONNECTIONS, AND DISCOVER INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS: nawla.org/Leadership-Summit
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ARE LIMITING BELIEFS HOLDING YOU DOWN? ------------ BY DAVE KAHLE “IN YOUR TRAINING, do you focus on instilling new skills, or do you try to remove the hindrances to people using their existing skills?” That was one of the best questions I have ever been asked. The answer is that we—teachers and trainers—do both. We teach the practices and competencies that are proven and fundamental for success in sales and leadership. In many cases, these are new skills, new ideas, and new practices for the learner. At some point in the process, though, a very predictable phenomenon occurs. While the learner accepts, intellectually, the value of what has been taught, he/she makes no—or very limited—attempt to actually put it into practice.
sites offering solutions. A 15-minute web search will probably uncover enough practices and ideas to keep you busy for weeks. Part of the process—identify the new things to teach or learn—is relatively simple. The real challenge lies in the second part—helping the learner to actually use those practices. For someone intent on helping people develop, tap into their potential, and become more successful, it is the primary hurdle. I call it the “gap between idea and action.” It is relatively easy to transmit ideas; it is incredibly difficult to help the individual put them into action. It is a complex problem, with lots of reasons that dissuade people at different times and places. For example, they can be as simple and superficial as not having the time: “I was so busy with other things that I just didn’t have time to give it the thought necessary to make the change.” Fear of the discomfort that comes with any change in behavior is one of the most common. “I’m not comfortable doing that new thing. I’m not an expert at it, and I’ll feel foolish for a while. I’d rather not pay that price to gain a new skill.”
The Process It’s a two-step process: First, the learner needs to become aware of some practice, process, idea or skill. Then, they need to intentionally work to put it into practice. The first step is the easiest. It only takes a small amount of effort to identify practices, processes and skills which have been proven to be effective in your job or profession. No matter what your job, I suspect that there are at least five books written on the subject, and at least 20 web-
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The Most Potent Obstacles That list of reasons why the gap
ebruary 2024
between idea and action is a difficult one to traverse can go on for pages. For now, I’d like to focus on a class of obstacles to changed, and better, behavior: our pre-existing beliefs. I’ve come to the conclusion that our set of preexisting beliefs supplies the largest and most potent set of obstacles to self-improvement, and is the most difficult hurdle preventing greater success and fulfillment. Human beings naturally make observations and conclusions about our experiences as we grow up and experience life. Eventually, some of these become hardened into beliefs. These beliefs form our base set of assumptions about the world, and we make choices and live our lives based on those beliefs. For example, a child can have a difficult relationship with one of his parents and begins to think that all people of that sex are arbitrary, aggressive and can’t be trusted. He forms a “confirmation bias,” which leads him to look for those things in others of that sex. After a couple of experiences that seem to confirm his bias, that belief, that men, or women, are arbitrary, aggressive and can’t be trusted, coalesces into a belief, and then begins to influence all his behavior. This belief becomes buried into the deeper layers of his heart. It building-products.com
burrows into the subconscious level. He doesn’t even know he believes it, he just operates on the basis of it. When he is dating, he sees his potential life mates through the lens of this pre-existing belief. And that hinders his relationships with the opposite sex. He may go to an excellently presented workshop on “Communicating with the Opposite Sex” and learn some of the best practices of communication, but is unable to put them into practice because the gap between idea and action harbors his belief, and that belief prevents him from turning the good idea into action. With the best of intentions to implement his newly found practices, his belief trumps his intellectual ascent, and prevents him from following through. His potential for a loving, lifelong relationship is hindered because of the unconscious belief that he developed along the way. This process is such a part of human life that every human struggles with it. The Bible, for example, calls these unconscious beliefs “strongholds” and indicates that they are destroyed through the spiritual power inherent in Christians.
Cultural Beliefs Limiting beliefs aren’t just an individual issue. They can be distributed among affinity groups of people and become part of that group’s culture. Families have limiting beliefs that they share, as do larger communities. One of our travel experiences that made a life-long impact on me occurred in the ‘90s when Coleen and I were visiting Soweto, the African township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. On the day we were there, the children were on strike, refusing to go to school. Even stranger than that was the reason they were on strike: they objected to being graded as individuals. Their tribal belief system promoted the idea that they were a closely connected group, and that any attempt to recognize that one person did better than another was an attack on that belief. Either the whole class passed, or the whole class failed. The individual had value, not as an individual, but only as a part of the larger group. As with all such cultural components, these beliefs have consequencbuilding-products.com
es. A family can share a belief that all authority figures are arbitrary and not to be respected. As a result, family members are regularly in trouble with employers and the courts. In my Soweto example, the belief holds people down, and prevents individual achievement that would lift up the entire community. As a result, the community lives at the level of subsistence generation after generation. While these examples illuminate life-changing and society-impacting beliefs, not all limiting beliefs are so potent. We all have a host of them that impact our on-the-job performance. It is those that I find at play in the work that I do. “Salespeople are good talkers” is one. “I have great relationships with my customers” is another.
How to Overcome Limiting Beliefs Beliefs can be both positive and negative. Martin Seligman’s great book, Learned Optimism, describes the impact that positive beliefs can have in bringing success to one’s life. Not everyone is hindered by the gap between idea and action, for example. Some—typically about 20 to 30% of a training class—go on to incorporate the new practices into their routines and enjoy the positive outcomes as a result. The focus of this article is not on developing positive beliefs, but rather on overcoming negative ones. It’s not the minority who seamlessly incorporate the training that is my focus; it’s the majority who don’t. In many ways, our development as human beings is dependent on our ability to eliminate or overcome our limiting beliefs. Since limiting beliefs are subconscious and influence our behavior, the way to identify them is to study our behavior. Patterns of behavior that seem to be unreasonable, which often lead to negative outcomes, are often indicators of a limiting belief that prompted that behavior. Back to our example of the man raised with a limiting belief about the opposite sex. If he sees himself acting unreasonably, in multiple situations, then that behavior indicates a pattern, and that pattern of unreasonable negative behavior indicates a limiting belief. For example, he may get overly angry at the slightest perceived insult,
when none was intended, and other reasonable people would not have acted that way. A little introspection indicates that this is a pattern of behavior. That it has become habitual. Those are indications that there is a limiting belief prompting that behavior. So, the first step is to identify patterns of unreasonable, negative behavior. Friends, family members, and colleagues can provide some insight into this. The next step is to identify the belief that prompted that behavior. This is where a professional consultant can help. If you’re working by yourself, ask the question, “Why?” and as objectively as possible, search for the belief. See if you uncover and label it. Give it words and describe it. This is difficult work. Once you have identified the negative behavior and the underlying belief, you can attack it at both levels. You can become aware of the behavior, and whenever you find yourself in that situation, follow one of Seligman’s techniques: Simply tell yourself to “Stop” and then “Switch” to some other behavior. Do that enough, repeat it enough times, and you will have built a more positive habit. Or you can attack it at the level of the belief. Now that you have uncovered and labeled it, argue with yourself. Think through all the reasons why the belief is false. Convince yourself that the belief is unfounded and leads to negative behavior. Defeat the belief itself. You may find it helpful to formulate a positive rule and substitute that every time the old belief expresses itself. If you can successfully bridge the gap between idea and action, you’ll have gained a self-improvement tool that will serve you well for the rest of your life. MM
DAVE KAHLE Dave Kahle is a leading sales authority, having written 12 books and presented in 47 states and 11 countries. For more information, visit davekahle.com.
February 2024
• the merchant magazine • 47
------------| IN MEMORIAM
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Midwest Fastener Corp. www.fastenerconnection.com
1. 8 0 0 . 4 4 4 . 7 3 1 3
Morrell J. Swallow, inventory and purchasing manager at Builders FirstSource, West Jordan, Ut., passed away on Jan. 3. He was 55. His 35 years in the building supply industry included stops with Cantwell Brothers Lumber, Sunroc, Standard Builders Supply, Salt Lake City, Ut., before joining BMC West/BFS.
constructionscrews.com
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MoistureShield www.moistureshield.com
31
MOSO www.moso-outdoor.com
36
Mount Storm Forest Products www.mountstorm.com
49
National Hardware Show www.nationalhardwareshow.com
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NAWLA www.nawla.org
27, Cov IV
Orgill www.orgill.com
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RDI www.barretteoutdoorliving.com
Barry Earl Kimmel, 73, retired director of logistics for Custom Building Products, Seal Beach, Ca., died on Jan. 3.
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Pelican Bay Forest Products www.pelicanbayfp.com
------------| ADVERTISERS INDEX
23, 39
Redwood Empire www.buyredwood.com
John M. “Jack” Wied Sr., 85, former sales manager for North Pacific Lumber, Portland, Or., died on Jan. 3. After graduating from San Diego State University and the U.S. Coast Guard Officers Candidate School, Jack spent four years as an officer in the Coast Guard, followed by 25 years with NorPac. Randle Jones, 89, founder of Windsor Plywood, died on Dec. 19. After earning a business degree in 1952 from the University of British Columbia, he joined Stewart & Hudson Lumber Co., Victoria, B.C. He later purchased the firm, before launching Windsor Building Supplies, Surrey, B.C., in 1969. Using a franchise model, he expanded to 52 stores in Canada, four in Washington, and one in Montana.
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American Wood Technology www.americanwoodtechnology.com
43
Reel Lumber Service www.reellumber.com
34
Capital www.capital-lumber.com
15
Regal ideas www.regalideas.com
26
CT Darnell Construction www.ctdarnell.com
3
RoyOMartin www.royomartin.com
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DeckWise www.deckwise.com
35
Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com
Cov II, 5
Doman www.domanbm.com
30
Sure Drive USA www.suredrive.com
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Elk Creek Forest Products www.elkcreekforest.com
29
Swanson Group Sales Co. www.swansongroup.biz Deck Building Solutions • 866-767-1850 • www.suredrive.com • sales@suredrive.com
Best Value. Superior Quality. Environmentally Responsible.
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FastenMaster www.fastenmaster.com
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Located in Sumner, Washington, Western Wood Preserving Co. has been a manufacturer of pressure treated wood products, supplying residential, commercial and industrial markets of the Pacific Northwest since 1971. In addition, our strategic location near the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, provides easy access to the Alaskan, Hawaiian and Pacific Rim markets.
Western Woods, Inc. www.westernwoods.com
Our facility includes 12 acres of treatment, drying and storage areas, and produces top quality treated wood products for residential and commercial consumers in the wholesale market.
40
Huff Lumber Co. www.hufflumber.com
33 253-863-8191 • 800-472-7714 • westernwoodpreserving.com NatureWood®, Advance Guard®, FlamePro®, and CCA treated wood products are registered trademarks of Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. and are produced by independently owned and operated wood treating facilities. © 3/2020
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Humboldt Sawmill www.mendoco.com
3/24/20 7:43 PM
COMING NEXT MONTH
Keller Lumber Co. www.kellerlumberco.com
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Western Wood Preserving Co. www.westernwoodpreserving.com
ebruary 2024
in The Merchant Magazine
Spotlight on Redwood & Western Red Cedar building-products.com
------------| FLASHBACK
74 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH
FLASHBACK:
SIGNS OF THE TIMES SEVENTY-FOUR YEARS ago, dealers looked to the pages of The California Lumber Merchant for assistance in merchandising their wares. The latest was detailed in a story from the February 15, 1950, issue:
The signs are built, installed and maintained by a Midwest outdoor advertising firm. Sales are made to individual dealers by the various regional and state retail lumber dealer associations. The dealer pays a modest monthly rental fee to the association. The signs are double-faced, thereby attracting attention to traffic traveling in both directions. AII printed matter on the sign is reflectorized, permitting visibility at night as well as during the day. The signs are installed in a concrete base, stand 10 ft. high, and are 7 ft. wide at the top panel. The bottom panel, carrying the dealer’s name, is 2 ft. high and 4 ft. wide. Industry leaders hail the highway sign program as being a progressive step forward in bringing to the public an awareness of the services offered by retail lumber dealers in towns and cities throughout the nation.
Attractive Highway Signs Will Be Sponsored by Lumber Dealers Thousands of attractive highway signs will be sponsored by lumber dealers and installed throughout the country during 1950 under an ambitious publicity program endorsed by the National Retail Lumber Dealers Association and to be carried out by regional and state lumber associations. Feature illustration of the sign is a full-color drawing of the Certigrade National Home—the widely publicized 1949 model home of the Red Cedar Shingle Bureau, plans for which have been sold by hundreds of lumber dealers. After careful consideration, the Certigrade National Home was selected for the highway signs in recognition of the wide appeal of this National Plan Service home design. Immediately beneath the home is the slogan, “Where Your Home Begins.” The dealer’s name appears in a sep arate panel directly below.
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******** Among the new products introduced in that same 1950 issue was a forerunner of composite panels: Plastic-Treated Hardboard A plastic treatment adapted to the manufacture of hardboard makes possible a new weather-resistant hardboard suitable for exterior building, announced Harold A. Miller, president of Forest Fiber Products Co., Forest Grove, Or. This new plastic treated hardboard called “treated’’ Forest Board utilizes selected Douglas fir fibers in the same controlled process as the standard grade Forest Board. During the manufacturing process, the plastic treatment is given to each fiber and after the board is formed an additional surface treatment is given. Besides adding water resistance, the treatment provides greater structural strength, wear resistance, and
ebruary 2024
The cover of the February 15, 1950, issue promoted Upson Laminated Panels produced by The Upson Co., Locksport, N.Y., and distributed in the West by Western Hardwood Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca.
resistance to soap or alkali. The new hardboard resists chipping, denting and breaking, and like standard hardboard is grainless so that it will not splinter. In the manufacturing process a hard, glassy, smooth surface is produced that takes any type of finish by spraying, baking or brushing. It nails, glues, planes and works as wood itself. The plant is in full production. Samples and further information may be obtained from Stimson Lumber Co., Forest Grove. Or., the national distributor for Forest Board. MM
THE INITIAL 4x16-ft. plastic-treated Forest Board panel produced at Forest Fiber Products Co.’s Forest Grove, Or., plant is inspected by president Harold A. Miller and plant manager O.W. Frost.
building-products.com