WWPI SPECIAL ISSUE By Belinda Remley
TREES ARE NATURE’S sustainable building blocks. “Preservatives ensure that wood lasts long enough for the new harvest to grow and mature,” says Western Wood Preservers Institute executive director Dallin Brooks. (Photos by Arxada)
Sustainable, natural, beautiful wood with preservative staying power I
said before, but it bears repeating. Wood is an ideal building material. For thousands of years, societies have built their infrastructures, their homes, their livelihoods with wood. Today is no different. Just look around the areas in which we live and it’s easy to spot wood building components–engineered wood in mid-rise and commercial applications, poles and piling supporting utility lines and docks, and lumber enhancing backyards across the country. “Wood is the ideal choice for a number of reasons,” says Eric Lummus, Arxada’s director of commercial operations. “It is harvested from managed forest lands that are continually replanted. It is easy to work with whether you’re a contractor or a DIYer. It is enhanced with preservatives that help it last. It is easily maintained. And, finalt may have been
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ly, it is still affordable and readily available for purchase.”
Sustainable Wood.
Wood is nature’s sustainable building block that comes from an abundant natural resource that is easily and quickly replenished. It has excellent workability in all aspects of construction and, when preserved and used properly, can be designed to create outdoor living spaces that bring indoor comforts to the outside. Wood is a sustainable product that is responsibly sourced from managed forest lands. Trees used in the building industry come from forests grown as crops—much like cotton or soy is grown. They are harvested. The land is left to rest for a few months then replanted at the rate of approximately 400 trees per acre. The forest is maintained and cared for 30+ years before it is har-
n The Merchant Magazine n April 2022
vested again. Parcels of managed forest lands are in different stages of growth so that not all the forest is harvested at one time. During the growing process, the privately-owned forest land is home to wildlife and often used by birdwatchers and hikers. Between sawmills and product manufacturers, every part of harvested trees is used for poles, piling and dimensional lumber, pulp for paper mills, animal bedding, and mulch for gardens.
Preferable Wood.
Wood is as relevant as ever in today’s construction environment and is still relied upon as the building material that offers functional beauty. Wood’s design flexibility, strength and natural beauty allow it to be used for a wide range of construction from buildings to backyard projects. “Wood is not just for the enhanceBuilding-Products.com
