For healthy walls, think plaster

most important components determining long-term indoor air quality and occupant comfort. This isn't going to be a science lesson. But this kind of thinking is becoming more mainstream, creating new opportunities for dealers to begin supplying solutions.

HETHER It's New construction, remodeling or home improvement, the ultimate goal is to create a healthy, comfortable space for the occupants. There's some real science behind understanding how various building components interact to maximize indoor air quality, while minimizing mold growth and energy demand.

It turns out that wall "breathabilitv" mav be one of the

Interesting thing about walls: they all get covered, coated, or stained and almost every dealer in the supply chain sells one or the other or all three. Paint is the most common coating and every dealer who sells paint carries at least one line of "green" paint, or is considering adding a line right now. The number of "green" paint brands has exploded over the last year or two, with nearly all the major national and regional manufacturers marketing some pretty good to great products. The greenest paints, of course, are the ostensibly non-toxic, zero-VOC formulations, coupled with zero-VOC colorants. The demand is there and growing, and the products are easy find, so getting into a good green paint brand is a no-brainer at this point.

When You Need ll To Last

Enduring Through The Seosons

Tieated Glulam Beams and Columns that Stand the Test of Time

As one of the great products for the new building season, Rosboro Treated Clulam is a solid choice for your clients' decks, porches and balconies:

| 2l-year warranty

I Pressure{reated to resist rot, decay and insect attack

I Framing Appearance: Rosboro limits wane and lightly sands beams and columns to remove excess glue and reduce blemishes

Beams

I Non-swelling, honey-colored preservative for above-ground applications

I Manufactured to standard framing widths and EWP depths

I Balanced lay-up for clean and simple installation

Columns

I Oil-soluble preservative acting as ideal fungicide and insecticide

I Long{erm preservation in both ground contact and above-ground uses

I Available in common widths and depths

For More Information

Contact Rosboro at (888) 393-2304 for the authorized distributor nearest vou.

Rosboro P.O. Box 20, Springfield,OR97477

Technical Support: (877) 457-4139

Email: info@rosboro.com Web: www.rosboro.com

But there are limitations with paint and that. in part. is driving more interest in lower impact, healthier. and, surprisingly. more traditioniil alternatives. Manufacturing paints requires a fair amount of energy and lots of chemicals, even fbr the green brands. Paints have limited durability. requiring touch ups and re-application every few years.

Paints also seal. kceping moisture out. but lrlso keepinr moisturc in. They're not breathable, potentially creating the conditions for mold to grow within the walls, which is onc of the main causes of "sick building syndrome." Thcse factors have contributed to a significant rise in the usc of traditional plasters, or more up-todate versions of traditional plasters. that have relatively low-embodied energy, are non/low emitting, breathable, durable. and have other interesting properties.

One of the best-known examples is American Clay (www.americanclay. com). an interior clay plaster line made in New Mexico. Because it's breathable, it hclps to moderate humidity in a roont and allows for air exchan_[es that reduce or eliminate condensation within walls. The products also exhibit moderating eff'ects on temperature that may lead to lower energy bills. In other words, compared to paint. American Clay helps rooms stay cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold.

Another modern-traditional innovation just coming into the U.S. market from Japan is EcoDeVita, from Shikoku International (www.shikokuinternational .com). Two products in the line contain diatomaceous earth and have the very unique property of adsorbing formaldehyde and chemically breaking it down. rendering it harmless. Not only does it provide all the other benefits of a traditional wall plaster. but it also cleans the air, too.

Orit Yanai (www.orityanai.com). a LEED Accredited Professional and one of the industry's top experts on plasters. thinks that demand filr sustainably produced. rnulti-functional plaster products like these will continue to grow.

"One of the biggest topics in the green building community right now is about breathable walls, and the good news is that the solution has been around for thousands of years: plaster," she tclls me. "But having said that, it's not always easy to source materials for a project."

Building-Productrcom

A few minutes on Google indicates the current dealer mix includes those that spccialize in plaster and related products. green-building boutiques. and a handful of rnore traditional LBM dealers. If there's growin-e demand that's under served. traditional LBM dealers could leverage natural advantages in scale and contractor relationships to make ereen plasters a healthy new line of business.

Jay Tompt

Managing Partner. Wm. Verdc & Associates (4r-5) 321-084u infb@ will iamverdc.conr

Bosed in Anncpolis, MD, Fletcher Wood Solutions@ is the lorgest monufocturer o{ defect-free, oppeorcnce grode rcdioto pine products in New Zeolond. Distributing our cleor boords, mouldings, LIFESPAN@ trected wood, ond lumber to the North Americon morket through our proven cnd completely integroted supply choin, Fletcher Wood Solutions'-' mointcins direct occess to one of the lorgest FSC certified", pine plontotion forests in the worrc.

California Retailer Closing

Terra Linda. Ca.. dealer Pacific Lumber & Hardware is selling the last of its inventory and will close after 25 years, due to the poor economy.

"Business is slow and there's not a lot of building going on," said office manager Janice Davis. "Customers are slow to pay their bills."

According to general manager Steve Schumacher, customers were local contractors and homeowners who preferred to shop from a smaller, locally owned store rather than a big- box retailer. "It will probably be dearly missed," he said.

The store was known for displaying flags of different nations. representing the diversity of the store's employees and customers, and featuring a giant Nativity scene during the holidays.

Structural Wood Screws

Structural wood screws for fastening multi-ply truss and engineered wood assemblies are new from Simpson Strong-Tie.

SDW screws install from one side, firmly cinching plies together and eliminating the need to flip heavy girders. A large, flush head doesn't protrude and causes less interference when handlins trusses and installing connectors.

I STRONGTIE.COM

Tough Gear

Iron Dog Tool Gear from European Tools starts with a rig belt that can be customized with 28 interchangeable pouches, pockets, and organizers.

The rig belt has an easy on/off buckle. Users can place accessories where they want, for whatever the job demands.

I IRONDOGTOOLGEAR.COM

(203\ 240-4146

Synthetic Underlay

TAMKO'S synthetic underlayment promises more durability than traditional felt backing, in a lighter, wider roll.

Made of a polymeric surface film, the product comes on a l0-square roll-instead of the traditional 2- to 4-square rolls. A nailing pattern printed on each sheet eases installation.

T TAMKO.COM

(800) 641-4691

White Deck Lights

TimberTech Decklites are now offered in Coastal White, to complement RadianceRail, Ornamental Rail, and FenceScape systems.

etu*uqts Ir rf*-sourtt"rn €afilsrnio mE** nuff:iurileioffers the comple* tins'm *o*Ehurg EWP coupled wirh full technicol copobililies including foke-off, conversion, plucemenf drowings ond engineering services. EWP moteriols ore ovoiloble in mill direcl bulk shipmenls, locol units ond cut piece iob pockoges.

ROSEBURG FRAMING SYSTEM@

The Roseburg Froming Systemo consisls of: RFPIo Joisls used in floor ond roof construction; Rigidlomo LVL which is used for heoders, beoms, studs ond columns; ond RigidRimo Rimboord. All of the componenls ore engineered to the industry's highest slondords to help controciors build solid, duroble, ond better performing froming syslems compored io ordinory dimension lumber.

RFPI@{oist

Pigidlom@ IVL

Rigidlom@ LVI Sluds

Rigidlom@ IVL Columns

RigidRim@ Rimbootd

Lighting options include post cap lights, baluster-mounted accent lights, post-mounted accent lights, and stair riser lights for added visibility.

The low-voltage system uses minimal electricity.

T TIMBERTECH.COM

(800) 307-7780

High Vent District

Benjamin Obdyke's Cougar Ridge Vent improves attic ventilation to prolong the life, beauty, and performance of roofing.

Made with nylon matrix technology, the product reportedly installs easily andcan be installed by hand or with a pneumatic nail gun.

I BENJAMINOBDYKE.COM (800) 346-7655