StimPro' Fingerioint Studs and Dimension Lumber

Stimson fingerjointed StimProrM studs provide top performance and have an excellent reputation with contractors, remodelers and do-ityourselfers.

StimProTM fingef ointed framing lumber and studs meet or exceed industry specifications. Downfall is also minimized with Stimson fingeloint products. Fingef ointed dimension lumber and studs carry the same design values as their solid lumber counterparts, making them 100% interchangeable.

['tEirlmq I llr',;r r i:rlirill o StimProrfi fingeloints run across the face of the stud, better aligning the edges and minimizing offset. o Fingerloint adhesive is 100% exterior glue. o Precision end triming is available up to 14 ft. o Double end trimming is available up to 40 ft. o All edges are l/4-inch eased. o Stimson fingerlornt lumber has certfied exteriorjoints, stamped "CERT EXT JNTS"

All krln dried 197o or less, o Fir Larch o Spruce, Pine, Fir (SPF s) o Whitewood

'.:., 'o2x4 o2x6 o Lengths up to 40 f t

'l ':',rti,-'" o Stud o No. 2 and Better o lndustrial Grades li, r,q{r,]!r r i'r'ri.ri;{ {.1

Fingelointed studs are accepted by the International Building Code as well as the Model Buildrng Codes (UBC, BOCA, Sourhern Sran, dard) which are in effect in some_lurisdictions.

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Stimson fingefoints are continually tested to insure the bond is sound and meet exterior standards. Individual pieces are then systematically selected for load testing to assure bending and tension forces meet or exceed those for the same grade in conventional framing. Each piece is WWPA grade marked as "Certified Exterior Joints" for both vertical and horizontal applications, while improving stabiliry

L-P Shutters Hines LVL Plant

Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Nashville, Tn., will permanently close its Hines, Or., laminated veneer lumber plant next month.

According to L-P, despite efficiency efforts at the mill. it was more expensive to deliver product from Hines than from L-P's other LVL plants. In addition, L-P recently struck a deal to sell LVL produced at Murphy Plywood's new mill in Sutherlin, Or.

L-P acquired the mill l0 years ago. On Oct. 18,16 of the facility's 9l employees will be laid off, with the remainder staying on for as long as it takes to shut down the mill.

Hardware Landmark Closes

After 104 years in Issaquah, Wa., Lewis Hardware will close once everything is sold. "I haven't set a real deadline, except I won't be renewing my business license. It expires in three months." said owner Steve White. "I'll be gone when we get rid of this stuff."

J.J. Lewis opened the store in 1903, in a little house about 200 yards south of where the store moved to in 1920. The founder's toolbox still sits on a shelf above the front door. A two-man crosscut saw hangs near the checkout stand. Both will move to a local historical museum, along with other historical items from the store.

Even today, the store has individual accounts that allow regular customers to initial a sales slip and return at the end of the month to settle their bills. "It's kind of like the old days," said employee Bonnie Van Valkenberg. "I don't know any other store that still does this."

In the 1980s, White stafted working part-time at the store. He and his wife, Betty, bought the business in 1992. A finish carpenter by trade, he has learned how to repair almost anything. "If it was built, then it can be repaired," he said.

The one thing he can't do is compete with the big-box stores outside Issaquah's downtown core. "It was okay when it was just Eagle Hardware." he said. "We traded customers and referred back and forth if we didn't have something. Then Lowe's came. And Home Depot."

Even though he is 65 years old, White won't be able to retire after the store closes. "I took everything out of savings to keep this going. You can't keep putting good money into bad," he said. "This is heart-wrenching to go through, but I figure any time you wake up and you're on this side of the dirt, above ground, it's a good day."

Ace Encourages Expansion

Ace Hard"vare expects to oPen 130 new locations in 2007 -3O%, fewer than last year.

To entice dealers to expand, Ace is offering owners who open a new store nearly $200,000 worth of free inventory. In all, a typical store costs about $850,000 to $l million to open.

Last year, the chain added 188 stores across the country, but also closed l7l branches.

Decks Keep Stacking Up

U.S. demand for decking will reach 3.6 billion lineal ft. by 201l, supported by solid residential improvement and repair activity, according to a new forecast by the Freedonia Group.

In the $4.6-billion-a-year-U.S. decking market, alternative materials such as wood-plastic composites and plastic will continue to lead gains, further supplanting wood. Tropical hardwoods will grow the fastest in the wood decking segment.

THE PAGIFItr WOED PRESERVINEi trOMPANIES

Prr-co Moves To Keep Staff

The Texas judge overseeing Pacific Lumber Co.'s bankruptcy proceedings approved a cash bonus plan that would divide a maximum of $396,000 between about 23 administrative employees if they stay through the company' s reorganization.

P,qr.co attorneys said that the announcement has already had a positive effect on the company, which has seen significant layoffs and mill closures. "It is important for the company because the morale is lorv," said attorney Kyung Shik Lee.

Also discussed were a mill employee retention plan and an employee agreement rvith Pnlco's chief financial officer. Gary Clark, rvhose continued employment through the reorganization period is deemed critical by the company. Clark has been "vith Pelco since 1993 and r.vas eligible fbr retirement in 2003. Under the agreement, he would receive his base pay of $280,000, along rvith another $280,000 as "consideration for Mr. Clark's promise to lorgo retirement through, at least, December 2001 ."

A plan to provide as much as $ 1.78 million in bonuses to executivesdepending on the company's financial performance-was withdrawn by

P,a,lco weeks ago.

Palco also filed for a sccond 90day exlensiorr to lilc a reorganization plan because it needed additiclnal time to finalize valuation of its assets and further assess the claims objection and estimation process.

PRLCo assured olficials that it was making progress torvard finalizing a reorganization plan.

Depot Cleans Up In California

Home Depot has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle a civil case filed by state and prosecutors in Los Angeles County. Ca., for allegedly failing to properly store and transport hazardous sludge.

ln2004, a 55-gallon drum in a back room of the Home Depot in Marina del Rey, Ca., exploded, causing a fire and forcing the evacuation of customers and employees. Investigators discovered that the drum had contained an explosive mix of chemicals.

"It was a volatile mixture that reacted and exploded," said Patty Bilgin, supervising attorney for the environmental justice and protection section of the Los Angeles city attorney's office. "These big-box outlets have become mini-chemical warehouses."

After the explosion, a truck belonging to a rvaste hauling company contracted by Depot was stopped by the California Highway Patrol in San Joaquin County. The truck was not certified with the state, as required by larv. A multi-agency investigatiorr was begun, including the state attorney general's otflce and prosecutors from Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Clara, San Joaquin. and Monterey counties.

The investigation concluded that Depot stores across California improperly stored hazardous lvaste rvhile awaiting otf-site disposal. In addition, haulers sometimes improperly stored and labeled the waste and did not keep good records of materials about to be transpclrted.

"Because of a cost-cutting campaign under the last c.e.o., safety measures definitely declined," said state attorney general Jerry Brown. "Under pressure from my office and that of a number of counly district attorneys. they've totally revamped their procedures and put themselves in a positicln to deal with hazardous materials in a sound way."

Depot announced it had "developed and implemented a best-in-class program for labeling and disposing of the waste generated in our stores."

|N-STORE art gallery builds a tie to the community even as it promotes the sale of woodworking tools.

Almquist Makes Room For Art

At Almquist Lumber's new facility in Arcata, Ca., a permanent art gallery shorvcases the rvork of local artists, customers, and employees-and boosts sales of r,voodworking tools and fine hardrvooos.

"The idea was to think about people we see all the time 'uvho are artists ir.r the community," said Don Ehnebuske, who is the store's general manager and exhibit coordinator. "We rvanted to help our customers show some of their incredible work and help them succeed."

As might be expected, most of the items on display are constructed of fine hardrvoods: custom doors, tables, and cabinets. "The area was designed to motivate and encourage, to sholv what can be done with wood," he said.

Also on display are woodworking tools sold in the new 15,000-sq. ft. main building. People come in and look at horv things are made, said Ehnebuske, and then browse in the main store.

Since the gallery is located in a 25'x25' area near the entrance-',vith a book area on one side and a coffee shop on the other-it's hard to miss. The gallery is also mentioned in weekly store ads and local papers. "Arcata is a very art-friendly area," said Ehnebuske. "PIus, everyone tends to know everyone, so word gets out on something like this."

Woodgrain Consolidates Mills

Woodgrain Millwork, Fruitland, Id., will close its laminating in White City, Id., by Sept. 7 and shift production to its plant in Prineville, Or.

The White City plant, "vhich operated three shifts and employed more than 100 people during its peak several years ago, now has about 40 workers. "The number has been going down over the years as we've shifted production elsewhere because of efficiencies," said Brooks Dame, whose grandfather founded the company in 1954.

"A lot of the decision has to do with overseas competition. It's hard to compete rvith China," said Dame. "lt's squeezed us to get leaner and leaner and leaner. It got to the point where we couldn't do anything more to cut costs."

Woodgrain Millwork's five divisions employ nearly 5,000 worldrvide and operate roughly 30 manufacturing and warehouse facilities in 14 states-in every region but the Rockies and New England-plus Brazil and Chile.

The company has operated the White City plant since 1996, rvhen it was purchased from Jessup Door Co. "Some of the guys in White City are lifetimers with us and I hope thev stav." said Dame.

At Mat$rm6 Martfutg Ptodttds our solutions go bepnd bchnology. It's our people, that truly set us apart in the makaplace. We are an innovative and fastgrowing manufachrrer ttnt still cares about our customers fld hasrdt forgdten the solid founddion of quality$ir' grounds our rods. Wrth orer 150 years of experiencg we've proven our steadfast befieJ in pgtnerirq witr clients to meet rnt only tt€{r marking needs, but ats their man ufacturing challenges for the long haal. ,, .:,

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