Deuelopers discouer wisdom of raised floors

Developers along the Gulf Coast are discovering some hard facts: raised wood floor construction is the logical choice for meeting floodplain requirements. And local dealers stand to benefit from a substantial increase in lumber sales'

Faced with the high cost of fill and FEMA's latest designations for flood zones, two develoPers have turned to SFPA and the Southern Pine Council for guidance and Promotional assistance.

Central City is the new name for a Louisiana communitY known since the Civil War as Burlington. Designated as a Planned urban development, or PUD, Central City-located just north of Baton Rouge-will include new homes, schools, retail and recreational areas. FEMA has determined that gOVo of the planned communitY lies within a floodplain.

Developer Jeff Couvillion and his company, Acadiana Constructors, plan to build a subdivision called Burlington Lakes that reflects the area's historical heritage. He's convinced raised wood foundations will meet FEMA guidelines and at the same time recaPture the look of historical homes in the area. He's working with SFPA's Richard Kleiner and consulting architect Kevin Harris of Baton Rouge to find cost-effective ways to support the foundations and to give the subdivision a uniform visual stYle. walkways. And, of course, it's perfect for framing homes and other structures in areas of the countrY where decaY and termites create problems.

"Kevin Harris will 'value engineer' the developer's standard plans to optimize materials, Plus labor considerations," said Kleiner, SFPA's director of treated markets. "We must show builders and developers how raised floor construction is superior to slabs."

There's a similar story in Robert' La., where develoPer Matt Gallagher, G&C DeveloPments, is maPping out 260 lots on 100 acres. A half-dozen builders plan to build on 85 lots in phase one of his Arbor Estates subdivision with the homes ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 sq. ft. After seeing one of the SPC's tv commercials promoting "Raised Floor Living" and spending $3O00 to fill a lot for his three-bedroom model, he contacted SFPA for helP.

"To meet mY Price Point of $200,000, a raised wood floor home is the key to the success of this project," Gallagher said. "The cost of the required fill is prohibitive."

Architect Harris is working with Gallagher to demonstrate the most efficient use of materials, particularly concrete in the foundation sYstem, to satisfy local code requirements and enhance the curb aPPeal of the homes. Hanis will also Provide architectural guidelines to the builders involved so that Arbor Estates has a consistent visual appeal. "We want to show builders that a raised floor home can sell faster than a slab home just because it looks better," Kleiner said.

"The fact that develoPers are starting to see the benefits of promoting raised wood floors in their projects indicates to us that our efforts are paying off," said Kleiner. "Converting just these two developments to raised floor homes rePresents potential lumber sales by local dealers of more than $1.8 million."

Thanks to progress in wood Preservation technology, new "earth-friendly" formulations are now available to address green building concerns. Five new code-approved Preservatives include three micronized (or dispersed) copper formulations, which reduce impact on aquatic or tenestrial environments and are less corrosive to fasteners; and for above-ground use outdoors, a new "carbon-based," noncopper preservative as well as a new fixated-borate formulation.

SPC offers a number of technical guides on choosing and using Pressure-treated southern pine. Available as a free PDF download at www. southernpine.com, these helpful booklets include recently released updated versions of SPC's specification guide ("Pressure-Treated Southern Pine") and "Aquatic & Wetland Structures." The specification guide features a comprehensive table with the commercial trade name under which each oreservative is marketed and a correiponding product website for those who want additional information' Following an explanation of available southern pine grades and sizes, the aquatic guide provides detailed specifications for treated lumber used in salt and fresh water. Decking specifications, fastener recommendations, and special grades for marine service are also included.

Upside of Raised Wood Floors

For nearly a decade now, SPC has devoted time and money to educate consumers and building professionals about the merits of using raised wood floor systems rather than concrete slabs. Working with universities, APA and other industry organizations, the campaign has expanded to include demonstration homes, seminars and research.

Raised floors make sense in floodprone areas. A raised floor sYstem may also be the right aPProach in areas that have Problems with soil subsidence, since this type of foundation is easier and less expensive to level than a concrete slab if shifting occurs. Room additions, remodeling projects, and under-floor repairs are also easier to handle with a raised floor foundation. Lumber dealers are winners, too, as raised floor systems can add up to a third more lumber to the typical framing package.

Following the catastrophic 2005 hurricane season, SPC stepped up its efforts and some impressive results are becoming evident. Recent "Raised Floor Living" television and Internet advertising campaigns reached audiences in Houston, Tx.; Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, La., and the Gulf Coast area stretching from New Orleans to Pensacola, Fl. In a precampaign survey, 54Vo of the respondents said they would raise their foundations to protect their homes from flooding. That percentage increased to 6lVo in a post-campaign survey, indicating the ads helped convince homeowners to consider raised floors when building new homes. The biggest shift occurred in the Houston area. where 6O7o now say they would raise their foundations compared to only 44Vo in the initial survey. In an even more striking example of progress, developers of several new residential Louisiana projects are looking to raised floor construction as the answer to new elevation requirements (see sidebar).

SPC and APA produce a free monthly newsletter recapping the campaign's progress and listing information about demonstration homes, research and training opportunities for dealers and building professionals. Dealers are welcome to subscribe by sending their their name and email address to mail@sfpa.org. More information about raised floors and the television ads can also be found at www.rai sedfl oorliving.com.

Nothinf Greener than Wood

According to McGraw-Hill Construction's "Green Outlook 2009," the value of green-building construction starts rose from $10 billion in 2005 to $36-$49 billion in 2008 and could reach $96-$140 billion by 2013. In a green world, wood wins. Many alternative products make claims to be the "greenest," but wood still stands on top. America has some of the bestmanaged public and privately owned forests in the world. Trees are renewable, and studies have shown that wood outperforms other products when compared over a complete life cycle. Wood is reusable, recyclable and biodegradable. Inorganic materials not only require excessive energy to produce, but also to recycle or dispose of when their use has been terminated. And, of course, the proper use of wood building products, particular- ly pressure-treated southern pine when warranted, helps ensure that structures built with wood enjoy an extremely long service life, reducing demands on our valuable forest resources.

SPC on Duty to Help

In addition to its strength, beauty, environmental-friendliness and availability, prices on southern pine products remain attractive values when compared to many alternative building materials. Until the economy and construction market recover, dealers can invest in their future success by visir ing www.southernpine.com to see what's available to help them and their customers learn more about this versatile, durable species.

Copies of SPC's technical publications can also be downloaded from the site or visitors can order a "Lumber Library" CD that contains all of the publications. If dealers, distributors or end-users have a question not answered on the site or in print, SPC also offers a Help Desk that can be reached via email (help@southernpine.com) or phone, (253) 620-74O0. Also online, southern pine dealers can add their free listing in SPC's Producr Locator, where customers search for stocking dealers by state.

Consumer promotions steer customers to dealers

Working together under the Southern Pine Council banner, the Southern Forest Products Association and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association are encouraging consumers to visit their local lumber dealer. Features in national lifestyle magazines. media tours, and cable television appearances are extending the reach of print advertising to the building trades. This year, SPC is showcasing southern pine materials in front of millions of Americans.

Coming in February, more than I I million readers of Country Living magazine will see southern pine boards used in the ceilings throughout the "2009 House of the Year" feature article. Alternatine I x6 and I x8 boards are decorativel! displayed in the master bedroom and family room ceilings of a threestory townhome in a West Virginia ski community.

"These pictures give homeowners ideas about how to dress up their own home or the dream home they are planning to build," says SFPA's Richard Wallace. "The inherent beauty of southern pine is a natural accent to any d6cor. Readers can easily find a local southern pine supplier online using SPC's product locator."

In June, 70,000 serious do-ityourselfers reading Woodcraft magazine will learn all about the installation of southern pine flooring in a custom workshop.

For several months durins the year, SPC will promote raised fleor systems using an Internet-based advertising campaign. Convenient links to pages on www.raisedfloorliving.com provide consumers with answers to the most frequently asked questions, plus a building professional locator to get the job started.

Outdoor Iiving projects are a favorite topic of cable tv and radio programs targeting handy homeowners. SPC publicity efforts include contacts with broadcast editors and producers for interviews with knowledgeable spokespersons. Media tours to trade and consumer magazines and newspapers provide southern pine project photos and product details for future articles. Editors can also acquire press-ready photos using a new online gallery. SPC's media activities can often translate into increased treated lumber sales opportunities for dealers.