Dealerc tell it like it

is um?"*effi*H#,

the product? This question often soems to be lost in the push to build a market, attract @nsumenr and establish brand idmtification.

For a cross scction of opinion, Buildin| hoducts Digat talked wittt Jimmy Stegall, Stegall's Builder Mart, an affiliate of Buildo Marts of America, Marshville, N.C.; Alan Coleman, purchasing agetrt, Charleston Lumber Co., a Seacoast Buitdirry Ccnter branch, Charleston, S.C.; Jimmy Price, manager/owner, Ed Price Building Materids, Baton Rouge,

Story at a Glance

Pressure lreated products wln hlgh marks...quallty mark, advertlslng, promotlon valuable. .warranty uncerlaln ...radlus edge decklng wel. come.

La., and Ken Porter, general sales manager lumber, Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, Ga.

Agreement on the future of pressure treated wood ranged from good to excellent. Continuing growth in sales regardless of the customer mix is the norm with an expectation for even more growth as the advantages of the product become firmly entrenched.

Ken Porter was alone in expressing concern over the future. He feels that while the demand will be up, it will not equal the previous S0s/o a year increases. He anticipates the capacity for treating exceeding the demand in all but the peak times. Quality skimping to reduce costs could result from this situation.

In some areas the price differential between pressure treated and redwood makes the treated lumber a better buy. For example, in Baton Rouge redwood can sell for three times the price of treated. Cedar fencing also is more expensive than pressure treated fencing. Because Southern pine read- ily accepts CCA treatrnent, there are many treatment plants in the South. This is an important price factor, making local materials less expensive than those shipped from the West Coast.

The American Wood Prcserving Bur€au's quatity stamp is regarded as the hallmark of the industry by the majority of dealers. Porter seems to speak for those interviewed when he stresses the importancc of making the consumer and the purchasing agents aware of the value of the independent third party inspection and the significance of the quality mark. Coleman adds that education should be increased to the point where "people ask for the quality stamped product."

Opinions differ on the value of the warranties offered by some companies. Stegall considers the warranty useful because "people like it." Coleman refers to it as "piece of paper" which doesn't carry over to a second owner.

As with the warranty, dealers appear impressed with tradenames. Price related treated wood to facial tissue, saying "the tradenames have become generic for most consumers."

Dealers interviewed are happy with pressure treated wood and "don't see how it can be improved." There is some discussion about the need for treating better wood, but no serious complaint. The new radius edge

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