Dealers can bank on pessurc trcated lumber

EALERS today are finding that contractors and consumers are buying more pressure treated lumber than ever before.

Some users hal'e concluded that pressure treated southern pine is less expensive and more durable than cedar. It can be used not only for decking but also for any number of outdoor projects with an attractile outcome. And dealers are smiling all the way to the bank.

'A lot of builders are putting porches on the fronts of their houses where they used to just put a l0xl2 deck on the back." said Robert Wood of Southeastern Building Supply of Marietta. Ga. 'As the quality of houses has improved. more contractors are putting wraparound porches on. so it takes more pressure treated lumber. And more people want wood decks around their pools these days rather than concrete."

C0NSUMERS and contractors are discorcring new uses lor pressure treated wood. More deda and pordes, funcing and ofier exterior rtems sudt as siding and fascia are using record amounts of oressure treated lumber.

Mike Hipps. lumber buyer for Mickey's Lumber & Supply Co. in Duluth. Ga.. said most of his pressure treated lumber orders are used for decks. but other projects such as gazebos. sidewalks. boat docks and housing foundations are becoming more popular. His sales have increased "100% or better since 1984." Hipps' company. which sells only to contractors. carries a wide range of Pressure treated lumber from 2x4 through 6x6 in varying lengths.

"We used to sell about 75.00 to 80.000 board feet a month." HiPPs said. "Norv we're selling 250.00O to 300.000 a month."

Mickey's also carries cedar. but according to Hipps. sales are mostly to contractors of very high end homes.

"The only ones who use cedar anymore are for the big mansions. Pressure treated is halfthe price," he said.

One of the other strong suits from a dealer's standpoint in favor of pressure treated lumber is its availability. "We make about the same profit on pressure treated as we do on cedar, but we can get it much quicker. And we can buy it in the lengths we want," said Hipps. "It's easy to fill a hole. We can make a phone call and the order will be here the next day. With cedar, sometimes it can take two to three weeks."

Price is a primary reason why so many contractors are switching to pressure treated lumber, said Southeastern Building Supply's Wood. "There has been a reduction in price recently, so it's much more feasible to use pressure treated lumber than cedar." he said.

However, he added that other reasons builders are buying pressure treated

Story at a Glance

Pressure treated lumber sales up as much as 100o/o for some dealers . . . contractors and d-iyers like low price, quick availability, reliabality . uses expanding. products include its longevity and its availability.

ing southern pine all the more competitive with cedar. For instance, GeorgiaPacific, one of the nation's largest suppliers of southern pine lumber, recently inaugurated a quality improvement program that hinges on an improved drying process for their Southern Gold pine lumber. The process significantly decreases the chances of warping, cupping, bowing or crooking, the primary objections to southern pine in the past.

The future for dealers in southern pine pressure treated lumber is bright-brilliant, in fact-as contractors discover new uses each day.

As more people discover the benefits of the Permanent Wood Foundation, sales will literally go through the roof. Dealers' smiles will be even broader-all the way to the bank. lUhen Vou

Manulacturers are also turning out higherquality boards these dayslmak-

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