Engineered Wood In Demand

Designed to have the structural strength of a higher grade or larger length of wood, engineered wood products are changing the way houses are built and retailers stock for the building industry.

Wood products such as laminatedveneer lumber beams, engineered joists, I-beams and finger-jointed 2x4s for studs and millwork are being specified over their solid wood predecessors because of their increased loadcarrying capabilities, labor-saving abilities and quality consistencies.

Engineered wood products, which were originally designed to enable the use of every part of a tree, have actually been around since 1960. However, in today's market and into the '90s, there will be a move toward using engineered wood products which will be manufactured to meet practical and environmental needs.

"We're harvesting smaller, second-growth trees, while larger timber will become scarce, and therefore, very expensive," says Nicholas R. Kent, executive v.p., North American Wholesale Lumber Association.

Quality, large-size lumber will not be as readily available as it has been in the past. In spite of this, new homes and commercial building blueprints are calling for large, open multilevel structures. This requires lumber that has greater load-carrying capacity, he added.

Another reason engineered wood products will grow is the savings that are realized during installation because less time is spent handling the material on the job site. In addition, lineal price often remains the same whether a 6-ft. or 60-ft. length is required.

The educational process is the key to using engineered wood products. Even if the architect is knowledgeable and the retailer provides the availability, "the inspector has to know the products' capabilities, or he'll red tag it," says Steve Snavely, president, Snavely Forest Products, a NAWLA member, which distributes laminated beams, laminatedveneer lumber and wood l-beams to retail lumber yards and independent supply centers.

"Our company sponsors more than 100 seminars a year," Snavely said. "But once the architect and specifier get a sense of the capabilities and consistencies of engineered wood products, availability will be critical. "

"Lumber wholesalers will be there for the retailers before and after it becomes obvious that engineered wood products are no longer specialty items," Kent adds. "Our members distribute more than lumber and engineered wood products. They are equipped with new product knowledge that independent supply centers and retail lumber vards can use today."

New NBMDA Educator

An education program for the National Building.Material Distributors Association Education Foundation will be developed by M. Kent Mayfield Ph.D, newly appointed director.

Dr. Mayfield will be responsible for transforming the foundation from planning to reality, providing the industry with a comprehensive educational program. Foundation objectives are to develop qualified candidates for careers in distribution and provide the industry continuing education and training resources.

Genetically Engineered Trees

The world's first genetically engineered trees - poplars resistant to herbicides so young trees won't be crowded out and killed by weedsare being developed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The trees incorporate a mutant gene from a species of bacteria that commonly causes food poisoning to withstand weed killers so the poplars can be grown rapidly on large plantations. Commonly used as "a fast screen" for conifers, the poplars will be burned to provide energy or converted into ethanol to run cars. scientists said.

J. M. "Buddy" Tolleson Jr., president and chief executive oflicer of Tolleson Lumber Co., lnc., Perry, Ga., died Feb. 14, 1990, in Atlanta, Ga., after a lengthy illness, He was 67.

A native of Grovania, Ga., Mr. Tolleson joined the family business after serving in the Army during World War Il. The company grew to include locations in Cullman, Al., and Perry, Preston and Fitzgerald, Ga.

He served asl974-75 chairman of the board of the Southern Forest Products Association, chairman of the National Forest Products Political Action Committee, and a director of the Georgia Forestry Association, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. National Forest Products Association, Southern Pine Association. Lumberman's Underwriting Alliance and Hardwood

Souhem Arsoclatlon News

(Continued from page 26)

Buildlng Materisl Merchants Associrtion (Georgia and Alabama) and the Home Builders Association of Georgia will appoint a blue-ribbon committee following the close of the present Georgia legislative session to address the lien law in that state.

Erv Goodroe, BMMA exec. v.p., has met with representatives of the building industry to discuss the pros and cons of the present lien law.

Future BMMA dates: summer management conference, Savannah, April 29-May l; Alaskan trade mission, Aug. 31, and annual buying show, College Park, April l2-13, 1991.

Louisiana Building Material Dealers Association will be headed by president Dudley Webre, Landry Lumber & Supply Co., Inc., Luling, for 1990-91.

Others on the executive committee: lst. v.p. George Kellett, George Kellett & Sons, Inc., New Orleans; 2nd. v.p. Wallace Poole, Poole Lumber Co., Covington; treas. A. J. Harris, Baton Rouge Lumber Co., Baton Rouge; national dealer director Dudley Webre; past pres. Bob Armer, Southern Components, Inc., Shreveport; executive v.p. Gayle Passman, Baton Rouge.

Directors: Steve Ashy, Don Bertrand, Scott Bradford, Steve Buller, Ray Duplechain, Tracy Harrel, Bob Hayden,

Manufacturer's Association.

Mr. Tolleson is survived by his widow, Marianne, three daughters, a sister, two brolhers, and four grandchildren.

Marle R. Mrson, 76, retired coowner of Mason Lumber Co., Belle Haven, Va., died Jan. 28, 1990, in Nassawadox, Va.

A native of Bridgetown, Va., Mrs. Mason is survived by one daughter, two sons, three sisters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Jack Rayburn, owner of Jack Rayburn Lumber Co., Duncan, Ok., died Jan. 16, 1990, in Lawton, Ok. He was 85.

A native of East Texas, he opened Rayburn Lumber in 1950. A yard in Lawton was sold in the late 1960s to Mid-America Lumber Co.

Mr. Rayburn is survived by one daughter, two brothers, five sisters, and two grandchildren.

Chrrles Houston, 55, an outside salesman for Lumber Shed lnc., Oklahoma City, Ok., died of cancer Feb. 22, 1990, in Oklahoma City.

Born in Oklahoma City, he worked for Oran Huston Lumber Co., Oklahoma City, and A&W Lumber Co., Oklahoma City, before joining Lumber Shed two years ago.

Mr. Houston is survived by his widow, Barbara, two sons, and one daughter.

Advertiser's Index

Amerlcan Wood Preservers lnstitute .53

Anthony Wood Trertlng lE

Arlzona Prcllic Wood Preserving ....49

Aulo-Strk Systems .........,.31

Bean l,umber Co., Curt Cover lV

Berdexlnternatlonrl . .........30

BowleSlmsPrange. ........,..6

CoaslrlLumberCo..... ,'.,...21

Columbus Lumber ... ..44

Cox Wood Preserving Co. ...........,'.36

Garland Hebert, Bubba Jones, Trey Kiper, Richard Knight, Tom Morgan, Jerry Negrotto, Chip Norman, Jim Pearce, Pierre Schwing, Calvin Shoemake, Jerry Smith, David Stine, Bill Watson.

CSI ........Cover lll

Donner Mouldings & Millwork

Eastex Forest Products ...... .32

Fishman & Affiliates, llill .............40

Georyia Wood Preserving Co., Inc. .....47

Glen Oak Lumber & Milling ..51

Goshorn Co., J. O. ..,.........43

Great Southern WoodPreservins .... ..Coverll

Heritage Windows ......."'23

Hickson Corp. . ,.,27-/9

Hoover Treated Wood Products .......5

Jordan Redwood Lumber

EVERYBODY'S FAVORITf,

I am currently receiving your publication at my shop address where the employees and customers enjoy it so much I never get a chance to read it. Would it be possible for you to send another free copy to my office?

Jack Miller

Miller Wood Works

4307 S. Port Ave. No. l2l Corpus Christi, Tx. 78415 Sure, we're happy to obligeeditor.