Hardwoods For High-End Decks

Decks are going even higher end, as homeowners have become more interested in connecting the exterior to their interior space.

"The exotic has gone mainstream," notes Brian Lotz, managing director of Timber Holdings Ltd. "While a $10,000 deck was extravagant in the early '90s, decks now often range up to $75,000. The deck and amenities can be used as a second, self-contained living space."

For luxurious installations, the company supplies Iron Woods brand hardwood decking which, unlike softwoods, reportedly lasts a lifetime.

"But beware," cautions Lotz, "not all woods are created equally." Just like for softwoods, there's a range of grades, which set standards for allowable defects, such as sapwood, worm holes. knots. and moulder tear-out.

There are three generally accepted standard grades in the industry: FEQ/FAS (First And Seconds); FlF (First I Face); and #2 (Seconds). All of these grades allow various amounts of defects.

So, Timber Holdings created its own grade above industry standards, Premium Select Grade. Every piece of Iron Woods is selected to meet the company's premium zero-defect standard on all four faces. Every hardwood board sold is clear, straight and over-length, so there is no waste, no picking through to find usable boards.

"We regularly reject 20%o-407o of production when re-grading FEQ/ FAS to our Premium Select standard," says Lotz.

Lower grades are then converted into interior-grade products where the defects are not subject to decay and harsh exterior environments.

"We know this high grading standard adds cache to the brand," said Lotz, "so we hand-pick and sort every board at the processing mill before it goes into distribution."

Many hardwoods are both durable and beautiful, naturally resistant to wear, and perfect for decking, arbors, fence panels, raised gardens, posts, rails, cabinets, and pool surrounds.

Look for more and more of these woods to be used, both in new and retrofit construction. "Decking,

Show Me The Money

Last year, chief executives' total compensation surged l0.8%o to an average $2,857,676, according to a Wall Street Journal survey of 350 large U.S. businesses. Among building products-related firms...

Chlef execufivg,f,gFffiny

Nolan D. Archibald, Black & Decker

George J. Hanad, Bolse Casde

Samuel W. Bodman. Cabot

Alstqr D. Correll, Georgl+Pacific

Mark A. Suwyn, Louisiana.Pacific

Jerorre F. Tatar, lled

David R. Goode. Norfolk Southern

Glen H. Hiner, Orvens Coming

Millard E. Banon, Payless Cashways

L. Pendlehn Siegel, Podatch

Raymond W. LeBoeuf, PPG lndustrles

Christqher M. Connor, therwin'Wllliarnc

John M. Trani, Stanley Works

Clitford J. Grum, Te*npblnland

Richard K. Davidson, Union Pacific

John Luke Jr., Wosfiraco

Steven R. Rogel, Weyerhaeuser

Duane C. [tuDorgall, UYllhrBtte InduSries fences and other exterior amenities built with these woods do not require near-term replacement," said Lotz. "It's a one-time installation that saves contractors margins and frustration year after year. And it pays back property owners every time they look at it."

New B2B Site Starting Up

A new business-to-business Internet marketplace for lumber, forestry and construction launches this month.

Structured as an exchange, an auction and a multi-vendor catalog, TheBigB28.com provides a closed community of retailers, wholesale distributors and manufacturers with a complete one-stop marketplace.

Frank Denny, founder of Builders Square, serves as chairman of TheBigB2B.com, as well as of affiliated companies TheBigStore.com and TheBigHub.com.

Buyers use a self-guiding search engine to locate products and identify the buying option that best suits their needs, whether drawing from listings on the exchange, auction or an electronic catalog of goods, with content provided by member suppliers.

The system also accommodates ordering (creating online requisitions, submitting purchase orders, executing contracts, tracking orders), fulfillment (credit scoring, credit hold, letters of credit, bill presentment, payment, accounts receivable and accounts payable status), and replenishment.

The Web site goes online May 20.

Purchase Card With A History

A new purchasing card has been introduced that helps contractors keep track of their jobs and dealers stay atop industry trends.

While dozens of chains and several buying groups already offer private label credit cards, the new card from Information Tools reportedly offers something more: innovative reporting feaures.

Contractors receive monthly printed reports detailing their card purchases by job and stage, regardless of the retail location, and also have daily access to up-to-the-minute information via a secure, password-protected Internet site.

Participating dealers receive online access to aggregated industry trends as well as information on contractor building and spending acitivity.