IUTIBEK DUKABITITY

Osmose K.55@Lumber Gives You More.

A lot of lumber products claim to be better than lumber pressure treated with Osmose K-55 preservative. Some claim to be "naturally resistant" to termites and decay. Others claim to have a beauty no treated lumber can match. What they fail to mention is that their durability is not consistently dependable, or that their lumber often does not weather evenly. In time, however, their lumber will weather to the same pleasing driftwood gray as Osmose K-55.

The plain fact is, no lumber can surpass Osmose K-55 for beauty and durability. No confusing grade names, just consistent quality time after time. And its pleasing greenish tint doesn't stand out like a sore thumb, but blends beautifully with all surroundings. Best of all, dependable Osmose K-55 lumber usually costs less and will last longer than its so-called naturally durable competitors. You can pay more to get less, or you can ask for Osmose K-55 pressure treated lumber.

This is Normal? Ouch!

"I'm waiting for things to return to normal-you know-just sorr of hanging on till they get back to what they were," the man says, describing a business approach that we hear all too often.

But, there is another opinion held by what may be a growing minority: that what we have today is the new normal. "What you see today is what you'll get for at least a year or two," goes the lament.

To dismiss this latter line of reasoning as simple doomsaying is overly facile. We think there is a case to be made for the notion that there will never be a return to "normal." Many feel that money costs, government involvement and other factors are gone, perhaps forever, as bolsters of yesterday's "normal."

Whether or not you buy the argument that the previous business climate will never return.

it is still a reasonable enough concept that ignoring it could well be hazardous to your business health. Rather than waiting idly for your ship to come in, it seems a better course to build your own boat and make sure it does what needs to be done.

It is better to prepare for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised by better conditions than anticipated. To do the reverse is to invite disaster. It just doesn't appear that the Coast Guard (read government) will be performing any quick rescues of anyone's boat. Much as we might like or need a life preserver.

It is probably too soon for anyone to say definitely that today's market conditions will be around for some time. But to act as if they will be is far more prudent than to merely wish for things to improve.

Treated Lumber Warranty

Koppers Co., Inc., and manyof its Wolman@ licensee producers are now offering a 30-year limited warranty to any consumer purchasing Wolmanized pressure-treated lumber and Outdoor@ wood when this wood is used in conjunction with a residential structure.

It is warranteed for 30 years against damage by termites or decay that would render the lumber structurally unfit in its application.

The warranty covers lumber used in residential structures such as patios, decks, fences, sill plates, board siding, picnic tables, and other backyard projects, but does not ap- lUhen Vou uont thc highcst quolitg ovoiloble in CCR TVpe C Pressure Treoted lumber, coll ply to foundation systems(i.e., AllWeather Wood Foundation), water immersion applications, or any nonresidential uses. Currently the warranty applies only to Ponderosa pine and Southern yellow pine and is not offered in states west of the Rocky Mountains.

The warranty applies only to Wolmanized pressure-treated lumber or Outdoor wood that has been identified by a blue or orange colored label stating the warranty terms to the purchaser. The program requires no paper work or record keeping on the part of the distributor or dealer of the product. To obtain lumber replacement under the war- ranty, consumers are required to retain the label and proof of purchase. In conjunction with this warranty program, Koppers has established a minimum preservative retention level of .3 pounds per cubic foot (pc0 (outer .6" assay zone) on l" and2" dimensional lumber when the lumber is used in a residential structure. For material greater than 2" nominal thickness, the warranty standards require that a minimum of .3 pcf retention be met, but in a deeper assay zone. For instance, the assay zone for 3" and 4" nominal material will be 0.5 - 1.0 inches from the surface and for material greater than 4" nominal thickness, the zone will be 0.5 - 1.5 inches.