Tactics For Fighting Formosan Termite Unveiled

Treated wood and other building back and start from scratch and build materials must be used to protect the project with the materials we sughomes from Formosan termites was sested." the message of a rece]nt conference

Sponsors included Elder Wood sponsored by the Louisiana State Preserving Co., Osmose, Hickson, University Agricultural Center and the Weyerhaeuser and Louisiana-Pacific. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The bug, which has been found in Louisiana, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Hawaii, reportedly causes over $l billion in damage annually, including over $300 million per year in New Orleans alone, according to the Wood Protection Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences (see May, p. 171.

"The purpose of the conference was to bring together experts from Hawaii and around the U.S. to share information on methods and materials that will protect homes from these aggressive home destroyers," said conference chairman Dr. W. Ramsay Smith, Louisiana Forest Products Lab. "Hawaii has been battling the Formosan Termite for decades, and if the insect can't be controlled on an island, it certainly can't be controlled elsewhere."

Smith mentioned the importance of keeping moisture levels low in homes, noting that water lures the insect, which travels in colonies that can run into the millions.

"The protection must be an integrated approach that utilizes treated wood, light gauge steel framing and structural concrete," he said. "This way, should one method fail, there will be another and still a third form of protection." He added that the same practice must be followed in not only new construction projects, but in remodeling and repair of existing homes as well.

The conference, which drew about 175 participants to Baton Rouge, La., May 3l-June 1, also included discussions related to the economics of using treated wood and other building materials, potential health effects from using chemicals, insurance issues and potential effects on home mortgages.

"The conference was a huge success," said Smith. "I think it opened the eyes of many of the attendees to the serious problems that the termite is causing. One contractor told me afterwards that he was almost finished with the first phase of a large construction project, but now he was going to go

Elder Wood Treats 'em Right

The first Habitat for Humanity house fabricated with pressure treated lumber was built in New Orleans. La.. with wood supplied by Elder Wood Preserving Co., Mansura, La.

Fittingly erected on Music Street,

"Harry's House," so nicknamed because of Habitat's partnership with singer Harry Connick Jr., is one of over 80,000 affordable homes built worldwide by the organization.

Joe Elder, Elder Wood Preserving, provided 8,500 bd. ft. of treated framing at cost, and the work was completed with assistance from members of the Southern Forest Products Association.

Harry's House is the 44th Habitat for Humanity home built in the New Orleans area. No. 45 will also be constructed with wood donated by Elder Wood Preserving Co.

(Domestic

Pacific Forest Products' rapid growth and success can be attributed to our commitment to providing customers with Honesty, Reliability and Quality Service.

From warehouses in Miami. Fl.. and Birmingham, Al., we distribute softwoods and hardwoods, including Southern Yellow Pine Lumber, Plywood, Hem-Fir, Spruce Products, Millwork, and Doors-from coast to coast.

We are agents for many European and South American companies for pine and hardwood.

Our Hardware Division in Miami offers a wide range of brand name lines such as Moen, Liasco, Price Pfister, Elkay, Dewalt, Black & Decker, American Tool, Seagull Lighting, Sylvania, Eagle, Kwikset. Leviton. and others. Come visit our new showroom! BIRMINGHAM,

(205) 682-7550 . Fax 205-682-7481

(Wholesale Distribution/Domestic Sales)

SYP, Lumber & Plywood, Hardwood Specialty Products, Imported Softwoods & Hardwoods, Spruce, Gypsum Products www.pacificforest.com

Don Washington has acquired Booth Lumber Co., Houston, Tx., from Carlos Ripley, who is now in the bottled water business.

Terry Aaron has been appointed senior v.p. of strategy/business development for Talpx Inc.

Tim Thompson, ex-Diamond Hill Plywood, is now in contractor sales at Midway Supply Co., Inc., Ashland City, Tn.

Tammy McCarthy has been appointed human resources mgr. for McCoy's Building Supply Centers, San Marcos, Tx.

Justin Elwell has been promoted to general mgr. of operations at the Saginaw, Tx., facility of Universal Forest Products, Inc.

John Elwell, ex-Rayonier, has reformed Elwell Associates, Fernandina Beach, Fl., specializing in organizational strategy and marketing.

Joe K. Sample has been promoted to senior v.p. of Temple-Inland Forest Products Corp., Diboll, Tx., according to Harold C. Maxwell, pres. Brenda Elliott is now v.p.building products sales; Sam M. "Pat" Patranella, Jr., v.p.-mktg., solid wood products, and James D. Rush, III, v.p.-mktg., panel products.

Andy Schemer has been named Jacksonville, Fl., branch mgr. for Diamond Hill Plywood Co., Darlington, S.C.

Luther Witt has returned to Loughhead Building Supply Co., Inc., Buena Vista, Va., after an absence.

Dan Fay has been appointed v.p. of marketing for Gulf South Forest Products, Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Lewe F. Sessions has been named director of sales at Cellwood Products, Gaffney, S.C.

Pedro Mendiguren has been promoted to regional v.p.-operations for Home Depot's Florida-based Southern Division. Robert Lyvers is store mgr. of Depot's new Lakeland. Fl.. location.

Kenneth Stewart has joined Payless Cashways as regional executive for professional sales.

Nathan Potter has been promoted to regional sales mgr. and building material specialist at DW Distribution. DeSoto. Tx. Tim Ruse is distribution specialist for the San Antonio, Tx., market.

Tapani Pekkala has been named president of Allwood Industrials, Atlanta, Ga.

Jeff Waufle is the new regional sales mgr. for Sargent & Greenleaf's Arm-A-Dor Division, Nicholasville, Ky., covering three-fourths of the U.S., including Tn., Ga. and Fl.

Tony Rick has been promoted to store mgr. of 84 Lumber Co., Sevierville, Tn., succeeding Jerry King, who has retired after 29 years, the last 10 in Sevierville. Shawn Stephens is now mgr. in Decherd, Tn.; Robert Gunnell, mgr., Blairs, Va., and Daniel Banks, co-mgr., Winder, Ga.

Bruce Nesmith has resigned after three years as general mgr. of Buchanan Hardwood Flooring Co. LLC, Aliceville, Al., to become ceo of Enviro-Recovery, Inc., Ashland, Wi.

George MacConnell, former GeorgiaPacific distribution executive, has joined USBuild.com as ceo.

Dwain Hutton, sales mgr., Saginaw, Tx., and Bryan Bigham, sales mgr., Grandview, Tx., are among new inductees to Universal Forest Products' CEO Club, recognizing excellence in sales performance and leadership.

Noel Odom Kirila, mgr., Home Depot, Charlotte, N.C., recently wed Stephanie Ann McGowan.

Ben Wimsatt, owner, Jefferson Supply, Louisville, Ky., was named 2000 Distributor of the Year by InCom Distributor Supply.

Kathie A. Vanover. Lowe's.

Owensboro, Ky., will wed David

A. Wolfe II Oct. 20 in Owensboro. Phyllis Inn has been appointed media spokesperson for Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

News Briefs

(Continued from page I 6) Guardian Industries Corp. and its affiliate Builder Marts of America, Inc., Greenville, S.C., completed their tender offer and accepted 8,272,386 shares of common stock of Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc., Dallas, Tx....

Temple - Inland Fore st Products Corp., Diboll, Tx., which now participates in the American Forest & P aper As sociation's Sustainable Forestry Initiative, is seeking third-party ISO certification of its 2.2 million acres of timberlands in Tx.. La.. Al. and Ga.

Florida Crushed Stone Holdings Inc., Brooksville, Fl., agreed to be acquired by Australian building products, aluminum and sugar conglomerate CSR Ltd. for $348 million...

Weyerhaeuser Co., after just completing a stock repurchase program of 12 million shares, plans to buy back up to 10 million more shares over the next year, representing about 4.3Vo of it's outstanding stock

International P aper completed its exchange offer for Champion International

Linpac Materials Handling opened a 93,000-sq. ft. facility in Bardstown, Ky., to manufacture and distribute Ropak pallet-sized container systems

Nascor Inc. has licensed a Yaprak & General of Ankara, Turkey, to produce roof trusses, wall panels and I-beams

New Web site: World Buyer's Guide for Hardware & Building M aterial s, www.buildingmaterialsguide.com ...

Snavely Buys Into Florida

Snavely Forest Products, Inc. has acquired the assets and operations of five-year-old Premier Wholesale Products, Tampa, Fl.

Premier's former owner David M. Hurless, a 24-year industry veteran, will stay on as general manager of Snavely's new Florida Division.

"Our company has identified regional markets throughout the U.S. which have economic strength and growth potential," says Stephen V. Snavely, president and ceo. "The Florida market is a natural fit for our product line, marketing expertise and distribution capabilities."

Anthony FP In Joint Venture

Anthony Forest Products, El Dorado, Ar., and Domtar Inc., Montreal, Canada, have partnered to manufacture and distribute Power Joist, a solid sawn flange I-joist.

The pair will invest $20 million (Canadian) to build a facility in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, expected to begin manufacturing in spring 2001.

"This partnership will consolidate our place in the engineered products business," said John Lee Anthony, president of Anthony Forest Products Co. "We are convinced that customers will truly benefit from the teamwork approach and the common commitment we will bring to making the very best I-joist."

Trex To Expand Plants

Trex Co., Inc., Winchester, Va., plans to increase its manufacturing capabilities at its Winchester and Fernley, Nv., plants to keep up with demand for its plastic decking.

In Winchester, Trex has purchased 39 acres adjacent to its present 26-acre property. The additional property includes a 184,000-sq. ft. building that will mostly be used as a warehouse. The firm plans to immediately begin construction on a new 150,000-sq. ft. facility that will accommodate six manufacturing lines, bringing the total to 14.

The Fernley facility will soon finish installation of manufacturing lines five and six in the existing 160,000-sq. ft. plant, to be followed by construction later this year of a 100,000-sq. ft. addition to accommodate six new lines, for a total of 12.