Southern pine millwork gains market share

Ir IMES are changing in the millwork I market. Retailers who formerly rclied on wesiem wood species and hardwood for most of their millwmk sales are tuming to southem pine.

Southem pine is no longer just the framing lumberthat is hidden orcovered up after the building is done. It is becoming morc visible h moulding, ceilingp, paneling, flooring and door jambs.

Hundreds of millworkshops, dishibutors, retailers and home centers now stock southem pine millwork and interior products. "We've had good luck with SYP exterior jambs for some time and now we're getting an excellent response to solid and finger-jointed interior jambu. We moved from white pine into southem pine and we're sold on it," explairs Pete Kohler, Ray Mart, Beaumont, Tx.

Other dealers, including Lafayette Woodwodcs, Batur Rouge, La.; Giles Builder Supply, Albany, Oa.; Mackey Lumber, Valdosta, Ga.; Cordelle Sash, Door and Lumber, Co,rdelle, Ga.; Lang Planing Mill, Bnurswiclq Ga.; Evans Supply, Dotlnn, Al., and Swift Supply, Ahnore, Fl., arc equally enthusiastic.

"Although redwood, cedar and fr dominated the market here for years, we pioneered southem yellow pine paneling and ceilings in this area. We found that builders not only like the appearance of the pine, but it costs about 50% less than other species," Milce McKenzie, Ro Mac Lumber, Tallahassee, Fl., points out.

Demand for millwork is booming. Building Trcnds Analysis Inc. reports that millwork sales will grow about 5% per year through 1998, with sales reaching $13 billion. The demand for more elegant in0eriors and the use of moulding asahighfashionaccentinnewhomcsand remodeling is fueling this expansion.

"There are three orforufactors driving the hend toward southem pine interiors," says Rldie Hunt, Northcutt Woodworks, Crockett, Tx. "Concem about the availability of ponderosa pine and other westem species, concem about the rising cost of white pine and tlre growing customer acceptance ofbothsolidandfinger-jointed southempine millwork Itfinishesas well on better than the wesiem species. We have been pleased wittr the response to the product.*

"Southem pine has become an excellent finish product and its potential in the millworkmarket is unlimited," Jim Darling, Merit Millwork, Houston, Tx., adds. Southem pine is being marketed as door and windowjambs, flooring, paneling, ceilings, cabinets, stepping, stair heads, patlem stoclq baseboards, soffits, moulding and other products as customers discover its advantages. "We're seeing a lot more interest in SYPbrickmoulds, closet rods, beaded ceilings and decorative him these days at the pre-hanger shops, moulding distributors and home centers," saysllankCrouse, Bunrs Monis Siewart, Inc., Nacogdoches, Tx.

"We're selling SYP flooring, panel-

Story at a Glance

Retailers report good response to southern pine millwork... availability, performance, lower cost influence popularity... millwork demand to grow 5% peryear. ing, siding and beaded ceiling to more than 50 customers on a regular basis, pimarily because of its availability and pnce," Larry Korey, Wholesale Wood hoducts, Dothan, Al., reports.

Manufachrers outside the south are discovering the advantages of southem pine. Empire Millwork, Milwaukee, Wi., one of thebestknown millworkhouses in the Midwest, isbuilding about 90% of iS stair heads and risers from southem pine.

They sell mostly to new home builders who are positive about the competitive cost, shength, hardness and appearance of southem pine stair treads, stringers and risers.

Southem pine, whichcanbe stained in an oak color, comes in wider and longer sizes ttran oak and costs considerably less, Empire's John Anderson notes.

Homeowners, home builders and remodelers are not the only collsumers responding favorably to southem pine millwork. Many commercial buildings including restaurants are using it because it combines economy with a handsome appearance. Installers also have formd it an economical choice. David Dennie, Texas Plywood, Dallas, a doormanufacturer, pre-hanger and distributor, is using it as his primary door jamb material to protect customers from the "big price swings we've experienced in the white pine market."

Southern Pine Interior Millwork Trends

Interior sutfaces that were frequently hardwood in the past are now often southern pine. V-edge paneling, beaded ceiling and flooring manufactured from southern pine are gaining in popularity.

The growth of tough, shiny polyurethane finishes has caused southem pine to blossom as a finished floor material. Even in high traffic areas, pine floors retain the fresh, warm look that many homeowners prefer h place of conventional carpeting.

A custom home in Edisto Beach. S.C., is a showcase of interior southern pine. Builder Larry Smith used V-jointed T&G paneling pickle finished by having a white satin applied, rubbed off and sanded. The finish surface is a sealer followed with a coat of semi-luster polyurethane. Steps, kitchen cabinets and window and door trim also are southern pine.

builder uses lx6 V-groove southern pine on the ceilings in many of his homes. "It's an especially effective treatment on vaulted and cathedral ceilings. We also use it for wainscoting," Gary Howsey says.

Homeowners are enthusiastic about the grooved wood look overhead because it is light, cheerful and "seems to bring the rustic feel of the outdoors into the house." he adds.

Although the trend toward wood interiors is most popular in residential construction and remodeling, many cornmercial buildings are using wood as a durable, rich looking interior that combines economy with a handsome appearance.

The bar and main restaurant at Hooters Restaurant, Columbia, S.C., has lx8 V-groove southern pine paneling and lx6 flooring. Manager Chris Austin says the wood walls and floor give the interior a special character and appeal.

The same trend is popular in Architects originally specified Destin, Fl., where builder Curtis mahoganypanelingforthewainscotGwin observes that clients often see ing in a conference room at the new southern pine paneling in their library at Piedmont College, friends' houses and then specify it Demorest, Ga., but Union Camp when they build or remodel. Corp. offered to provide a special

Southern pine beaded ceilings gradeofclearheartsouthernpinefor which graced the parlors of many the walls. Salvaged from centuryVictorian homes are being rediscov- old buildings, the clear heart grade is ered. Georgia Pacific executive remanufactured into wall covering Henry Thomas specified southern by Coastal Millworks, Atlanta. pine beaded ceiling when he con- Retailerskeepingupwiththecurverted an l8 x 34 foot back porch rent trends are stocking the southern into a family room. pine interior products their builder

A Brunswick, Ga., custom home and remodeler customers want.