Stair sales are climbing

TAIRS, one of the most beautiful architectural uses of hardwood, are edging over into the do-it-yourself area, much to the amazement of many old timers in the building materials business. Once the exclusive realm of the professional, installation of balusters, newels and railings has been simplified by several companies into projects possible for sophisticated d-i-yers.

Many retailers, who in the past have limited sales of stair parts to contractors ordering through catalogs, are now finding it necessary to allot floor space to stair system displays and inventory. Employees are being trained to counsel customers and stair installation clinics have been added to the store calendar.

Sales to both the contractor and consumer are growing after several decades of slow business. Outmoded for many years by the popularity of the single level ranch style home, stairs are coming into their own again. Smaller lots have made two levels desirable in both single family and condominium homes. In addition, stairs are being installed in older homes in remodeling projects and homeowners with stairs are replacing wrought iron railings and spindles with the more attractive woods.

Story at a Glance

Stair parts become d.i.y pop ular in many regions...some mfrs. design components for consumer use.. .dealers consider trained help, lots ol space for displays, customer clinics critical to success.

Red oak, birch, mahogany, walnut, cherry and beech are favorite hardwoods for stair systems. Several of the simplified stair systems designed for d-i-y installation are made of western hemlock instead of hardwood. More reasonable in price, this wood is especially durable and can be stained to resemble the fine hardwoods.

Dealers and wholesalers throughout the country are adapting to the demands of their regions. Many areas such as Florida have virtually no stair market. Randy Stauffer, building products buyer at a Scotty's in Winter Haven, Fl., explains that there are few two level homes in his state and that Colonial style architecture is not popular. He estimates that at least three quarters of the Florida popula-

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Yellow poplar: a marketable framing lumber

By Richard C. Allison Wood Products Specialist

N. C. Agricultural Extension Service

N. C. State University Raleigh, N.C.

OUR BUILDER customers are probably not familiar with yellow poplar framing lumber mainly because it has not been widely used for building construction in recent years.

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) lumber is also known as tulip poplar, poplar and whitewood in the trade. This lumber should not be confused with the Populus species (See page 36 in the July, 1984, issue of Building Products Digest).

Yellow poplar is a good building product. Wholesalers and retailers should be informed on its use as a framing lumber. The natural qualities of the wood plus demonstration studies and ready availability well qualify it for commercial use.

Yellow poplar has a smooth texture and a tight, straight grain with small to medium size knots. Poplar's appearance is white to light brown in color with some pieces having light to dark purplish and greenish streaks. This discoloration does not affect its strength.

A medium density hardwood, yel- low poplar weighs about 29 pounds per cubic foot. The strength and stiffness properties of yellow poplar framing lumber (the terms dimension, structural or construction lumber are used interchangeably in the trade) are similar to spruce-pine-fir dimension lumber. Yellow poplar's strength values rank it midway between the strongest woods (southern pine and Douglas fir) and structural lumber with less strength (hem-fir and aspen). It can be classified as a "middle-ofthe-road" construction lumber.

Story at a Glance

Tests verify yellow popla/s acceptance as framing lumber. .grade stamped material is building code approved nationally. .performance comparable to spruce-pine-fir. free literature, video tape available.

Yellow poplar framing lumber is manufactured under the National Grading Rules for dimension as most all dimension lumber is. This means standard softwood dimension lumber sizes and grades are used to manufacture and grade it. Poplar dimension is dried, finished, inspected and grade stamped like all dimension lumber being used today. This allows grade stamped poplar to be building code approved nationwide for building construction.

Several demonstration studies using yellow poplar framing lumber for building construction were made by wood products extension specialists at North Carolina State University. Over 5,000 board feet of No. 2 & Btr. graded lumber in 2x4 to 2xl0-inch widths were used for a demonstration house. The results showed the lumber has the strength and stiffness required for use as studs and floor joists.

It stayed straight after being installed even though the framing was left exposed for six weeks before