ls Western lumber better than its competition?

I UMBER doesn't grow on trees. ENeither does quality. Quality assurance of lumber as a product as well as in use requires constant dedication throughout the manufacturing and installation process. Western lumber producers manufacture a product that is consistently in accordance with standards of grade, size and moisture content, says WWPA.

Member mills of the Western Wood Products Association comprise the largest group of its kind in the world, shipping nearly one-third of the nation's softwood lumber. WWPA's Quality Standards Department supervises lumber grading in some 250 lumber mills in 12 western states.

These mills manufacture approximately4O9o of all softwood produced annually in the U.S. The association's staff of lumber inspectors regularly inspects the quality of lumber shipped from each WWPA mill, paylng special attention to grades, moisture content and manufacturing standards. The association also provides lumber reinspection services on western species shipped under rules published by WWPA. Grading rules published by the association and its Quality Standards Department are approved by the

Story at a Glance

Price, availability, quality . . what determines a lumber buye/s choice? several retailers and an association respond to the question.

Board of Review of the American Lumber Standards Committee.

The association is the world's largest lumber rules-writing and inspection agency. Its lumber inspectors check mills producing approximately 12 billion board feet of lumber annually. Monthly inspections and training, along with certification programs for graders, assure the uniformity of lumber grades between mills and maintain the integrity of western lumber in the marketplace.

Western softwood species are well known for their strength and durability. Western lumber producers maintain that reputation for quality by their diligence in manufacturing a product that is consistent in standard, size and moisture content. WWPA's role in quality control helps to assure the user benefits from a product that is as good as the raw material it came from.

"Both western and southern woods have advantages. It depends on your use. As for western lumber, woodcrafters and hobbyists prefer it. It makes for better trimwork. Cedar lasts longer and is not as likely to warp as southern pine.

"The western species and grade we stock costs a little more than the pine and it takes a little longer to get, but we have no problem. It's agood product and I'm glad we have it. I know we carry more of it than the southern pine."

Jim Bradford Owner Bradford Lumber & Supply Inc. Monroe, La.

"Southern pine is stronger. It can be treated a lot better and holds nails better. It's a little more accessible because we're right in the middle of it.

"Western wood is straighter and works better; it's easier to cut, notch and drive a nail into. It's higher in price, but because of transportation it should be."

Gene McKinney Vice president, purchasing Tindell's Inc. Knoxville, Th.

"Both Western and Canadian have good qualities in their own respects, so it's hard to compare. Canadian hem fir for construction purposes, western red cedar for decorative purposes. Rough hem fir wouldn't look as good up on a house as rough western cedar. Cedar has the advantage over fir as far as bugs and rot. Both hold their shape well.

"We don't stock southern yellow pine. Down here they mainly use it for trusses and pressure treating."

Ed Foss Manager Cox Lumber Co. Sarasota. Fl.

2x6 or 2x8 T&G Subflooring

Raised

Raise your sales with floors

lllouLD you like to know UU how you can sell approximately 2,500 additional board feet of lumber for each house built with material from your store?

The answer is simple. Sell your builder/contractor customers on the merits of raised floors, houses built with crawl space rather than concrete slab foundations.

Homebuilders all over the country are swinging over to raised floors as they become aware of the advantages, especially in energy, for both the builder and homeowner. Even California,which is renowned for tough

Story at a Glance

How to sell 2,500 more bf ol lumber per house with raised floors. facts to educate your builder/conlractor customers on advanlages. .whal help is available from associations and their field reps.

energy standards, is re+xamining its energy code in relation to raised floors and their energy performance.

Association fieldmen in every region are reporting increas€d interest in wood floor systems. They are demonstrating, advising and keeping builders up to date with the latest techniques. In many cases they are also enlightening building inspoctors on their advantages.

If you need additional information to sell your customers on the cpncept, consider these facts as ammunition. They are backed by the research and integrity of the Western Wood Prodducts Association.

FACT: Some builders have the construction technology down to a science, making the raised floor directly competitive in cost to concrete slab.

FACT: In energy terms, there is new evidence that crawl space construction benefits from the thermal mass of the earth beneath it. One study showed no difference in utility (heating and cooling) costs of homes whether built on slab or raised floor, contrary to traditional thinking. This is why in California energy officials are taking a second look at the energy performance of raised floors as related to that state's tough energy code.

FACT: Builders generally agree their customers prefer the walking comfort and warmth of raised floor homes.

FACT: Wood floors are durable. With proper installation they don't settle and crack like concrete floors.

Maintenance and access to heating, plumbing and wiring utilities are easy in floors with crawl space.

FACT: Many builders calculate raised floors overall actually are more economical to build than slabs, once details of utility installation, repairs and other factors are figured in. This contradicts the normal perception of raised floor economics.

Field representatives from the American Plywood Association also are available for guidance on APA panel floor construction. They are Fearn LaBan, 1581 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 6, Atlanta, Ga. 30349, (404) 997-7182; A.M. Leggett, 440 Northlake Center, Suite 2ll, Dallas Tx. 75238, (214) 348-C643; Byron Oberg, P.O. Box 3536, Fremont, Ca. 94539, (4ls) 657-5959.

However you approach selling your builder/contractor customers on the merit of the raised wood floor systems, you are bound to be a winner. At least 2.500 additional board feet of lumber sold per house can add up to a lot of dollars.

For more information and help in scheduling demonstrations of raised wood floor systems for your customers, contact one of the following associations:

American Plywood Association

P.O. Box 11700

Tacoma, Wa. 9841I (206) s65-6600

American Wood Council 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 265-7766

National Forest Products Association 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, D.C.20036 (202) 797-s8c0

Southern Forest Products Association P.O. Box 52468 New Orleans, La. 70152 (su) 4/.3464

Western Wood Products Association 1500 Yeon Building Portland, Or.9720/. (503) 2U-3930

Print Power for Selling

More than 60 pieces of literature dealing with western woods are available to the retailer from the Western Wood Products Association.

Eight publications billed as "what you need to increase lumber sales,"are designed to help the dealer sell more western wood by promoting new uses such as wood interiors, wood decks, raised wood floors and wood frame designs. The first kit or copy of a brochure is free.

Other available literature also is free for nominal numbers and relatively inexpensive for quantities considering that much of it is done in color.

Three four-color leaflets are designed to be used by retailers as mailers or as invoice stuffers. They invite the customer to come to the store for additional help and information.

Other booklets are designed to stimulate ideas from the d-i-y or remodeling contractor. The almost 30 titles in this series include a number of plans for building items ranging from patio furniture to an additional room.

Those needing technical information will find a wide selection of publications explaining lumber grades, machine stress-rated lumber, structural data and design tables.

Product information catalogs can be used by retailers, architects and builders as well as sophisticated do-ityourselfers. A series called "Spec Points" details specification information on lumber including pressure treated and fire retardant.

An eight book series is designed to help the retailer buy and sell. It can serve as a reference library or as material for training employees.

The 1985 product information literature list and order form is available from the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, Portland, On97244.