Tleaters pull southern pine decking West

A BOUT '75Vo of all new outdoor la.decks East of the Rocky Mountains are built of pressure treated southern pine lumber. In the past three years, southern pine is making its mark in western markets as well.

If southern pine is taking Horace Greeley's advice, much of the credit should go to western pressure treating firms that promote the southern species because it accepts deep penetration of CCAchemicals with no need for incising.

owners and contractors, and buYing shows for contractors.

Universal Forest Products, the largest treating firm in the nation, reports that No. I southern pine and 5/4 premium SYP decking is taking market share from cedar, redwood, and other traditional western species such as hem-fir.

Universal sales manager Eric Zurbrigen says, "Five years ago, people thought we were crazy to try southern pine in the West. Now it's one of the premier decking species in the region. We chose to treat premium grade SP because its grain structure helps fend off the warping that can aff'ect lumber in dry climates. Also, it is virtually a wane fiee product. We're excited about the growth prospects o[ southern Pine, and we'll eventually take it even farther West."

share throughout the region.

Nate Shawcroft, UBC, Pegosa Springs, Co., recently supplied treated southern pine decking for a 16x30 foot wrap-around deck on a log cabin at 9,500-foot elevation. "We like the 40year warranty that our treater gives homeowners on treated southern pine," he says.

UBC's Susie Mounts says that cedar and redwood are feeling the competitive pressure from southern pine, because it is lower in cost and comes pre-stained and pre-sealed from the treater to resist warping. UBC also has deck displays at many of its yards.

Western retailers and builders report a number of new trends in outdoor deck construction:

(a) the growing demand for hot tubs has increased sales of larger decks:

(b) a greater percentage of decks are now being built by contractors rather than homeowners:

(c) decks are increasinglY a Yearround business rather than a springtime project.

Another trend is the growing number of retailers who use comPuteraided designs to show homeowners and builders what the completed deck will look like.

Many treaters not onlY suPPlY the lumber, but also help their retailer customers with assistance on in-store events such as deck clinics for home-

Schollenbarger Wood Treaters, Bernalillo, N.M., reports that its retail dealer customers like the appearance of No. I treated southern pine. According to Schollenbarger's Robert Monroe, "The competition for the deck market is getting more intense between plastic decking, redwood, cedar, ponderosa and lodgepole pine. However, southern pine is gaining market share because it is smooth and non-incised, and prestained for an attractive appearance."

United Building Centers, with 120 retail building materials locations in 1l Western and Midwestern states, has noted that southern pine is gaining market

l:rltrns

George Kellett & Sons, Inc. has relocated from New Orleans, La., to a slightly larger, 80,000-sq. ft. facility in Metairie, La., with a 30,00Gsq. ft. warehouse featuring an improved racking system; the previous location is up for sale

Hughes Lumber has closed its Shawnee, Ok., lumberyard, explaining that the facilities and location were inadequate to handle its increasing reliance on serving contractors; the Tirlsa, Ok., chain now operates nine yards in Ok. and Ks. ...

84 Lumber Co. opened a 21,000-sq. ft. store with 16,000sq. ft. of outdoor storage sheds late last month in Winchester, Tn. ...

Hechingerb is transforming fwe Builders Square stores in San Antonio, Tx., into Home Quaners Warehouses; other remodels have been completed in Virginia Beach, Va., and Austin, Tx., the first of 47 units planned to be redone by March...

Paylest Cashways has closed stores in Baton Rouge, La., and Duncanville, Tx. ...

Seotty's, Winter Haven, Fl., plans to begin selling Nextel and AT&T Wireless cellular phones and service and Primestar direct broadcast satellites at all of its stores over the next few months

Home Depot opened new stores Oct.29 in Buford and Hiram, Ga.; Panama City, Fl., and Dallas and Houston, Tx.; Nov. 5 in Hollywood, Fl.; Brunswick, Ga., and McKinney, Tx.; Dec. 3 in Fayetteville, Ar.; Marietta, Ga., and Louisville, Ky., and Dec. 10 in Newnan, Ga.; Fort Worth, Tx., and NewportNews, Va.

Home Depot plans to open a 108,000-sq. ft. unit with a 23,000sq. ft. outdoor center next month in Waxahachie, Tx.; anticipates a mid-summer 1999 opening for a 110,000-sq. ft. unit in Heritage Square in Aiken, S.C.; has begun construction on the former site of a Kmart in High Point, N.C.; has broken ground on a 97,000-sq. ft. Expo Design Center in Plano, Tx.; is seeking approval to build in Shenandoah, Tx., and selected a 27 -acrc site in Weatherford, Tx.

Home Depot was the target of environmental demon strations Oct. 14 in front of 75 of its stores, including Hollywood, Fl.; Clifton, Va.; Chattanooga and Memphis, Tn.; Austin, Tx.; Columbia, S.C.; Ashville, Fletcher and Wilmington, N.C.; Norman, Ok.; New Orleans, La.; Athens, Ga., and l0 stores in Atlanta

Lowe's Cos. opened new superstores in Rockwall, Tx., and West Ashley, S.C.; opened a replacement store in Sanford, N.C., store mgr. Glenn McGrath, and placed the former 10,000-sq. ft. store up for sale the chain closed iti 7,000-sq. ft.,Z2-yearold store in Iverness, Fl., Oct. 2, with no current plans to rebuild in the area

Lowe's received rezoning approval to build in Conyers, Ga.; plans a replacement store on 19 acres in Johnson City, Tn.; anticipates a late spring completion of a 163,000,sq. ft. replacement store in Wilkesboro, N.C., and an early 1999 opening for a replacement store in Wilson, N.C.; acquired a site for a replacement store in Concord, N.C., and has begun construction on a replacement store in Orangeburg, S.C., with building already underway in James Island, Greer, Simpsonville, Greenwood and Anderson, S.C.

Lowe's, despite opposition, is proceeding with plans to build a 160,000-sq. ft. replacement store adjacent to its current 56,000-sq. ft. unit in Tullahoma, Tn. ... Santa Rosa County, Fl., developers are considering a land swap to accom- modate a new Lowe's ... the Corinth, Ms., store donated $2,500 during a "L€arn Not to Bum" fire qqfety program the Lexington, Ky., unit co-sponsored a new home giveaway

Ace Hardware Corp. is partnering with X-Rite to provide stores with access to its MatchRite paint matching technology

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Elder Forest Products, Sulphur, Lq., has reopened its Crowley, La., distribution center destroyed by fire last Oct. and resumed production at its rebuilt custom mill, specializing in cypress ...

_ Allied Plywood Corp./Alliance Products Co., Springfield, Va., opened a new location in Knoxville, Tn., specializing in high pressure lamiilates, induslrial panels, hardwood plywood, veneers, adhesives, slides and accessories...

Mid States Wood Preseryers is expanding its Simsboro (Ruston), La., plant...

Bibler Bros., Russellville, Ar., sold its timberlands, logging and sales operations to Weybrhaeuser Ca., retaining its mill ...

Star Paper Tube, Fort Mill, S.C., added a regional warehouse in Denver, Co., for its Protect-ABoard and Protect-A-Wrap strap and edge protectors ...

Seeley Stud and Manufacturing is a new fingerjointed studs producer in Fredericksburg, Va., sales are handled by owner Glenn Seeley...

Michael Weinig /nc., Statesville, N.C., which handles Weinig Group's North American mouldei business, is building a new $4.5 million sales and service center near Charlotte, N.C.; GreCon Dimter Inc., which markets Weinig's timber optmizing equipTe!t, is expanding its Hickory, N.C., offices ...

Newell Ca. agreed to purchase Rubbermaid f-or $5.9 bittion;

Newell chairman William P. Sovey and vice chairman and ceo John J. McDonough will retain their positions in the merged company, Newell Rubbermaid; Rubbermaid chairman and ceo Wolfgang Schmitt becomes vice chairman ...

Johns Manville agreed to purchase the perlite insulation manufacturing assets of Building Materials Corp. of America from GAF Corp.

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Scotts Co. plans to close most of its U.S. composting operations, divest its AgrEvo pesticides division and cut its workforce in Britain by 2O7o ...

American Tool Cos.. Inc. has completed its acquisition of British tool manufacturer Polyhedron Holdings PLC for over $50 million...

Americans are forecast to Purchase a record 5.6 million existing and new single family homes in 1998...

Housing starts in Sept. (latest figs.) slid 2Vo to a seasonallY adjusted annual rate of 1.576 million ... single family starts fell 17o to a I.246 million pace ... multifamily starts were 32,000 for 2-4 units, 298,000 for 5+ units ... permits decreased SVo to an annual rate of 1.545 million.

3 Form New L&G Distributor

Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc., Dallas, Tx., is forming a new joint venture company with Spartanburg Forest Products, Inc., Spartanburg, S.C., and Gossling Consulting LLC to market and distribute wire products, wire fencing and wood and plastic lawn and garden products.

The new company will oPerate from Spartanburg with distribution facilities in Charleston. S.C.

Keystone president and ceo Robert W. Singer is chairman of the new joint venture, which will be managed by a board that includes president Paul Gossling and executives of Keystone and Spartanburg Forest Products. It will operate as a subsidiary of Keystone, which will hold majority ownership.

RlSl Sees Slight Slowdown

Resource Information Systems, Inc. predicts a25%o chance of a recession slowing down the U.S. economy in the first half of next year.

RISI expects consumers and businesses to bend but not break as the economy's growth slows from 3.77o in the first half of this year to l%o to 2Vo in fourth quarter 1998 and the first half of 1999.

By mid-1999, the Fed should lower interest rates another 75 basis points to 4.570.

RISI forecasts housing starts to remain at the 1.6 million level through year's end, begin to slip in early 1999, and bottom out late in the vear at 1.45 million units. less than

2Vobelow 1997's total.

U.S. softwood lumber consumption is predicted to reach a record 53.8 billion bd. ft. this year, but dip 4Vo next year. Still, notes RISI, "Even though we expect demand to fall for the year, 1999 will remain the second highest year on record for U.S. softwood lumber consumption."

Wood May Take A Powder

A new system for finishing wood products with powder coatings instead of paint is being developed.

Long used to finish metal, powder coatings are not used on wood due to the high heat needed to anneal colors. But Morton International Inc., Chicago, Il., claims its new technology includes a low-heat curing process that allows powder coatings to be applied to wood.

The new process would require prefinishers to add a "dry" production line, but, unlike paint, there would be no special venting or disposal costs.

An office furniture manufacturer experimenting with the process says it can achieve a high-grade finish on such low-grade material as medium density fiberboard.