Story at a Glance

Economic growth slowdown ahead.. .'85 a year of slabilization.. .157o increase in repaar and remodeling market. ..morlgage rates will level off.

million units. The "mix" of single to multi-family dwellings will continue toward the prevailing 60:40 ratio. Although demographics are the primary determinant of the demand for housing, the cost and availability of money will be major issues next year.

The outlook for residential renovation appears to be favorable throughout 1985. Overall, a liv/o increase is anticipated in the repair and remodeling market. This segment offers great potential for the building industry because remodeling spans the entire spectrum from single family homes to major urban development.

The d-i-y market is also expected to remain strong. It is estimated that 75u/o of existing homeowners will be involved in d-i-y projects. In order to remain competitive, manufacturers and retailers must speak the customers' language. They must meet consumers'needs through new product development, customer service and advertising progr:rms. All of these areas will be prime targets for recvaluation in the coming year.

Compared to the past year of growth, 1985 will be a year of stabilization. As the economic pace tempers, the construction industry will be challenged by a static environment. The winners will be those who are able to face the changes with new and innovative ideas.

I lotnacru.flcr.s Ll?rafutusc, I ttc'., Birrninghant, Al., ltas opcncd twtl ncrv warchousc storcs itt Ltlttisvillc, Ky., and plalts lwo tttorc itt the Denver, Co., ntarkct in carly spring. .McCo.v,'.s Buiklitrlg Sttlt' pl-t, Cenlcr.s opcncd storcs No. 57 & 58 in Tornball attd (ionzalcs, Tx....

Hechittger will open 20 ncw stores in thc ncxt two ycars as rvell as two warehousc stores incltrding one in Greensboro, S.C. . . .Build' ers Square (ex-Home Centers of America, lnc. and now part of K-mart) opened one store in Tulsa, Ok., and two in Houston, Tx., in Nov., part of 35 planned by the end of 1985. .

Lov,e's Cos. Inc'., North Wilkesboro, N.C., plans to expand from 242 to 250 stores and increase selling space in existing stores by l09o next year. .14r. HOW Warehouse, Margate, Fl.. will expand into Il. and Oh. with ll new stores.

The Home Depot has acquired Bowater Honte Centers in Tx., La. and Al. (see page 23 for complete story). .W. R. Grace will open its first warehouse store in a 103,000 sq. ft. ex-Woolco building in Lynnhaven (Virginia Beach), Va....

Shapard Lumber held a grand opening for its new Do-lt-Center in Columbia, Tn. . . .Wickes Lumber and Building Supply Center, Paducah, Ky., has closed .George Ollie Lumber Co. has sold its ready-mix plants in Poteau, Spiro, Stigler and Pocola, Ar., to Twin Cities Ready-Mix, Inc. . .

Wickes has closed its Richardson, Tx., store. . .Home Building utttl Ltttttltt'r (it., Roscnbcrg, 1'x., is cclchratirrg its 50tlr urtttivcrsary . .Boo:,er Ltttnlrcr ('rr., ('oltrrnbia, S.('., ltas convcrtcd ttt rvarchousc stylc rctailing. .

I)oug Ash_v Ruilrlirttr4 Mutcriul.s has operted a secottd storc irt Rayne, La. . . .l,.ton.t Ltttttlrcr uncl Coal Co,, Inc., DcQuincy, La., is celebrating its 60th year in busincss. .

Construction on a second Pa,yIes.s Cashways lumber and home improvement facility in Lubbock, Tx., is set to be completed late this ntonth; cost of the 37,500 sq. fl. salesbuilding is $1.5 million; more will open in Longview, Dallas and Houston. Tx. .Colonial Hardwure has moved into a new 3,400 sq. ft. store in Memphis, Tn. . . .Dublin Hurdwure, Dublin, Va., has been acquired by Terry and Diane Blair. .

South Slales,1nc., has acquired Henderson & Baird Hardware Co., Greenwood, Ms. . . .Haven Btrilding Products, Inc., Winter Haven, Fl., has added roof and floor structural systems to its inventory. .

Woven Wood Designs, Marianna, Fl., is doubling the size of its plant. .General Aluminum Corp., Carrollton, Tx., has added a 42,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant at its national Hq. site. . Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp. has completely acquired Bayer Owens-Corning Glasswool S.A. of Vise, Belgium.

Hardwood flooring ssles were up 9Vo during the first 6 months of 1984.

Ii' r r t1tI c - l'-u.s t c.r I r tt'., DibolI, Tx., Itas acqttircd I'-ltttt'ntktr'/' lltrurd (\tryt., ('larctttortt, N.tt., lirr $5,150,0(n. .('oplu.r' ('t'rttt'rtl, Nazarctlt, I)a., a subsidiary of Stlcictc dcs ('itrtcltts l;rartcais, I)aris, I;rartcc, has acquircd Lotti.st'ille (-errtt,ttl ('o., l.ouisvillc, Ky., lbr $l 12.5 rnilliott. .

Sottthcm Lurnlx'r Speciulty ('or7r. has rclocatccl to ('itntak, (ia., l.rulrn 'T'hotrtson, Cia., opening a rcnrarr. l'acility. . .'l-klev,aler Trudirt.s Inlertrutionul l.ld. is a ncw lunrber and lorcst prodttcts inrport f irrn f ormcd by Tirlcu,uter /lr'. (oil & gas) in Ncw C)rleans, l-a., (icorge Byrn, mgr.

IT'T' Ru-y,onier has a $17 million cxpansion and modcrnization underway in Baxley, Ga.; sawmill capacity will be increased to 63 million b.f.

TMA l:orest Produclshas moved its sales office to Tuscaloosa, Al. . . .Hamplon Lurnber Sales Co., Portland, Or., is now the exclusive sales agent for Edwsrds Forest Div., St. Maries, Id.

T. H. Rogers Lumber Co. has purchased the former Boise Cascade facility in Watonga, Ok., for its 33rd yard. .Gibbons Lumber Co., Kingsport, Tn., is voluntarily closing after 34 years with the retirement of owner Cilbert Gibbons.

Chaney Luntber Co., Corbin, Ky.,lost four kilns and four buildings in a Nov. fire. .

Latest housing start figs. show a sharp decline of 9.8V0 in Oct. from Sept., 9.390 behind the Oct. '83 pace; the seasonally-adjusted annual rate is now 1,515,000. single family starts sagged 9.3V0, multis 10.590. . bldg. permits for future construction declined 2.290 . . .$$ costs were mostly blamed for the drop. . .V.A. mortgage rates were recently lowered from l3Vo to l2.5Vo.