Southern pine

DECKS AND OTHER outdoor living structures are a leading market for pressure treated southern pine. (Photo by LTDecks.com)

The world is changing faster than ever, and the built environment has the potential to play a critical role in climate change solutions. Between the housing availability crisis, global climate change and ambitious decarbonization goals, one thing remains clear: protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations has never been more important.

Wood construction is a sustainable solution to environmental challenges. In fact, maximizing the use of wood products in both residential and commercial construction could remove 21 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. That’s a significant positive impact from simply making a smarter and more sustainable building material choice. Building with southern pine and other wood products is a simple strategy for reducing carbon at every stage of the supply chain.

As trees grow, they remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. Sustainable forest management increases carbon storage capabilities by harvesting mature trees that grow slowly and replacing them with younger trees. More softwood lumber is grown each year in the Southern United States than is harvested, making it a sustainable and reliable building material that minimizes environmental impacts.

Producing wood products is essentially a waste-free endeavor; every part of the tree is used.

Instead of heading to the landfill, waste material like bark, trims and sawdust is used as an energy source to help power wood production facilities. Wood products also require less energy to create than other building materials, generating fewer greenhouse gasses and using less fossil fuel during the entire manufacturing process.

Domestically-harvested and processed timber incurs a fraction of the transportation costs and environmental impacts associated with imports. Traveling down the road or across the state takes far fewer resources and much less time than shipping in timber around the globe. Using locally sourced southern pine lumber simplifies the chain of custody, making it easier to trace building materials from the forest all the way to the finished product.

Building with wood products helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the carbon sequestration process. All wood products store carbon for the duration of their usable life—so everything from wood furniture to 2x4s to mass

The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) represents southern pine lumber producers, and our team helps dealers boost sales with services the organization has provided since 1915. Both durable and versatile, southern pine is the natural, sustainable choice for any customer, and SFPA has abundant resources to help dealers sell more of it. Whether it’s a pocket span card or a brochure about wood preservative treatments, SFPA’s online library of resources is at the tips of your fingers.

Summer is fast approaching, which means outdoor living season is upon us all. Homeowners to the north can finally take advantage of the outdoor spaces southerners enjoy nearly all year round. Building outdoor living structures with southern pine creates a natural extension of any home, offering a restful, natural space to spend time with family and friends. Wood decks, pergolas and

RICH SOUTHERN yellow pine is equally prized for interior uses, including flooring and millwork.

fencing add tremendous value to any home. The design opportunities are endless, and southern pine is the most cost-effective and durable solution for any outdoor living project.

Southern pine’s superior treatability makes it the preferred species when pressure treatment with wood preservatives is required. Today’s pressure-treated wood products are manufactured with preservatives that are safe for use around people, plants and pets. Pressure treatment provides longterm resistance to decay and termite attack, with no components that are considered hazardous under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Pressure-treated southern pine products are economical, sustainable and renewable—important selling points in today’s market.

SFPA is your source for detailed information about southern pine. Visit SouthernPine.com and download a free

promotion programs, despite travel disruptions. A successful pivot toward virtual events ensured that the association was able to reach a record number of timber traders and construction professionals worldwide and to safely meet their needs effectively.

Let’s break down the activities and successes and take a closer look at each.

As a gold sponsor of this online or virtual event, SFPA was able to provide member access to information, which helped each better define their international goals moving forward.

SFPA’s participation bolstered the Association’s seminar copy of Southern Pine Decks and Porches, a 12-page illustrated guide to building a safe, code-compliant deck. Check out American Wood Council’s Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide for detailed how-to guides geared to professional deck builders and handy do-it-yourselfers. In addition, SouthernPineDecks.com offers a virtual training module that covers deck and porch construction from start to finish. programs across the globe to enrich international outreach and education. With international advertising and messaging support in multiple global markets, southern pine information was showcased internationally through a variety of channels. Japan Technical Committee (JTC) In partnership with American Softwoods, SFPA and the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau banded together to jointly present information on the southern pine resource and clarCreate Lasting, Flood-Protected Homes with Raised Wood Floors In the South, concerns about flooding are always top of mind. A raised wood floor home provides homebuilding solutions for hurricane- and flood-prone areas, and durable southern pine lumber is the ideal construction material. A raised wood floor home moves the living space off the ground, isolating it from moisture and pests. Elevating a structure reduces flood insurance premiums and can enhance the home’s energy efficiency. In addition to offering flood protection by elevating the home, a raised wood floor foundation can also help manage a community’s risk of flooding in the first place. Unlike slab-fill developments that alter the natural floodplain, raised wood floor foundations do not disify the grading procedures for dense vs. non-dense grades. Outreach: Caribbean Throughout the southern pine-loving Caribbean, virtual seminars targeted hundreds of key buyers in both traditional markets and new markets—some of which SFPA reached for the first time. Outreach: Central America Multiple southern pine lumber events were held in Guatemala, with brand-new outreach activities expanding into the Panamanian building market. Outreach: South America Targeting potential southern pine lumber buyers across the continent, a first-ever virtual education seminar was held and pulled in excellent results. place rising water and support floodplain management. Outreach: Latin America

SFPA’s Raised Wood Floor Foundations – Design & Enhanced with upgraded discussions focusing on using Construction Guide is available for free download from southern pine lumber to build for high winds and in seismic SouthernPine.com. This 16-page publication explains how zones, SFPA targeted audiences throughout Latin America with these solutions to these key discussion points.

While many lumber industry trade shows across Europe, India, the Middle East, and Asia were cancelled or postponed in 2021, plans are well underway for a full slate of in-person trade shows in 2022. Members are keen to take advantage of these face-to-face opportunities, and SFPA stands ready to serve member needs.

Export numbers calculated throughout the majority of 2021 are roaring back to pre-pandemic levels, an encouraging sign as plans are underway for 2022.

Southern pine lumber shipments surged 57% through September of 2021 to a whopping $222 million, and exports of pressure-treated lumber—almost all of which is southern pine—jumped an incredible 31% to $93 million.

Brand new for the southern pine international outreach in 2021: SFPA launched informational newsletters in the Caribbean and Latin American markets aimed at maximizing engagement with a growing in-house database of traders and specifiers.

to build to a higher standard with a raised wood floor foundation, outlining the many advantages of building a wood floor system above grade, including long-term durability and trouble-free performance.

An introductory section covers site conditions, soil properties, design considerations and connections. Properly designed and constructed, a raised wood floor foundation accommodates all design loads and transfers those loads to the soil without excessive settlement.

Explore RaiseFloorLiving.com for detailed information on the advantages of building off grade for homebuyers and homebuilders. The homebuilder’s side of the website serves as a portal for building professionals, with extensive details on building raised wood floors. The homebuyer’s side explains the features and benefits of prioritizing the longevity INTERNATIONAL MARKETS have become an important focus for the southern pine industry. of a home by starting with a raised wood floor.

Find the products you need quickly and easily. Access local dealers, distributors and manufacturers and specify size, length, grade and packaging preference for 400+ products.

Need to source a quantity of southern pine materials quickly? The Lumber Purchase Inquiry on the homepage of SouthernPine.com is your pathway to getting quotes from interested mills.

The perfect tool for dealers wanting to total up orders or the yard’s inventory.

Find dozens of informative pamphlets and brochures that cover a wide range of topics from sustain– For more information on all the activities managed by the ability to marine construction. Southern Forest Products Association, to access our numerous pieces of free educational information, or to become an SFPA member, please visit www.sfpa.org.

The White Family – Serving the Lumber Industry for Five Generations High Quality Arkansas Southern Yellow Pine Boards, Pattern Stock and 5/4 Square Edge, Flooring, Beaded Ceiling, 105, 116, 117, 119, 122, 131, 139, 5/4x12 Nosing.

1978 Hood Blvd., Ste. 100, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 • (601) 264-2962

Hood Lumber is an industry-leading supplier known for strength, durability, treatability and fastener holding capabilities. Made from sturdy Southern Yellow Pine, Hood Lumber is a preferred choice among architects, builders, and homeowners. For more information about how to purchase our products, please contact Hood Lumber Sales at (601) 296-4860.

Hood Plywood is an industry-leading supplier, providing customers with a mix of quality and reliable products made from sturdy Southern Yellow Pine. Product applications range from structural sheathing, preservative and fire-retardant treatment, underlayment and subfloor, siding, concrete forming, and industrial applications. Hood Plywood is a member of the APA – Engineered Wood Association with all certified products in accordance with APA guidelines. For more information about how to purchase our products, contact Hood Plywood Sales at (601) 296-4869.

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