Tleated southern pine rolls through the Rockies

A LTHOUCH about 6 billion board ll,feet of pressure treated southern yellow pine is produced each year, most of it is sold in the Northeast, South and Midwest. Yet now. more treated lumber is rolling to western markets for all kinds of outdoor projects, and major treaters are generating a sizeable volume of treated SYP for the Rocky Mountain market.

Treated southern pine was almost unheard of in this area five years ago, but it is now growing in customer preference. Major western retailers stocking treated southern pine include United Building Centers, Home Depot and Builders Square.

Part of the credit for southern pine's increased market share goes to field calls being made by Robin Archibald, the new Southern Pine Council regional marketing manager in Phoenix, Az.

Schollenbarger Wood Treating Co., Bernalillo, N.M., is treating southem pine lumber and selling it to selected retailers for decks, landscape timbers and outoor structures.

United Building Centers, Durango, Co., is among Schollenbarger's treated southern pine customers. UBC buyer Charlie Mason says that TOVo of its treated southern pine is being sold to the contractor trade, primarily for deck construction. "We only sell No. I grade, and our contractor and d-i-y customers like the appearance,"

Story at a Glance

Advantages of treated southern pine push the species westward through the Rocky Mountain market.

Mason says.

He adds that UBC has not yet conducted treated lumber in-store training events, clinics or promotions for its di-y or contractor customers "because the product basically sells itself."

SYP also has an advantage over other species since it does not require incising for deep penetration of chemical preservative, Mason notes.

Other retailers report that their cus- tomers like the long-term durability of treated southern pine, and also that it is more consistently available than other species.

Industry observers expect treated SYP will continue to expand its western "beachhead" for several reasons: o Many customers and retailers in the West already know about treated southern pine because they formerly lived in Southern and Eastern cities where the product was popular. o Southern pine is cost-competitive, even for the No. I grade typically seen in the West. o Treated southern pine can easily be stained a variety ofcolors. o Treated southern pine is not just a decking material-it is widely used for docks, piers, marine applications, timber bridges, highway noise wall barriers, permanent wood foundations, and playground equipment. o New preservative formulations that include water repellant sealers enhance southern pine's appearance over a longer period of time.

These customers are more than willing to use it again in western applications as they did in the East.

SYP is a preferred species for pressure treatment because its unique cellular structure permits a more deep, uniform penetration of the preservative chemicals than other species.