Western rcd cedar: all alound performer

Iwho still believe that one of their major functions is to sell lumber, many feel that westem red cedar is t/re number one wood which can do just about everything.

Their willingness to stock it in depth is based upon their conviction that no other product provides the versatility for both residential and commercial interior and exterior applications or offers the customer as much value for the money, be it professional builder or do-it-yourselfer.

One store. which inventories both the knotty grades and clears, says that hardly a day goes by that someone doesn't walk out the door with a load. "The customer loves the stuff because it is easy to cut and fit into difficult areas. If they make a mistake. it's only one piece while with a 4x8 sheet of plywood they are in real trouble. They also have the option to finish it anyway they want, and it's easy to get a great looking job with a minimum effort. Of course.9 out of l0 times we get an extra sale by supplying the stain."

Another dealer who does a large volume with both builders and the consumer has taken a rather novel approach in making western red cedar a moneymaker. "We could see right up front that there were so many ways to use this product. thal we needed an experl in our organization who really knew what he was talking about. So. we took one person and sent him to school.

"He spent over a month learning the characteristics of the wood. various grades. siding patterns and unique ways to use it both inside and out.

Ed Fountain Lumber Co., Los Angeles, Ca., one of the pioneer stocking wholesalers in western red cedar, believes that a substantial commitment to this product is an outstanding investment. Ed Fountain says, "In almost 60 years in the lumber business, westem red cedar has to be the one which has given us the least difficulty in handling and the least number of problems. Our inventory runs between 2-3 million feet, and its growing popularity indicates that we have made the right decision. There is an excellent supply, it is relatively easy to air or kiln dry, and we can create so many different end products, it's quite simple to keep up with changes in architectural trends."