Gypress: coming on strong

F YPREss, one of the country's most distinctive building materials, is abundant for the 1992 building season.

According to the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association, cypress is in ready supply, with most mills reporting ample stocks in a wide range of dimensions.

"We have plenty of cypress stockpiled," says Lyman Shipley, Coastal Lumber Co., Weldon, N.C. "The supply is the best it's been in more than three years."

The mills also are making an extra effort to provide customers with finished product to meet virtually any application.

"We're ready to give customers any productthey want,"says J. Wilson Jones III, Mackey's Ferry Sawmill, Roper, N. C. "We're cutting anyth ing for 4|4 to 8/4 and flitches, along with siding, paneling and doorcasings. If they askfor it, chances are we can make it for them."

The challenge for producers is taking cypress beyond its traditional marketa 150 to 200-mile wide area stretching from the coast of Maryland down to Florida and along the Gulf to Texas, where it has long been the choice of quality home builders.

"Cypress is specified in the building codes on Hilton Head," Gary Barnes, Barnes Lumber Sales, Statesboro, Ga., notes. "The architects who developed the island several decades ago used it extensively because of its natural look and protection against the elements. Today, it seems that most architects still specify cypress for everything from single homes to large condo projects."

"Cypress is truly unique, " Shipley adds. "It's sought after because there's nothing like it. The visual effects are truly amazing."

Cypress' primary exterior applications remain siding and trim, along with fencing, where it offers a number of advantages. Its distinctive natural grain and workability are the most obvious, but cypress also is one of the most durable woods available. Cypressene, a natural preservative manufactured during growth, makes the heartwood especially resistant to insect damage and decay.

Inside the home, cypress provides stunning visual effects for paneling, ceilings, millworkand casings. Cypress paneling and millwork have long been architectural favorites along the Atlantic Coast with pecky and finegrain cypress used for custom cabinetry.

Responsible management and harvesting practices ensure an ample supply of cypress for generations to come. Helicopter logging in deep water and miryswampswheresomeof thebest trees growhas opened up new supplies. At the same time, producers are using state-of-the-art forest management techniques to ensure that cypress remains a perpetually renewable re- source for the nation's builders. Equally important, availability is reflected in its competitive place in the building materials market.

"Business has been very steady," says LaVerne Ard, Marsh Lumber Co., Pamplico, S.C. "We've been selling a lot of lumber and siding to steady customers, and we expect cypress to be very competitively priced for some time to come."

Story ata Glance

Cyprcss ouQ rcwing traditional southem market. abundant supply, competitive prices d-i-y acceptability sought for this favodte of architects and homeownes.

"We're looking forstrong growth in thetraditionalcypressmarkets siding, paneling and interior trim," says Pat Kenny, Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga. "We'd love to see thatexpand into the do-it-yourself markets as well. Cypress is an excellent product, with an excellent future."

This promises to be a banner year for cypress, and one in which it will merit the close attention of builders, architects and homeowners.

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