Redwood Performance Suits Gurrent Demand

By Keith Lanning Executive \/ice President and General Manager California Redwood Association

EI EDWOOD CONTINUES this fI year to be one of the most demanded and most often specified specialty woods for outdoor uses and luxury paneling and siding applications. It's natural performance suits a variety of current building needs and design trends and will enable redwood markets to continue to expand in 1980, despite the current economic slowdown.

More than 50 years of product education and promotion by the California Redwood Association and its member mills has successfully informed today's consumers and specifiers about redwood's outstanding performance. The education and promotion effort has given redwood a large pre-sold demand and a premium position in building materials markets.

With the importance of energy efficient construction, along with rising consumer demand for quality, increased interest in outdoor living, and growing remodeling markets, demand for all redwood products is expected to remain strong.

Typically, redwood is specified for its weatherability, finish retention and familiar beauty. Future demand is expected to be more of a result of redwood's energy efficiency, low maintenance, excellent dimensional stability and longevity.

As fuel and easoline costs in-

Story at a Glance

crease, wood products should be less directly affected than other, more energy intensive materials. Redwood's superior insulation, low maintenance and lasting performance adds to its energy efficiency and figures highly in new commercial and residential building markets.

Though redwood prices continue to be affected by changing transportation costs. builders. architects and consumers are recognizing redwood as an investment in performance, sales appeal and beauty which adds to the total value of construction.

Municipal, commercial and residential building markets, in addition to becoming more energy conscious, are moving toward design trends which favor the use of natural materials. natural looks, and more wood uses. as much as l2-l5ol, more for commercial con-

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