New redwood products mean added sales opportunities

ll ORE and more new redwood lUl products are offering more variety and more sales opportunity to redwood dealers.

For three generations changes in the industry have been few and far between, but now there is news from the redwood country. An increasing number of redwood forests, logged near the turn of the century, have regrown and are now coming of harvestable age. In the past three years, the industry has invested over $150 million to shift emphasis from old growth production to young growth production. New logging techniques and equipment now yield greater quantities of new redwood lumber products.

The rustic or select knotty sidings recently introduced are good exam- ples of new products from the smaller, young growth trees. These seasoned sidings are competitively priced and are being accepted by homeowners, builders and architects alike. Rustic sidings come in several popular patterns including thick-butt bevel, rabbeted bevel, v-shiplap, channel shiplap and tongue and groove. Like all redwood products, they take and hold finishes well.

The different grade mix provided by young growth trees is making new products like these sidings possible. Lower in cost because they contain knots and sapwood, they are of the expected redwood quality because knotty redwood grades, such as construction heart and construction, are improving steadily. The characteristics of. the young growth logs mean the knots are smaller and tighter than in old growth redwood because of more intergrown knots and fewer encased knots.

Changes in the garden grades of redwood (construction heart, construction common, merchantable heart and merchantable) also have been made. Traditionally, redwood garden grades have been shipped green with some shrinkage and moisture loss always expected. Now the industry is offering seasoned garden grades. The initial advantage is that it reduces shipping weight and freight costs, but there are even more important benefits. The lumber is seasoned rough, then it is surfaced which provides clean, bright stock. Because the moisture is reduced, chances of staining are also reduced. Seasoned garden grades now perform better than ever.

Additional sales appeal is another advantage of seasoning. Garden grades now look better in the store and better in the backyard. Seasoned garden grades are lighter and perform better on site. Garden grades, like all redwood, have little or no pitch or resin so they are easy for d-iyers to handle, saw and nail. Redwood is a safe, natural product to work with and live with because it is not treated with toxic chemicals.

These changes in garden grades offer retailers the opportunity to be even more competitive in the outdoor living market which is exploding after a decade of continuing growth. In all parts of the country, redwood decks, fences, shade shel- llEW RUSTIC redwood siding on this house is f inished with opaque stain which minimizes the presence of knots and the contrasl between the heartwood and saowood. ters and an endless number of amenities are changing the look of backyards. Projects built by either do-it-yourselfers or professionals are sought by both young and old as useful additions for any home, modest or luxurious.

The booming outdoor living market is driven by factors with which most dealers can identify. They include the large number of post-World War II homes that need updating; rising housing prices which encourage homeowners to improve instead of move, and the number of growing families looking for more living space.

Redwood garden grades are con-

Story at a Glance

The conservative redwood industry is introducing an array of new products as it continues its changeover from old growth to young growth trees. a wide variety of products in dependable supply is assured.

sidered by some to be the ideal product for the outdoor living market because of their combination of beauty, quality performance and affordability. Redwood's quality performance is largely the result of superior stability-a natural characteristic present in all redwood regardless of grade. Redwood shrinks less than other commercial softwoods so it is less likely to cup, check, warp and split. The seasoned garden grades increase this high degree of natural stability.

The tradition of excellence which encompasses redwood products, production and performance goes back many years. Changes have been few and far between in the conservative industry, but now the time has come to develop products that are matched to the active building markets. These products ensure there will always ,be a strong supply of redwood lumber in a variety of clear, knotty, heartwood and sapwood grades. Redwood manufacturers also will continue to support redwood sales through advertising and promotion. Lumber retailers can become a part of a tradition of excellence by stocking, promoting and selling redwood lumber.