How to order redwood

By Charles J. Jourdain Vice President, Technical & Inspection Services California Redwood Association

I N THE FOREST products industry, we can easily lose I sight of the fact that many of the people we deal with on a daily basis have a much more restricted knowledge of our products than we do. For redwood wholesalers or retailers, it is important to order the exact products needed from suppliers and see that customers receive precisely what is going to fill their particular requirements.

The key to meeting these requirements is proper preparation of product specifications. The CRA Technical Department works closely with architects, engineers, designers and builders to educate them not only about available redwood products, but also about how to properly specify them.

Meticulous dealer preparation of orders not only eliminates confusion about what is being supplied, but also assists and protects you in handling claims.

The fundamentals for specifying redwood can be found in CRA's u{rr in Architecture and Certified Kiln Dried Siding Patterns and Applications fot siding uses and Landscape Guide and Deck Corstruction for decking and other landscaping uses.

To ensure delivery of the proper siding product, the specifications should include: use, grade, grain, seasoning, pattern description and number, and surface texture. For example, a sample spec of redwood lumber for exterior siding would be: "CRA-RIS grade-marked redwood, Clear All Heart gmde, vertical grain, Certified Kiln Dried, lx8 channel V shiplap, Pattern 285R, saw-textured face to be exposed."

Because of changes in the dimensions of standard redwood patterns, it may also be wise to cite the CRA redwood lumber pattem book when referencing patterns. Except for pattern number, specifying redwood and fencing should include the same information as for siding uses. For example: "redwood lumber for (use) decking shall bear the RIS grade mark and shall be (grade) Construction Common, (seasoning) S-DRY, (size) 2x5, (texture) S4S."

Sometimes the particular paragraph number describing the grade or moisture content requirements from the RIS Standard Specifications for Grades of Califurnia Redwood Lumber may also be used. For instance, the Cooling Tower Ittstitute Standnrd Specifications for the Design of Cooling Towers with Redwood Lumber references specific paragraphs from the RIS rule book for general purpose and structural grades. RIS Paragraph 725 is frequently referenced when specifying kiln dried redwood.

In,the settling of disputes and claims, a copy of the original order can play a critical role. Frequently, however, the information on these documents is woefully inadequate. For instance, most dealers would see nothing wrong with an order which stated "3/4 x 8" Aye-Grade redwood bevel siding." Besides the fact that the still widely used "A" or "Aye" grade terminology has been obsolete for over two decades (the correct grade terminology being Clear), other potentially critical information is lacking such as: is it plain bevel or rabbeted bevel siding, what is the pattem number and surface texture, and, perhaps most critical, what is the specified moisture content?

Frequently dealers orremanufacturers will get orders for products whichthey do nothave instock, butwhichthey can readily produce by resawing ormilling stockthey dohave in inventory. This practice sometimes leads to products which may vary slightly from standard dimensions or kiln-dried standards. For instance, pattems milled from S4S stock may have dimensions which do not correspond to standard pattems. One-inch stock resulting from resawing two-inch kilndried redwood boards may not meet the RIS moisture content standards for CKD one-inch redwood. Remanufacturing may also change the grade of the final product. It is important that customers are made aware of this. For instance, adding wording such as "product of resawing 2" x 12" Clear All Heart CKD redwood" to the order may benefit both customer and supplier.

The CRA Technical Department spends a good deal of time educating specifiers about redwood products. It is in their interest that they receive the product that will meet their particular requirements. It is in the interest of the supplier that the product specifications be clearly provided and understood so that good customers are maintained and new customers become a source of repeat business.

Sloryat aGlance

Ways to satisfy customerc by ordering what they need proper preparation of paperwork. referencesforcorrectspecifications, current terminology.

SUPER STERILE high tech conditions (top) are essentialfor the painstaking work involved in the cuttings that will eventually grow to be huge trees in the forest. The Simpson Timber Co. lab and nursery,,Korbell, Ca., also raises (center) hundreds of thousands of plantlets and seedlingsfortheir3S0,000acres of forest land. Rows of prototype and test trees adjacent to the lab (below) are another step in the careful plocess Simpson takes in ensuring high quality trees lor their forests.