A ce dar deck is an amazrngplace.

No imitation wood or chemically treated lumber can substitute for the character, the warmth and the charm of genuine'W'estern Red Cedar. 'With natural durabiliry and long lasting beauty thatt easy to maintain, cedar turns your outdoor spaces into places of wonder and discovery.

Made in America or Ghina?

It does not matter which industry you look at, manufacturing jobs are pouring out of the country at breakneck speed as imports continue to gain larger market shares. While certainly not a new debate, it is interesting to understand that while our economy appears to be getting on track, recovery so far is being achieved without the creation of new jobs that economists would normally expect for a lasting strong economy. Why, and what does this all mean?

The end result is all about globalization -a fact of life from which we cannot run away. The reality is that U.S. manufacturing companies, with their high labor costs and all the extras such as environmental restrictions and liabilities, struggle to compete with nations that pay l/40th of the rates we pay here-30Q to 40A an hour versus, say. $14 to $16 an hour. Manufacturers know that the shirt that costs them $12 here to manufacture will cost $2 to $4 abroad. Low-skilled, labor-intensive manufacturing in the U.S. is going the way of the dodo bird-into extinction.

In my opinion, this is only the first wave, as countries like China and Vietnam will continue to raise their skill and technology levels, and will gnaw away and compete at all skill levels within the next 10 years or so.

In some industries, like toys and shoes, there is virtually no manufacturing left in America. In time, ours will go the same way unless we start to tackle the issues at a company and national level. In Indiana, for example, where manufacturing is responsible for the largest share of GDP among all states, an estimated lUVo of manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last three years. Even non-manufacturing jobs are being moved overseas. Last month it was clear to me a call I received from a large computer company was coming from India, the Silicon Valley of call centers. These truly are jobs that, in my opinion, are a disgrace to send overseas.

Manufacturers believe it is cheaper to produce abroad. Therefore, the prognosis for what is left of manufacturing

ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@aol.com

looks at best poor unless we rethink how we can fight back. ln the furniture industry the move to produce overseasparticularly in China-has gained fast momentum over the last three years. Even very high-end manufacturers are all now producing in China or similar countries.

Last year at the retail level, Wal-Mart reportedly imported around $12 billion from China. Globalization has arrived, and is here to stay. If we are not prepared to change our business models, I hesitate to think where we will be in l0 years or so.

While we can no longer compete on wage costs, our closeness to the market and knowledge of distribution channels still gives us a large advantage. We can compete on short runs, more consistent quality, closeness to market and raw materials, technological superiority, product design excellence, and being able to turn on a dime to meet windows of opportunity and market needs. Our lead in technology can overcome much of the labor cost issues as processes become more and more automated. The manufacturing process needs to be refined down to its core to eliminate waste and labor costs. Yet, in the U.S. in the last four quarters, equipment investment was less than the depreciation taken by manufacturers-a very sad state of affairs and an indication that we are running away from an issue we cannot run away from. Our focus needs to be on cutting manufacturing and distribution costs, not eliminating them by moving offshore.

I believe in a free-trade economy (but I struggle with how to define free trade and the level to which governments sponsor their industries). I do not believe in "protectionism." There are solutions to compete. Perhaps we need a national debate and strategy on how we are going to protect not only American workers and manufacturing, but how we are to protect our nation from becoming a nation of lowpaid service economy jobs.

Lumber Grades And Uses

There are over thirty different grades of redwood lumber including general purpose grades and specialized grades for a single use. There is a grade of redwood for almost any application suitable for wood. Redwood is graded by appearance and durability, with criteria defined by the Redwood Inspection Service.

Excellence of appearance is a major factor in the grading of redwood. Clearness (freedom from knots) is the determinant for the highest grades. Other grades are categorized by number, size and nature of knots and the oresence of other characteristics such as stains, crook or manufacturing defects that may occur.

For durability and resistance against insects and decay-redwood is graded by its color. Reddish-brown heartwood from the inner portion of the tree contains extractives that render it resistant to decay.

The cream-colored sapwood that develops in the outer growth layer of the tree does not possess the heartwood's resistance to decay and insects.

As a rule of thumb, all heartwood grades of redwood will have the word "Heart" in the grade name.

The architectural grades, Clear All Heaft, Clear, Heart Clear, Heart B and B Grade, are normally sold kiln dried (preshrunk and stress free) for the finest elterior and interior architectural uses.

No other wood equals these finish grades in beauty and dimensional stability. They are the choice grades for siding, paneling, trim and cabinetry where attractiveness and tight joinery are desired.

The garden grades, Deck Heart, Construction Heart, Deck Common, Construction Common, Merchantable Heart and Merchantable, are offered seasoned or unseasoned. They are frequently specified for decks, fences and garden structures where knots or other characteristics have little or no effect. For uses where the wood will be on or near soil, such as posts, bulkheads or patio grids, it's essential to use one of the du rable, heartwood grades--Clear All Heaft, Heart B, Deck Heart, Construction Heart or Merchantable Heart. For construction above ground where there is little danger of insect or decay problems, one of the sapwood containing grades-Clear, B Grade, Deck Common, Construction Common or Merchantable-will serve handsomelv.

Heartwood

Clear All Heart

Finest architectural heartwood grade, normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned), well manufactured, free of defects one face (reverse face may have slight imperfections). Available surfaced or saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork. Also fine decks, hottubs, garden structures, industrial storage and processing tanks.

Heart B

Quality heartwood grade containing limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear All Heart and Head Clear. Available kiln dried or unseasoned. This grade can be sudaced or saw-textured. Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses. Quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.

Construction HearVDeck Heart

A heartwood grade containing knots of varying sizes and other slight imperfections. Available seasoned or unseasoned. This highly useful grade can be ordered surfaced or rough.

Deck Head has similar appearance and uses as Construction Heart but is also graded for strength. Deck Heart is available in 2x4 and 2x6 only.

Uses Decks, posts, retaining walls, fences, garden structures, stairs or other outdoor uses especially on or near soil.

Merchantable Heart

This economical heartwood grade allows slightly larger knots than construction grades; holes limited to size of knots. Allows checks, some splits and some manufacturing flaws. Available unseasoned, surfaced or rough.

Uses Fences, retaining walls, garden structures--€specially on or near soil.

Sapwood Clear

Same general quality as Clear All Heart except contains sapwood in varying amounts. Some imperfections not permitted in Clear All Heart. Normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned). Available surfaced or saw-te)dured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits. Also quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground applications.

B Grade

Quality grade containing sapwood, limited knots and other characteristics nol permitted in Clear. Certified Kiln Dried; also unseasoned. Available surfaced or saw-teldured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses; quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.

Construction CommoM)eck Common

Same general characteristics as Construction Heart, but contains combination of heartwood and saowood. Unseasoned or seasoned, it can be surfaced or rough.

Deck Common is also graded for strength and is availablein2x4 and 2x6 only.

Uses Decking, fence boards and other above-ground garden uses that do not require heanwood's insect and decay resistance.

Merchantable

Has same characteristics as Merchantable Heart but contains sapwood in varying amounts. This economical grade is available unseasoned and can be ordered surfaced or rough.

Uses Fence boards, rails and other above-ground outdoor and garden uses. Also subflooring and temporary construction.

Heaft Clear

High quality grade with same characteristics as Clear but is entirely heartwood. Normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned). Available surfaced or saw-textured.

Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork; also fine decks, rails and garden structures.

Heart Clear

Select Heart

A tight-knotted heartwood grade resistant to insects and decay. lt is suitable for high quality construction without waste. Usually unseasoned. Durable grade available surfaced or rough.

Uses Decks, posts, garden structures, cudcing, retaining walls, industrial uses, farm structures.

Rustic Siding

Rustic siding with knots and sapwood is available seasoned in thick-butt bevel, channel, tongue and groove, and board and batten oatterns. Produced with a saw-textured sudace.

Other grades will be shipped with a mixture of vertical and flat grains. Clear All Heart and Clear may be specified in vertical grain.

Select

Same general characteristics as Select Heart, but contains sapwood in varying amounts, some imperfections on the back side not oermitted in Select Heart. Usually unseasoned. Economical grade available surfaced or rough.

Uses Decking, fence boards, garden structures and other above-ground uses where durability is not a factor.