Pressure treated wood shines in sales

1|l BRIGHT spot in lumber sales

Afor the past several years, pressure treated wood continues to build sales on heightened awareness and strengthen its position in the lumber marketplace.

To gain feedback on the successes and challenges in selling pressure treated wood, the Western Wood Preservers Institute recently conducted surveys of several lumber dealers in the West. Their responses were most encouraging as they agreed that pressure treated wood has lived up to its superior decay resistance and durability billing, and is now a product consumers count on for assured longevity in wood projects.

For the past l0 years Al Stockton, president of San Bruno Lumber, located just south of San Francisco, has benefited from a steady increase in pressure treated wood sales. Stockton said "Pressure treated wood is well received in our market, even though redwood and cedar are readily available in the West." He noted that the expanding consumer acceptance of pressure treated wood has been due in large part to increasing consumer knowledge of the durability benefits of the product.

There is still a lot of ground to be covered in educating consumers, however, and Stockton has observed that since professional contractors are more knowledgeable about the performance of pressure treated wood, they often purchase it more readily than do-it-yourself type customers.

Ron Donlan, manager of the Bellevue, Wa., branch of Henry Bacon Building Materials, Inc., is a real booster of pressurb treated wood products. His sales have grown 30090 in the short time since the outlet opened. "While we don't try to tell our customers what to use," he said, "we have no hesitation in recommending pressure treated wood if they ask us what will resist decay and insects. "

Since wood treaters have begun offerins treatments that allow wood to retain its natural color, Donlan has noticed an improved consumer acceptance of the product. Donlan said, "Almost 10090 of the fence posts we sell today are pressure treated wood 4" x 4"s1'He added that "durability and good looks are big assets, and when you add the fact that customers can save moneY with treated wood, the sale is a pretty sure thing."

In Arcadia, Ca., Hank Childers, general manager of Arcadia Lumber, records strong pressure treated wood sales, especially for use in residential decks.

"There are no more lots available for new housing in Arcadia, so home-

Story at a Glance

Treated wood builds sales on heightened market awareness . . liked by both dealers and consumers for living up to its billing.

owners are expanding their living space with outdoor decks," Childers said. He emphasized that as long as the quality of the treated wood is good, strong sales are assured. Childers' experience has shown that pressure treated wood's longevity is better than that possible with the naturally durable species and he added that "When customers start talking ground contact, pressure treated wood is hard to beat."

Pressure treated wood is gaining new respect and exPanding on its reputation for durability, good looks and versatility. Dealers interviewed agree that it is becoming an imPortant segment of their lumber sales. And they expect this trend to continue as contractors, landscapers and consumers build more projects with pressure treated wood.

CAF Corp. is intensifying its proxy battle with Samuel Heyman and associates with charges of illegal payoffs . . the newly formed Jensen Lumber Co. has acquired the old Hyampom, Ca., mill of the bankrupt Hyantpom Lumber Co., Redding, Ca., and is now concentrating on producing rough green Douglas fir . .

The U.S. Coalition for Fair Canadian Lumber Imports has appealed to the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York lo reverse a prelitninary rulingby the International Trade Association that Canadian lumber exports to the U.S. are not subsidized the ITA's final decision on the countervailing duty question is set for }/.ay 23 (see page 27 for details).

Sales of new single-family houses declined 5.9V0 in Feb., Jan. had recorded the hishest level in 28 monlhs . . . howiver. the number of mortgage loans in foreclosure increased 5.7V0 nationwide . . interest rates on 30 year, fixed term mortgage rates not insured by the feds were 12.79V0, the lowest level in 32 mos....

A newly slimmed down Wickes Cos. expects to loose $17-$18 million in their 4th quarter, compared with a $204 million loss in the same period a year ago; ir hopes to emerge from Chapter 1l bankruptcy status "some time after the middle of 1984." and plans further expansion and remodeling for its Builders Emporium retall stores one of their remaining four "core groups" will be bldg. mtls., including Wickes Lumber, BE, Sequoia Supply and WickesEurope.,.

Rising for the 5th time in 6 mos., housing starts in Feb. hit an annual rate of 1.76 million units, an increase of 2.9V0. the best pace in 3 years Single-family home starts dropped 8.5V0 to a yearly rate of 1.M million which were offset by multi-family starts reaching an annual rate of 716,000 units, a25.4Vo increase. .

Standel Producls /nc.'s new West Coast toilet seat factory and warehouse in Los Angeles is now in full production Timber Reslization Co., Calpella, Ca., plans to close its Cloverdale, Ca., facility about May 15 . . . PlyGem, Inc. plans to buy Goldenberg Plywood & Lumber Co., Goldenhill Wood Products Inc. and Continental Wood Products Corp. in Los Angeles, no price revealed

Ceorgia-Pacly'c plans to reactivate this spring the defunct roofing plant it acquired from GAF Corp. in Denver, Co. . . Delson Lumber Co., Olympia, Wa., has re-opened its revamped Little Skookum mill . . The IRS has ruled favorably on the Evsns Products/Sharon Steel exchange of stock as part of a proposdd merger .

Edward Hines Lumber Co. which has sold its St. Anthony, Id., sawmill to ldaho Forest Industries, Coeur d'Alene, also plans to sell four Or. sawmill operations . . . Kaiser Cement, Oakland, Ca., has petitioned the Dept. of Commerce for countervailing duties on Mexican cement coming into the U.S. .

Tobacco Valley Lumber Co., a new Kalispell, Mt., firm opened by Gerry Hall, is the sales agent for Owens and Hurst Lumber Co., Eureka, Mt. . Emmett Forest Products, Portland, Or., has opened a new distribution center for Or. and S.W. Wa. markets

Ed Ludwick & Co. is a new office wholesale firm started in Santa Barbara, C?., by the co.'s namesake . . . Coscade Warehouse Co. is now operating a forest products reload and transit storage facility in Salem, Or. . , Honsador, Inc., Ewa Beach, Hi., has acquired the building materials supply assets of L & C on the island of Maui . .

Sparked by the spurt, despite poor Feb. weather, predictions see 1.5 million home and apt. starts this year . . permits edged up l9o to an annual rate of 1.49 million, highest level since Sept. '79...

Potlatch Corp. has closed its Potlatch, Id., sawmill permanently . the ICC has removed all restrictions on railroads providing any kind of trucking service .the Northwest Hqrdwood Associotiorz, Portland, Or., is considering a name change, possibly to Pacific or Western HardwoodAssn....

Rocklin Forest Products has moved from Roseville to 3838 Watt Ave., Sacramento, Ca. Chapman Lumber Co., Portland, Or., has moved to 812 S.W. WashingtonSt. . . Liberty Hardwoods, Inc., is a new Santa Ana, Ca., wholesale firm started by Larry Knox and Tom Powell . .

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