Retailers profit from new treating trends

By Steve Ryan President Western Wood Preservers Institute

|F HERE'S nothing new about I wood preservation treatment. Civilizations in warm, humid climates have been endeavoring to protect wood against insects and decay for thousands of years. What is new are the trends in wood preservation in the past couple ofdecades, and the ways these trends are benefittine retailers.

Even when the lumber industrv has been in a state ofgeneral decline, treated lumber sales have been up signifrcantly. Pressure treated lumber sales continued to show a healthv increase for 1987. Shipments by the industry last year were valued at $1.8 billion, up 4.60/o from 1986. Aproximately 20 billion board feet of lumber a year are now being pressure treated. That's about 100/o of total U.S. lumber sales for 1987.

Pressure treated lumber is the largest and fastest growing segment of the wood preservation industry. The industry's growth in recent years stems only in part from new residential construction. An estimated 500/o of treated lumber is going for decks and porches, fences, landscaping, marinas and wood foundations. The '80s have turned out to be the era ofpreservation and renovation of existing structures, remodeling and restoration. and pressure treated lumber is playing a major role.

Another segment of the pressure treated wood industry is the growth of fire-retardant lumber, plywood, and shakes and shingles. Many government projects are requiring fire retardant treated lumber and plywood. More cities, communities and jurisdictions are requiring the pressure treatment of wood shakes and shingles to be resistant to fire. Almost 500/o of the members of the Western Wood Preservers Institute are now offering fire retardant treatments.

If the trend continues, this should definitely be an opportunity for lumber merchants to expand their business. More and more calls are expected requesting fire retardant pressure treated shakes and shingles for residential construction. Uses for fire retardant lumber and plywood for commercial buildings also are on the rise

The reason for the trend to waterborne preservatives is pretty basic. It's both aesthetic and economical. Whereas industrial uses such as railroad ties, telephone posts and pilings are basically utilitarian, consumer uses demand natural wood beautv.

Story at a Glance

Why dealers can count on increasing treated wood sales fire retardant products are a coming market... strong promotional effort has paid off.

Home and condominium owners today are moving outdoors. They want the natural beauty of wood. At the same time, they want protection from termites and decay. Failure to have this protection can result in costly repairs when the property is sold. Waterborne pressure treated preservatives leave the wood in pleasing green and brown tones. Even when the color fades, it will not blacken, as is the case with some untreated wood. It will not become slippery and there is no odor, either. Of course, there are still some people who like to paint and stain wood. With waterborne pressure treated lumber, there is never any problem as they are very receptive to finishes.

Consumers from coast-to-coast are finding that pressure treated lumber is a good value, affordably priced. It satisfies their present need for aesthetics and their present day mood for conservation. They're finding good selection. too. because every year a wider variety of pressure treated wood species and sizes are being supplied to retailers.

Another important factor in growing consumer demand is the strone promotional effort on the part of thE industry through the Western Wood Preservers Institute. Retailers are being supplied with an ever-increasing amount of information on the advantages of pressure treated wood. An especially popular piece is titled. What You Should Know about pressure Treated l/'ood. It has been distributed to retailers nationwide.

With a steady consumer demand for pressure treated wood and wood products, the pressure treating industry can continue to expect a healthy growth rate of about 4olo a vear for the next five years.

This can mean a bigger and better business for retailers of pressure treated wood. An estimated 800/o or more of pressure treated wood used for decks, fences, landscape timbers and other backyard projects is installed by the homeowner. The share of pressure treated lumber production to total lumber production is predicted to jump from 100/o now to l7o/o by 1995.

Pressure treated lumber sales are achieving new heights in the East and South, and dealers are profiting as a result. California, normally a trend leader, is behind other parts of the country including the pacific Northwest, in the share of the market for pressure treated wood use. thus leaving a tremendous potential for retailers.