Holding a treated wood sale together

The durability of pressure treated wood demands that the fasteners used with it have an equally long life. Retailers should help their customers select the hardware that will best ensure the success of their projects.

Only hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel 304 or 316 nails and fasteners are capable ofresisting corrosion for the life of the treated wood. They also will not rust, causing unsightly stains and possibly an eventual failure. Connecting hardware such as joist hangers, hinges and post anchors also must be gal-

Hidden Costs Erode Profit

Excess inventory combined with interest expense can become a cash trap for a retailer. These are good reasons for keeping inventories down and developing just-in-time delivery schedules with your wholesaler.

r Hidden costs such as higher interest rates, higher cost of space, equipment and utilities if not controlled will erode profit margins.

o Changes affecting your custo- vanized to insure performance equal to that of pressure treated wood. mers are occuring at an unprecedented rate. The ability to change your inventory to meet their needs is crucial in today's competitive environment. o Buying on price alone can result in overbuying, lowering the turnover rate. Too many SKUs will increase inventory without increasing sales. o Products you thought great, but your customers didn't, are often left in your inventory, but some of the cost can be recovered by donating them to charity and using the tax credit. o Form an alliance with key wholesalers. Make sure they have policies that are beneficial to you. These ideas are offered by the Western Building Material Association.

Special purpose nails with ringed or spiraled shanks are recommended to increase the holding ability when joining treated members. They are especially useful for decking and stair treads.

Special screws designed and coated for use with treated lumber provide optimum fastening. Heavy framing members are best joined with galvanized lag screws and bolts with washers. These also are best for attaching ledgers to an adjoining permanent structure.

Construction adhesive formulated for treated wood is recommended for use at structural joints and for installing horizontal decking. While not a replacement for nails, screws or bolts, they add durability to the finished project. Only adhesives labeled "for use with treated lumber" should be used, with the manufacturer's instructions carefully followed.

Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF) construction requires special fastening requirements. A PWF design manual should be consulted for recommendations.

Control SKUs to reduce inventory in the next 12 months. Statistics show that 80% of the sales are on 20o/o or less of the items.

SupaTimbef" Makes It Last!

SupaTimber's built-in protection deters rot, decay and termite attack to add years to outdoor proiects. It's the attractive, clean and odor-free pressure-treated lumber with strong sales appeal. It can easily be painted, stained, or sealed with water repellents. There's excellent collateral sales potential with SupaTimber products. Look for the complete line of SupaTimber deck accessories and outdoor specialty items! And, for extra value your customers will appreciate, SupaTimber features the best guarantee in the industry! That's because SupaTimber is the only pressure treated lumber produced under strict, thirdparty, quality control re' quirements. So, whatever the project, SupaTimber's the versatile dream builder that lasts!