THE il0ST RESPE$IED Gtutli,l ilIARKS

AIIG has cortiliod 0lulam quality for 44 years.

The original glued laminated timber quality marks began with the American Institute of Timber Construction 44 years ago. Today, retail dealers and distributors trust AITC marks as an assurance 0f quality for their customers.

The strength and economy of glulam make it ideal for headers, ridge beams, arches, and floor and roof beams. Glulam is stress rated and l-Joist compatible. Framing crews prefer glulams vs. solid sawn framing that may sometimes warp or twist. Glulams are available in long lengths, and engineered to reduce callbacla. They come from the renewable forest resource, and are readily available from nearby mills.

See the list of AITC laminators at www.aitc-glulam.org.

American Institutg of limber Construction 7012 S. Revere Parkway, #140 Centennial, C0 801 12

Pyramid Mt. Plans Cutbacks

Pyramid Mountain Lumber Co., Seeley Lake, Mt., has cut wages by l07o across the board and plans to lay off l0 workers, due to a depressed lumber market.

"The way prices have been for the last six to eight months, I don't think anybody is doing well," said controller Loren Rose, who noted that high stumpage prices and record-low lumber prices are forcing many mills to operate at a loss.

Because Pyramid doesn't own its own timberlands. it must compete in Montana's tisht timber market. The company buys and transports most of the wood it needs from local, privately owned lands. The good news is that the company has a full timber yard, said Rose, enough to keep it running well into May and possibly June.

According to the University of Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research, average lumber prices fell by more than 2OVo last year while energy and operating costs soared. "We can only hope that at some point the stars will line up and we'll see improvement in the forest products industry," said Ellen Engstedt, executive director of the

Montana Wood Products Association in Helena.

Rose said that Pyramid was able to hang on longer than other mills because it is a flexible operation that specializes in niche woods and products. To increase efficiency and compete in niche markets, the company has invested in new machinery.

The latest acquisition went online in December, and employees are still familiarizing themselves with the machine and debugging its computer systems.

Pyramid Mountain enacted similar wage cuts in December 1998, said Rose. At that time, the l07o wage reduction lasted three and a half months and affected everyone from the company's president to the maintenance crew. He is optimistic that the company will once again rebound from the tough market. "Once spring kicks in, there will be some increased consumption," he said.

Mendo Lake Lumber Expands

Mendo Lake Lumber & Hardware, Clearlake, Ca., is nearing completion of an 1S-month-long expansion to 25,000 sq. ft.

"Lake County is growing and our facilities were becoming outdated for today's market," said president Mike Mayfield.

A large pole building that had been used as a storage shed was removed, making way for 9,500 sq. ft. of additional retail space. The objective, Mayfield said, was a store "small enough to retain great customer service that the big box stores cannot offer."

Most new preservative-treated lumber for residential construction reouires connectors, anchors and fasteners with greater resistance to corrosion.

Simpson Strong-Tie' offers several options, including stainless steel (SST300), which provides the most resistance; Z-MAX'(G185) galvanized steel, which provides a zinc coating thicker than standard products; or post hot-dip galvanized (HDG). Check our website to see the results of our extensive corrosion testing on connectors in contact with treated lumber.

Mendo was opened in 1944 as a lumber mill, by John Mayfield and his twin brother Ross. Located midway between Willits and Fort Bragg, the mill processed locally harvested redwood and other native trees.

The mill was later sold and the family moved to Ukiah, where the first Mendo Mill Hardware Store opened in the 1950s. "The original store would have been in the middle of the highway today," said Mike Mayfield. Today, the chain has four Ace-affiliated stores that serve Lake and Mendocino counties.

"We are excited about having such a large store," he said. "We can offer everything a do-it-yourselfer needs, and we're small enough that our customers can actually get home in time to finish the project they came in to shop for."

Composites Come To Montana

With the help of a $6 million industrial revenue bond. Bitterroot Composite Lumber Co. will open Montana Decks in Darby, Mt., on a site formerly occupied by Darby Lumber.

Founders John Schneeberger and Corrine Gantt have already licensed Strandex technology for wood-plastic composite extrusion. "They developed a patented technology that provides for a stronger board that uses more wood flour per unit of production," said Schneeberger. "It increases the productivity of these Milacron machines."

The business would combine recycled plastics with mill waste and biomass from restoration and fuel-reduction projects to produce 9 million linear ft. of 2"x6" deck boards per year.

A Canadian firm has agreed to purchase all the company produces for the first three years.

Schneeberger predicts the company will need 19,000 green tons per year of slash material. "We did a study that shows that presently, in the Bitterroot, we have over two times that amount that we're burning up," he said. "And we can use that material."

Distributor E-Markets Decks

McFarland Cascade, Tacoma, Wa., has redesigned its website to drive projecrminded consumers to decking retailers and contractors-

"We believe that decks are the next wave of remodeling," said Gary Maulin, sawn products manager at McFarland Cascade. "Just like today's kitchens and bathrooms go far beyond their utilitarian uses, a thoughtfully designed and inviting outdoor area extends your living space and adds to the livability, comfort, and value of the home. McFarlandcascade.com gives people the tools they need to get started."

The site offers consumers ideas, advises on the best materials, and connects them with certified contractors who can turn those ideas into reality. The site features a list of McFarland Cascade-certified contractors that can be searchcd by zip code. It also offers interested contractors the opportunity to become certified with the company. After a simple registration process, they can get customer referrals as well as other complimentary marketing assistance.

"The new website helps give contractors and consumers an added value in this sometimes difficult to navigate decking materials marketplace," said Gary Hardin, merchandise manager of 75-unit Lumbermens, Lacy, Wa. "Consumers or their contractors can get great ideas, then come to us ready to act on them."

In addition to referrals, the site offers a look at decking and railing materials and accessories, design tips, deck care advice, and more. Users also can download a product catalog and order free samples and deck design software with versions for consumers and professionals.

"The home and lifestyle category hasn't paid a lot of attention to outdoor living spaces, and our website is meant to change that," said Maulin. "By giving people ideas about how to use the best materials for their outdoor products. we hope to inspire more possibilities and help them get the most from their outdoor living environment," he said.

Featured products include Stonedeck composite-backed stone tiles, Extreme Tropical Hardwoods, Xtendex and RhinoDeck composite decking, Rain Escape and DrySnap.