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Old-Time Push Mowers The Reel Deal

Nearly put out to pasture 40 years for easy-to-maneuver reel mowers. ago by their motorized counterparts, The oldest and largest reel mower reel lawn mowers have been steadily manufacturer, American Lawn Mower gaining ground as a solid niche market. Co., saw its business increase 1357o

Increased land costs, expanded from 1985 to 199 1-30Vo in 1991 leisure opportunities and a desire to alone-to sales of over 150,000 units spend less time cutting grass have led a year. Sales are twice that today. many Americans to build homes on Retailers that sell reel mowers draw small lots or to buy low maintenance in niche consumers. "This niche," condominiums-environments ideal says an American Lawn Mower spokesman, "includes consumers who want a manicured yard using a mower that gives a crisp, clean cut. It also includes environmentally conscious consumers seeking to do their part and cut down on air and noise pollution, as well as excess yard waste. Even fitness-oriented consumers seeking to burn some calories opt for pushing a reel mower. Having a small yard and a nostalgic yearning for products of the past doesn't hurt, either."

Ace

Celebrates Worst D-i-yer

Gordon Fittante, a customer at Brader's Ace Hardware, Plano, Tx., was named winner of Ace Hardware Corp.'s "John Madden Fix-Up Fumbles" essay contest.

their wackiest home improvement mishaps. "The contest celebrated those inevitable-and often incredible-home improvement mistakes, misses and mishaps," said Ace's Paula Erickson.

Fittante's mishap involved building an overhead shelf in his garage-and accidentally nailing the rungs of his ladder to the shelf in the process.

NOT CUTTING EDGE, yet consumers increasingly choose old{ashioned reel mowers.

Ace solicited essays from Dallas area d-i-yers, asking them to chronicle

As the grand prize winner, Fittante met NFL broadcaster John Madden at the Ace Hardware Convention in Dallas. He also received season football tickets, an autographed photo with Madden, an autographed football, and a $500 Ace gift certificate.

OrePac Expands So. Ca. DC

Early next month OrePac Building Products, Wilsonville, Or., is relocating its Southern California distribution center from Chino to Ontario. The new facility is 157,318 sq. ft., over 20Vo larger than its current quarters.

General manager Brian Blomberg said a bigger warehouse was needed to expand market share.

OrePac's nine branches distribute doors, windows, lumber, roofing and other building materials to 14 western states, plus Japan.

West's Lumber Output Slows

Western lumber production should dip slightly in 2002 because of slowing home construction, according to Western Wood Products Association.

WWPA forecasts single-family home starts to remain about even with 2001 figures, at 1.25 million units, while multi-family housing starts are expected to decline 6Vo this year.

Despite the slowdown in housing, production at western sawmills is expected to drop only l7o to 16.6 billion bd. ft. this year. Production at coastal mills will increase slightly to 9.1 billion ft., while inland production dips to 6.4 billion ft. Production in California's redwood region is expected to drop significantly.

Overall U.S. production should fall l.SVo to 34.4 billion bd. ft. Lumber demand is also expected to decline, with totals projected to be 53.3 billion ft., down 1.77o from 2001 volumes.

Constrained by recent tariffs, exports from Canada are predicted to drop to 18.3 billion bd. ft. this year.

Logging, Salmon Case In NW

Washington's Forest Practices Appeals Board has ruled in a case over salmon habitat that has both Weyerhaeuser Co. and environmentalists claiming victory.

The April 12 decision involved a streamside timber cut by Weyerhaeuser on the Green River near the King-Pierce County line.

As part of the Forests and Fish Agreement, timber companies had agreed to a provision that called for streamside tree buffers where salmon spawn-the fish typically spawn in parts of the river where logs fall in, creating logjams.

The sticking point in the Green River case was how to define "streamside" since riverbanks often change because of flooding and other natural occurrences. Rivers often jump into different channels and predicting their patterns is a complex task.

As a result, Weyerhaeuser and the DNR were faced with the possibility of having to leave thousands of acres in river valley bottoms unharvested.

The appeals board ruled environmentalists failed to prove that Weyer- haeuser was planning to log areas that one day might be paft of a flood channe1. The board also criticized Weyerhaeuser and the DNR for not incorporating the key ideas of river restoration and ordered state forestry officials to reconsider a logging permit issued to Weyerhaeuser.

Quolity Western Cedor Products

Trends In Architectural Golumns

Columns are an architectural element that can enhance any home. They also provide "curb appeal" that adds great resale value to any property. Dealers that see the difference columns, pillars, pilasters and posts make, will want to introduce them to their builder and d-i-yer customers for use in their next design project.

Yet unlike the wood columns of yesteryear, an increasing percentage of today's columns are from alternative materials. "The trend we see is toward synthetic columns, especially for exterior use," says Cathy Mathes, Dixie Pacific, Gadsden, Al. "It took a while for people to catch on (to fiberglass), but now very few people put wood columns outside anymore."

She estimates, "Ten years ago, we produced roughly 807o wood and 2O% fiberglass columns. Now it's the exact opposite."

Joe Maust, general mgr., Somerset Door & Columns, agrees that the overriding trend has been the move toward durable, lower maintenance fiberglass and composites. But he doesn't blame wood, he blames installers. "The biggest problem with wood is having them installed properly for proper ventilation," he says. "Air flow that keeps moisture out gives a column its longevity. Moisture causes wood to expand, and a column is round, so the wood doesn't have any place to expand."

To add moisture protection, Somerset, among other manufacturers, asphalt treats the entire length of the interior of wood columns. Still, the company finds itself selling more and more synthetics. For one thing, the price of new products is coming more in line with the price of wood. "In the past, there wasn't the availability of architecturally correct non-wood columns, and if there was, they were somewhat cost prohibitive," Maust says.

According to Jeffrey L. Davis, founder and principal designer of Chadsworth's 1.800.Columns, other new trends include:

. The use of columns for pergolas ("They look terrific with vines or grapes hanging from them.").

. Columns with faux finishes ("A little paint can turn a wooden stock column into a marble masterpiece.").

Two-story columns, combining designs from the past with innovative technology of today.