Become the lsrding decldng supplierln yout 3lre3l

A RE you paying attention (o the lA.decking and railing industry'l lt should interest you to know that this is a $4 billion-a-year industry.

According to Terry Dempsey, general manager of DeckExpo, the industry is healthy and continues to grow faster than the economy in general and construction specifically. Lumberyards are in an opportune position to profit from this growing market.

For the past l0 years I have been up close and personal with the growth and trends ofthis potentially profitable sector of a lumberyard's market. I am a specialized contractor. I design and build decks, and make it my business to study and keep current with all aspects of the industry.

In my own deck building business, I find that my clients are willing to spend what it takes to get a deck they will love. Most clients are looking for a deck that is low-maintenance, high quality, unique and aesthetically pleasing, and provides for all of their desired outdoor activities. This often includes accessories such as fire pits, built-in barbecues, water features, and outdoor lighting. There's even growing interest in outdoor kitchens. The price of a deck to the client ranges from under $10,000 to over $60,000. The majority of decks that I build land in the $20,000 range. It is not uncommon to have a landscape designer,

By Kim and Linda Katwijk

landscaper, electrician, mason and deck builder all involved in a deck project.

One of the big frustrations that I deal with each time I build a deck is obtaining the various components for the deck. Currently, I am forced to deal with many different suppliers. Often I have to special order what I need and wait for it to arrive. It would save a lot of time if I could find a lumberyard that had it all!

A second frustration is that some of the materials I receive are discolored, scratched, split or warped. This eats time, as I must either send it back or fix it. Deck building is outdoor finish carpentry. The materials need to be handled as such.

Although 807o of the national decking market is pressure-treated southern pine, in my area (the wet side of Washington state), composites rule. Composites tend to perform better than wood in this moist climate and require less maintenance. Do you know what the deck builders in your area are building with?

There is an ever increasing array of decking materials to choose from. Besides the wide variety of both domestic and tropical woods, deck builders and their clients can choose from aluminum, stone, concrete, vinyl, and composite decking. New to the wood decking market are Siberian larch and imports from both China and Russia. Composites cunently capture l57o of the national market share, and all indicators point to continuing increases.

The standard composite decking board is a solid pastel color (yellow, red, brown or gray) and sports a stylized, repeating, roller-embossed graining pattern. These mimic wood decking the same way vinyl or cement siding mimic wood siding. Some manufacturers have compression deePembossed graining. Others use twotone color to give a look of graining.

The possibilities in decking are so numerous, lumberyards cannot possibly carry them all. However, there is a logical way to weed through the assortment. Find out what the deck builders in your area are building with and cater to their needs. As a deck builder, I often think how nice it would be if I could stop in at my local lumberyard and find everything I need already in stock. This would include at least two brands of composite decking, a couple types of railing systems, matching fascia, trim and lattice, fasteners and hidden fastening systems, flashing, and end-cut solution. It would also be nice if they would do take-offs for deck builders the way they do for home builders.

There is opportunity for lumber(Please turn to page 77)

A FTER years of decorating the la.interior of their homes. many people are turning their energy outside to create outdoor spaces for relaxing and entertaining. This shift reflects a new lifestyle-outdoor living-that extends beyond a home's traditional walls.

"We've seen a big trend in consumers moving the indoors out," said Carolyn Sollis, style director at House & Garden magazine. "People want to create true living spaces outdoors. so they're looking at dining tables, seating, outdoor fabrics, bars, grills, kitchens, even tableware. They want accessories that not only reflect their personal style, but require minimal upkeep."

For an ideal outdoor living environment. homeowners first consider the