Adapting to drought and deluge

tTt"t wEATHER LATELY has been weird and wild, but get I used to it. It's the new normal. Climate scientists tell us that weather extremes will be more common and that long-term patterns are shifting.

This doesn't just make the weather report on the evening news more interesting. Consider, for example, that shifting rainfall patterns can affect water supplies, livelihoods, and lifestyles. Some communities are facing drought-or worse-for the first time in living memory. Some places are seeing much more rain, and some are getting their rain or snow sooner or later in the season. Any of these changes can cause big problems for communities who fail to adapt.

This is where dealers can come to the rescue. Changing weather patterns, whether drought or deluge, create opportunities to do good for your community and your business.

For starters, educate yourself about water issues in your areas of operation. If you're in a community already affected, you may already be aware of local and regional rainfall patterns and water supplies. If not, there are good resources online, such as www.noaa.com.

Second, build your expertise in those mitigation and adaptation strategies your community needs. In a drought? Look into rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling systems, high-efficiency toilets, even composting toilets. (Believe it or not, collecting the rain that falls on your roof is illegal in some places, and residential greywater systems are not approved in all communities.) Read Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands & Beyond by Brad Lancaster, one of the nation's leading experts, then share it with your staff.

If your community faces periodic deluge and flooding, there are short-term mitigation and longer term adaptations to evaluate, too. For example, in West Coast urban areas facing huge El Nifro storms, rain barrels can help reduce the runoff that overwhelms storm sewer systems. Softening urban hard surfaces and hardscaping to allow for "slowing, spreading, and sinking" of rainfall, also reduces runoff and recharges aquifers. Permeable pavers, anyone?

For flooding, dry flood-proofing measures and elevation may be viable short-term strategies for dealing with periodic flood risks in some instances. However, flood mitigation is a complicated legal and technical domain-do your homework before diving in.

Once you and your key staff are prepared, start building stock and services around the solutions best suited for your community. Water conservation measures inside the home might be one category that works in every part of the country. And nearly all toilet manufacturers offer high efficiency toilets, but have a look at Niagara Conservation (www.niagaraconservation.com). They make it easy to source a range of water-saving devices, including their ultra high efficiency Stealth .08-gpf toilet.

I'm also a big fan of greywater recycling. It's still early days for residential systems, and most solutions are do it yourself or "green it yourself' projects, but this presents a wonderful merchandising opportunity. Pull all the right components into a robust display, along with the right tools, some books, and related products. Check out www.greywateraction.org for ideas.

And catching the rain-it's a no-brainer for many regions of the country. The key component is storage. The most innovative solution I've seen is RainTechnologies' RainSpace. It's flexible, capacious, and low cost.

These kinds of solutions may require some thinking outside the box and a little extra effort. But they can earn LEED credits for your green builders, conserve water, and improve quality of life in your community. You'll be doing wellby doing good.

Jay TomPt Managing Partner William Verde & Associates (415) 321-0848

He's worried. And he should be. The SilvaStar@ guarantee means only the very best wood makes the grade - no exceptions. We're so confident in the high quality, performance and great look of our primed fascia that no matter what topcoat you choose, we'll extend our warranty to meetit. callusatoM264-6015. HIGH-PERF0RMANCE W00D FASCIA

Oregon's Lumber Products Files Chapter 11

Lumber Products, Tualatin, Or., has filed to reorganize under Chapter I 1 bankruptcy protection.

Founded in 1938, the wholesaler operates DCs in six western states, as well as importer Dansu International, Tualatin.

Barr Closes in Apple Valley

Barr Lumber, San Bernardino, Ca., held a liquidation sale and closed its 17-year-old store in Apple Valley, Ca., on April 13, blaming a poor economy.

Barr was renting the 23000-sq. ft. space on 3.1 acres, which was purchased two years ago by a private investor. Barr continues to operate three stores.

Sterling Adds Colorado Yard

Sterling Lumber & Investment, Westminster, Co., opened a new location March 26 in South Fork. Co.. at a site formerly occupied by ProBuild.

"Folks will see familiar faces when they come to buy goods here, because our employees were employed here when it was ProBuild," said Jim Gudenkauf, v.p. of Sterling Lumber. "All of our employees live in Rio Grande County, primarily in South Fork."

Operating as South Fork Lumber, the new yard is Sterling's eleventh retail yard in Colorado.

"Usually the company buys out existing stores, so starting from scratch was a little more time-consuming for us, but we are right on track," said James Stephens, who serves as general manager.

New Mexico Stores Renamed Roswell Lumber Co. has given its two retail yards-Roswell Do it Center, Roswell, N.M., and Artesia Do it Center. Artesia. N.M.-a new name: Builders Do it Centers.

"Our history has always been one of change, innovation, and growth," said Bruce Ellis, president and c.e.o. of parent Roswell Lumber, founded in 1902. "We wanted our brand to reflect that bright past and help us be ready for a brighter future."

Both locations were extensively remodeled and re-merchandised. Two new websites were also launched: www.builderdoitcenter.com and www.buildersknowledge.com.

The company also operates Overhead Door of Southeast New Mexico and RLC Supply & Logistics.

Composite, Plastic Lumber Leads Decking Rebound

U.S. demand for wood-plastic composite and plastic lumber is projected to rise 13.ZVo per year from $2.9 billion to $5.4 billion by 20L5, according to a new Freedonia Group study.

Percentage growth will be driven by a rebound in construction expenditures from a depressed 2010 base.

Composite lumber demand will grow l6Vo annually to $2.5 billion in 2015, while plastic will increase nearly ll%o annually to $2.8 billion.

Because composites incorporate recycled materials, they are often viewed as environmentally friendlier. Gains for plastics will be spurred by heightened consumer interest in its low maintenance properties, and manufacturers' efforts to create plastic lumber varieties with more realistic woodgrain textures and surfaces.

l-;'=;w'

Many lumber dealers are seeing their annual d6ck DeckTools@ software. The program is simple to learn L dealers can design a deck in a few minutes, ket ffi| is customizable and includes many'brand-ntme which makes it easy to show and sell upgrades that you takes care of all the paperwork with quotes, takeotfs and plam.

DeckTools makes it easy to deliver more deck sales. Leam how for a free demonstration at www.strongtie.com/decKools or (8r

By fames Olan Hutcheson