Millwork Outlook Good

Nearly 500 millwork producers and members of the National Sash & Door Jobbers Association. who attended nine recent regional meetings, generally agreed that 1978 will be a banner business year.

NSDJA is comprised of more than 350 millwork and building products wholesale distribution centers located in 42 states. These jobbers cover 8Vo of America's population.

Although the executives were concemed about possible shortages of lumber products, rising interest rates and increased prices, most severe of which has been pine mouldings, they were optimistic that sales would be up for the entire year.

The first two months of 1978 were strong and, despite a slower March, April was impressive. First quarter activity coincided with NSDJA's "Comparative Sales Performance" study of 160 warehouses, in which the national median for total sales in January jumped nearly 22% over 1977. Sales for the first three months of this year werc up 16%.

Producers of pine, fir and steel doors announced early gains, with the latter reportedly enjoying 4Vo of the exterior door openings market. A number of steel door firms and millwork producers have been expanding and opening new facilities.

On the negative side, moulding producers spoke of poor lumber yields with some switching to fir. There also were indications that the supply of vertical grain fir shop is diminishing and that stair parts were in slow supply. In addition, the glass situation is tight which has particularly affected door-lite producers.

Not The Same

1, They're "log studs". precision sawn from small HEMLOCK and DOUG FIR logs with smallknot structures.

2. Excellently manufactured.

3. enO painted-stencil indicates trim size.

4. w"ll packaged to Insure good _ yarding.

C. Select structural and #1are left in stud grade.

6. Graae $amp easaly legible.