How to treat treated lumber right

ECAUSE treated lumber is strong and durable, dealers sometimes forget that it needs proper handling and storage to prevent yard loss and customer complaints.

Both treated and untreated wood can have dimensional change. Bending, twisting, bowing and cupping result from stresses occurring within wood as it dries down to the moisture level of the environment. Freshly cut lumber contains a high degree of moisture which evaporates into the air, shrinking the wood in both width and length.

Even though seasoned before the pressure treating process, lumber as it is impregnated with preservative solution again becomes full of moisture. After processing, treated lumber can be kiln dried (KDAT) to 150/o or 190/o moisture content or treated as green lumber. The grade and quality marks are indicators of its final moisture content.

However, like any lumber, treated lumber is vulnerable to surface stresses caused by changes in moisture content. Stacks of lumber exposed to rain or excessive sun and wind may develop checks, splits and grain raising.

"Although there is no way known to eliminate warping completely, you can minimize it by balancing the drying of your stock," advises Huck DeVenzio, Hickson Corp. "Don't allow your lumber to dry out and make sure all sides dry evenly."

Proper storage can keep pressure treated stock in prime condition. An open, well ventilated shed with pro- tection from direct sunlight is the best environment for lumber, treated or untreated. Paper wrapped bundles also provide protection against moisture and sunlight.

Dead packs of lumber (banded without stickers) are best kept wrapped or covered out of the sun and wind. If these are allowed to stand unprotected in the yard, the topside will dry out faster than the bottomside, causing problems.

Air is able to circulate around the lumber in shipments separated by stickers. Shielding the top layer from the sun or turning the top pieces occasionally will even out the drying, DeVenzio advises.

Wood that has been pressure treated with a water repellent as well as a preservative tends to warp less. Because it absorbs and releases moisture at a slower rate than conventional treated wood, the drying proceeds more evenly and warping is less likely to occur.

In humid climates, even lumber under cover can be affected by the growth of mold. While not harmful to the performance of treated wood, the resulting discoloration and odor can make the wood undesirable to customers. The problem can be alleviated by specifying pressure treated wood with a mold inhibitor, an inexpensive additive.

Fire retardant treated plywood and lumber should be stored inside under dry conditions with no exposure to rain, according to Glenn W. Wilson, manager, technical services, Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. It is usually shipped with a waterproof cover which should be kept on as protection against rain until it is under cover at the job site. Tarps also can be used to protect fire retardant treated wood from rain.

Story at a Glance

Why proper handling and storage incrcases profits, cuts customer complaints. .. how trcated wood, FRTW degrades in sun, rain, wind... necommendations for keeping inventory in top shape.

Pressure treated lumber stacked in the yard or racked in the store needs to be kept neat and orderly. Broken bundles scattered by customers handpicking boards should be tidied regularly. Inventories are best turned quickly with first in first out.

Charts explaining quality marks, preservative retention levels and recommended uses are displayed by many dealers in the treated section. Some add signs identifying the manufacturer and guarantees. Consumer Infiormation Sheets also should be posted as part of the industry's Consumer Awareness Program.

Southern Forest Products Association, P.O. Box 52468, New Orleans, La. 70152, has lumber storage literature and a pressure treated wood poster available to help retailers. Posters and CAP literature are available from the American ll/ood Preservers Institute, 1945 Old Gallows Rd., Suite 550. Vienna. Va. 22182 -editor.

The lumber business demands orderly, efficient and safe storage of many sizes, shapes and grades of wood. For Jones Lumber and Jones Wholesale Lumber that meant helo from Sammons & Sons.

"Sammons has been in the material handling business for nearly as long as we've been selling lumber. As our business grew, we knew that more efficient storage was the answer to space planning and inventory control,"

.,,i;..."".] states Rod Jones, president of Jones Lumber.

"But more importantly, the organization of our lines has given us a new perspective on inventory control. By separating each product by manufacturer, as well as individual type/grade, we can immediately verify visually stock on hand for those emergencies that pop up so often at the last moment."

"Sammons has had a sionificant

,t":* -6 ,*4 impact on our material handling needs. We would recommend their products and expertise highly." llt ITH the current money lU crunch, many suppliers have become involuntary lenders to builder and remodeler customers.

Whether it's cantilever racks, pallet storage, box storage or any other material handling need, Sammons can design a system for you. For over fifty years Sammons has been the name you can rest your reputation on.

Sammons.,, Value lor Ameilca's lndustry.

Credit experts warn that with fewer jobs to bid and more competitive pricing, builders accustomed to working on "the float" will stop paying and go out of business. In addition, they caution dealers to be prepared for good customers becoming slow pays. Excuses for not paying on time will include delayed invoices, missing paperwork and a client who has not paid for work done.

Establishing an effective accounts receivable strategy is important, they point out. Credit limits and collection policies must be predetermined. Salespeople must share the responsibility for collections and credit problems.

"Motivate the sales force to screen potential customers carefully," suggests a tough credit manager. "Charging back their commissions on uncollectible accounts is an excellent incentive."

Credit applications should be received from all new customers. With trade references, net worth, financial condition and history, credit managers can better judge the applicant and establish suitable credit boundaries.

Effective credit practices include refusing to ship to past due accounts until they make arrangements with the credit department to pay the past due balance.

"Although we don't place limits on our accounts," a credit manager said, "we hold orders until arrangements for payment are made, even if they are as little as one day past due. This gets a customer into the paying habit."

Flagging accounts when they are within 100/o of their credit limit and reviewing them every day helps some credit offices stay on top of receivables. Notes and a personal guarantee from an officer in the company is an acceptable payment solution for some dealers. Finance charges also may be charged on overdue accounts, but they must comply with state laws.

Never accept a post dated check is the recommendation of a seasoned credit pro. "What we do is take a deposit check and hold it until a date agreed upon between us and the customer, never longer than one week. That way we have a check in hand, not one in the mail."