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Home lmprovement Sales Up

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Preliminary figures released by the Home Improvement Research Institute show 1992 home improvement product sales at $106 billion, a 5.27o incrcase over 1991.

Consumer sales increased 5.84o to $73.2 billion while sales to professional remodelers rose 3.6Vo to $32.8 billion. Data are exclusive of labor for professional services and new construction figures. Based on these estimates, the home improvement product market will ouperfonn retailing in general.

Projections for 1993 estimate the total home improvement product ruuket at $115.4 billion, 8.97o higher than 1992. The consumer market is expected to reach $78.8 billion, a7.lVo growth, and the professional segment $36.6 billion, a ll.S%o growth.

Annual San Diego Awards

The San Diego Lumber Association presented seven cash awards to students from architecture classes at Southwestern, Mesa and Cuyamaca Community Colleges in is 27th annual architectural design competition.

A $500 first place, $300 second place, three $100 honorable mentions and a $300 graphic presentation award were made at a May 26 awards dinner. Winning projects were displayed to the public at Dixieline Lumber, La Mes4 Ca., May22.

"The competition, which integrates lunber and wood products, gives the studenB the opportunity to study the structural and aesthetic values of the different species of lumber," said Clyde Jennings, vice president of both J&W Redwood and the association. Henry Garnjobst, Jr., president, Helix Wholesale Co., is executive director of SDLA.

Environmental lssue Seminar

The Hardwood Council will sponsor a booth and present a seminar on "The Envhonmental State of North Anerican Hardwood Forests" at the American Institute of Architects Expo, June 18-20 in Chicago, Il.

Answering concerns about the envinrnmental impacts of wood products, hardwood spokespersons will assurc attendees from around the world that wood used in buildings is ecologically corect, structurally secure, cost efficient, safe and beautiful.

Dixieli ne Forecast Meeti ng

An authoritative look at the industry's future was provided at a conference sponsored by Dixieline Lumber Co. of San Diego, Ca, in conjunction with Weyerhaeuser Co. and Trus Joist MacMillan.

Problems in Douglas fir lumber supply and other western species as well as market conditions and other factors affecting price and supply were covered by Dan Kearin, Weyerbaeuser vice president of sales and narketing. Tom Devlin. Trus Joist MacMillan division manager, outlined the bright future of engineered wood. Eighty-yearold Dixietne is Trus Joist MacMillan's largest customer in the U.S.

More than 300 contractors and 80 Dixieline staffers attended the April20 meeting at the Hilton Mission Valley Hotel, San Diego.

Because of the huge success of the gathering, Dixieline president William S. Cowling II said similar meetings are likely for the future.

Founded in 1913, the Southern California company is currently celebrating its 80th year in business.

BANNEB TURNOUT for industry confersnce sponsored by (1) Dixieline Lumber Co., San Diego, Ca. (2) (l-0 Dixieline builders conlrol fund's Cathv Osbero and Mofl Stanlev, manager. (3) Dixielineblassics Collectioris div.

manager Jess Hall, Shuon Sale, Kathy Zucker. (4) John Enerva, corporate merchandiserbuilding materials. (5) Dan Kearin, v.p.-sales & mhg.,-Weyerhaeuser. (5) Guests enjoy the buffet dinner.

CLOUDY skies and rain didnt bother the 150 cuslomem and guests aflendinq Diablo Timber's second annual open houseind qolf tournament in Napa, Ca. -(1)Joel Hamei, Robeit Hanis, Ben Cassinerio. (2) Rick Zazlove, Jim Robeils, Jimmy Zazlove, hick Roberts.' (g) Lonoll Wall, Chris Malstrom, Steve Pozo. l4l Woody Woodlief, Hank Klevn-Schoorel. Johri Kammerer. (5) Bob Handegard, Pete Beineke. (5) Alan Boyd, Julie Wriqhl. (7) John Souza. Bill Blachreill, After playino qof on ADdl 23 ai the Chardonnay Club, leildrs from'northern and soulhern California, Nevada and Oreoon tourod the mill which proce$e6 180,Cr00 bi of westem soflwood species per day, specializino in redwood, accordinq lo owners'Rich Favreai and Cassinerio. -

Prodigy Adds Treated Forum

To combat inaccurate information about treated wood being exchanged on the Prodigy Homelife computer bulletin board, Jerry Harke, AWPI manager of public affairs, has worked with the service to set up a subject area called "Treated Wood Expefts."

Found under both "Garden" and "Building and Home Repair" categories, it provides an opportunity for those in the industry to answer consumer questions about pfessure Eeated wood. Harke has already had elec- tronic dialogue with several consumers, using material from AWPI's new "Answetrs to Often Asked Questions" book as a sour@.

"Everyone in the wood preserving industry who has a computer, modem and the proper software needs to get on all of the bulletin boards on a routine basis to answer questions," he said.

CompuServe and On-Line America also offer gardening forums where the public can exchange infonnation on ureated wood.