Contrqctors Demund Better Studs.

Consistent Quolity

Wc rtnclerstancl that prof'cssionul btrilclcrs \\'on't llLrl Lrp u ith inlcriol stLrcl pxrrlucts.-l'hc1 cun't aflirlcl tol In rllcler to be plocluctilc ancl plof itablc. sLrcccssful br.riklcls look lirr cun sistcnt pclfbrnrancc anrl clturlit,t in thcir lruilcling matelials. That's ri hy 1'ou cilu coturt on Rosboro to deliver a cluality stLrd rlrocluct.

A (omplete Product line

Rosboro r.ron has u strrcl till cl'cry rcsidcrrtiul altltlication in tltc specie s that fits brrilclcrs' ncccls. Orrl plocluct line nou irtcltrclcs thc tilllow ing in all conrbinutions: r ?x.l artd 116 r Douglas lrir anrl Hcrnlock Fir' r Gleen ancl Dlv r Lcncths of 8'. c)' & l0 (AIl Trirns) r WWI)A sraclc tluclcrnalk

Whatcvcr thc applicirtion. u'c'vc got thc stucl to clo tlre.job.

A Supplier You Cqn Trusl

Snrall enough to gir,'e you thc atte ntion )ioll \\'Ant. Ilosboro is largc cnoLrgh to sr.rpport our pr-oducts n ith a knorvlcclgcablc salcs artd nranufactufing teanr as ri'cil irs un crpclicncccl traffic r.nanugcr clcdicatccl to rreetinq dentanding traffic ncccls.

Rosboro Studs lf vou valuc stmng partncrships rv ith youl sr-ryrltlicrs anrl your cr.lstonte rs arc indeccl cle nrancling bettcl stucl proclrrcts. ruct no\v - call Rosbrllo.

Sowing l3 Weslsm State3, Includlng AIa3ka and llewall

(Sistet puAication Building prcduds Digest seryes the East)

PUBLISHER Alan Oakes (ajoakes@aol.com)

PUBLISHER EMERITUS David Cutler EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig @ building-products.com)

ASSOCIATE EDIT0R Karen Debats (kdebats@ building-products.com)

CONTFIBUTING EDITORS Dwight Cunan, Carla Waldemar, Roy Burleson

AD SALES MANAGER ChucK Casev (ccasey@ building-productd.com)

CIRCULATION Heather Kellv (hkelly@ building-pioducts.com)

ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR/SECRETARY Marie Oakes (mfpoakes@aol.com)

How to Advertise

Conlact our advertising oftices for rates:

WEST, MIDWEST, SOUTHEAST: Chuck Casey, Newport Beach, Ca.; (949) 852-1990; Fax 949852{231 ; Email ccasey@building-products.com

NORTHEAST: Paul Mummolo (N.J.); (732) 8998102: Fax 732-899-2758'. Email mummoloo@ comcasl.net

How to Subscribe

Contact Heather at (949) 852-1990

U.S.:1 year(12 issues), $18; 2years, $30; 3 years, $40

FOREIGN (Per year paid in advance in US funds): $45 for Canada and Mexico, $60 for all other countries; Air rates also available.

SINGLE COPIES: $4 + shipping; Back issues (when available), $5 + shipping www,building-products.com r f r r

Thinking of choosing comPos':" ?: plastic deckingl See how it comPares to"W"*"tn Red Cedar in these key areas:

Real ComPosite Cedar Decking

* d d d d d d

1I rt rt c fl f, f, TT (l rt

Mold and mildew resistant

UnsurPassed natural beautY

Made from renewable resources

Naturally resistant to decay and insects

Contains no petroleum based Products

Best value for the dollar

Allows for easy cleanup of accidental spills ls'lightweight and easy to work with

Stays coolto the touch in the summer heat

Centuries of Proven Performance

ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@ao1.com

Buy green! But when?

In recent months, press coverage of the green building revolution has become a juggernaut. Every magazine and newspaper seems to have a story every other day.

It is a trend I have been following for the last few years. But as with any trend, the question always to be asked is, when does it start becoming mainstream as opposed to an interest of a few? When is it the time to jump in? My sense is that times are a-changing. Green building is no longer seen as a passing fad or a domain ruled by eco-terrorists. Green building is now a standard building practice.

Once seen as experimental and impractical, studies now show that there are many advantages both on the manufacturing and standard of living sides. By incorporating energy and water-efficient technologies, and using healthier paint, products and building materials that meet green building guidelines, I have no doubt that homes built green really do improve our quality of life. And, I trust that home both buyers and remodelers would like to use environmental products in homes.

But I am also a great believer that the mass market has not been prepared to pay the higher price-real or imagined-one has associated with buying green. Consumers speak out of both sides of their mouths regarding what they say they want and what they are willing to pay for. They are generally poles apart. Just as telling, even if they were prepared to pay more for green products, they probably have no idea where to find them. I just do not see these products marketed or available in my local area to make it easy to make that choice. I am also concerned about a number of companies that are touting their products as "green." Who really knows?

A recent study forecast the percentage of new homes with eco-friendly features will rise from 2Vo in 2005 to as much as lOVo in 2010. While good news, what does it mean? Perhaps that 99Vo of the products used in these houses will still not be green? The problem is if you give people a choice of price points-especially when making the most expensive purchase of their lives (their house)-they will generally take the low-priced option. When there are a hundred upgrades to select from that all add cost, buyers will choose what they need and benefit from now (e.g., a spiffy granite counter over an energy efficient washer/dryer).

For example, while it is estimated that it costs only about one half of I7o more to build an average house using wood harvested under FSC guidelines, I understand most builders cannot get buyers to trade up. Can you really afford those energy-efficient solar panel systems for your new house when you need to furnish that new house?

So the issue for me is that until builders are forced to use green materials they will not. But I think that is what will gradually happen. Local authorities are now pushing green by implementing stricter building codes. Then as usage and volumes increase, the price differentials will disappear.

Product categories first to become mainstream will be those that can be proven to save consumers money. I have been greatly impressed with products that drive down the energy in homes by 30Vo or more. My home air-conditioning system is 20 years old and I am sure really inefficient, and I don't have a new tankless water heater along with an energy-efficient washer/dryer. I would love a new house with all these features, along with a satellite-controlled sprinkler system. In fact if we have all this technology today, why are manufacturers still producing energy-inefficient products? It makes no sense to me.

In my opinion, there are probably a number of options that should not be optional. Builders should then promote these green features and differentiate themselves from the competition, especially during the cunent tough market. It doesn't mean every material will be green. It will be a start.

When I travel and see palm trees and vineyards growing in the U.K., see the last glacier in Germany disappearing, and see the impact of rising temperatures here, then it is time to start protecting our environment sensibly. Any steps that we as a community can take to help,I hope we will.

Ph:510.793.3838

Fox 5l 0./93.7265 soles@osbornelumber.com

P.S. For those of you righfully confused by several words in last month's editorial ("Where Do We Go From Here," p.8), due to a computer snafu, the word "june" was substituted throughout the article for "may." Reread it now that you know the secret code and the article actually makes tenific sense (especially the word "junebe"). Ma-v apologies!

IF YOU DON T USE THE RIGHT TRIM THE FIRST TIME, YOUR'WHOLE HOUSE IS VULNERABLE.

Trrer's wHY wE ENGTNEERED LP SrvrenrSror rRrM wrrH ouR SuantGuanoe zrNc BoaATE TREATMENT TIIAT HETPS PREVENT I'LAKING, WEATHERING AND DECAY. Arvo rr You usE SuantSror tnru FIRST, YOU CAN REST EASY KNOWING TIIAT YOUR GOOD-LOOI(ING HOME wrLL srAY LooKrNG GooD. Wn'nn ror EXPECTING ANY TROPHIES FOR IT. BUT WE DO EXPECT HOMES TO STAND STRONG FOR YEARS TO COME.

THan s wrrer wr oo.'Wu rrnaxr TIIE PRODUCTS TIIAT BIJILD TEE HOMES, SIMPLY BNTTER.