New directions in treated wood

BY ALFRED X. BAXTER presidenl J. H. Boxter & Co.

rftHE growth possibilities for pres- I sure treated wood in the next five years exist through increased marketing of both the preservative' lv treated and fire retardant treated product through today's wholesale and retail distribution system of lumber and building materials deal' ers.

Our forecast is based on Products such as the All Weather Wood Foundation. This system, which recognizes wood treated with coPPer arsenic formulations as a Permanent building material, was developed by the National Forest Products Assn., the American \Vood Preservers In' stitute and the marketing branch of the U.S. Forest Service in coopera' tion with the National Assn. of Home Builders. The systern replaces concrete in home foundations and has the following advantages:

(I) In experimental houses built under FHA supervision, foun' dation cost savings were $280 per house.

(2) The savings in construction time were 50 man'hours Per house.

(3) The system can be built Year around in cold climates.

(4) Basement walls can be Pre' fabricated.

(5) Only one construction trade, carpenters, is required at the job site.

(6) The system can be used for both basement and crawl sPace homes.

(7) Since wood has a low rate of thermal conductivity, basernent areas are easier to heat and

Sfory qt d Glonce

Growth for treated wood Products and systems can best come through increased stockins of products by dealers . ariple'profit posdibilities exist in ihe irew products described in this article.

cool. Basements remain drY be' cause of a positive drainage system.

(8) Builders report it is easier to finish basement walls and at' tach components when using the treated wood sYstem. The system has FIIA and Farm' ers Horne Administration approval. 'l'his recognition of wood as a Per' manent building material will en' hance markets for treaters and deal' ers in many other waYs.

The most recent develoPment with an excellent growth potential is an exterior, non-leachable fire retar' dant treatment. This permits the use of beautiful Western Red Cedar shakes and shingles in areas where untreated wood is not Permitted. When exterior fire retardant treated shakes and shingles are used alone, the result is a Class "C" roof. If the same shakes and shingles are ap' plied as described in instructions included with the roofing, the result is a Class "B" roof assemblY.

The exterior treatment can also be applied to lumber and PlYwood and carry the same FR'S rating from Underwriters l,aboratories, Inc. as the interior treatments. The exterior treatment is recommended whenever wood is to be exPosed to the weather and in areas of high hu' midity.

The major portion of growth oP' portunities for wood preserYers are in products with profit opportunities {or dealers. We need dealers stock' ing treated lumber so it is more readily available. Let's hope we can get together and ring the cash regis' ter more o{ten.