Tfimming trim costs

\/ALUE-ADDED millwork prod-

Y ucts such as orefinished doors and embossed mouidings may be initially higher priced, but save money in the long run.

Copus. "The prefinished door requests from one dealer are at least double from a year before, even though the dealer's door business overall is down 20 to 3OEo."

The demand carries from prefinished doors to coordinated prefinished mouldings, since a standard house features 100 feet of trim for every door. "If we double our prefinished

Prefinished Wood l$ouldings

door orders, then we'd feasibly do another 10 million feet of trim for the extra 100,000 doors," Copus projects.

Embossed millwork features the appearance of a higher-priced species pressed into its surface. Sometimes, manufacturers utilize fingerjointed poplar or another substrate, embossing it to look like oak then finishing to match name-brand door skins.

In addition to staining and top coating, fingerjointed millwork also requires a fill or base coat to cover color variation and joints in the substrate.

Prefinished millwork, while seemingly priced higher than unfinished millwork, actually provides cost-savings for the installer. Even after dealer mark-up, a builder reportedly can buy a prefinished door for about half the cost of paying a painter to finish it on site. And the typical new home features between l2 and 25 doors.

The builder also can bring the house to market quicker since the painter doesn't have to be scheduled.

Because it's finished in a more controlled environment, a prefinished door is typically more uniform in color and finish, and often smoother due to more sanding.

"Prefinished doors relieve a lot of headaches for the builder," says Jim Copus, president and owner of Madison Pre-Hung Doors & PreFinishing, Oregon, Wi.

In 12 months, Madison Pre-Hung recently doubled its output of prefinished doors. "We used to do 3OVo finished doors and'70Vo raw. Now it's 807o finished and 20Vo raw." savs

{a sampling of sources)

American lllilharork Corp. Elkhart,In.

Roland Boulanger & Co. Ltd.

Warwick, Quebec

Contast Lumber Co.

Portland, Or.

Dunbar Doors & Millwork

Snohomish. Wa,

Fibreform Wood Products

Rocklin, Ca.

Glen Oak Lumber & Milling

Montello, Wi.

Lianga Pacific, Inc.

Tacoma, Wa.

Marley Mouldings ltfrrB Wood Group Inc. lrving, Tx. lfilosdlands Milhrork, Ltd.

Marion, Va.

Prefi nished ilillwork Corp.

Middelton, \M.

The Woodlands, Tx.

Embossed mouldings are common1y used in motels and apartments. Demand for oak look-alike mouldings depends on the particular market and the economy. "If the building industry is trying to cut costs and embossed is half the price of another product, then embossed usage goes up and oak goes down," Copus explains. "Otherwise, a difference of a couple thousand dollars is enough to throw some people out of the housing market."

Embossed Wood Mouldings

(a sampling of sources)

Accra Wood Products

Burnaby, B.C.

Glen Oak Lumber & Milling Montello, Wi.

Prefinished Millwork Corp.

Middelton, Wi.

White River Hardwoode

Fayetteville, Af,, p ORN and raised to prominence in I-lthe immediate post-World War II era, today's major lockset companies have undergone a significant transformation during the past several years due to a changing marketplace. In studying how manufacturers have tweaked their hardware lines in terms of price, style, function and finish, Harloc's Jeff Kates sees five trends:

(l) Focus. Hardware manufacturers have come to rely more and more heavily on particular distribution channels such as builders, remodelers or consumer-oriented home centers. To carve out a niche, many manufacturers concentrate their resources on providing new product development, service programs and distribution programs customized for a single channel of distribution.

(2) Finish. One major concern for new construction builders, which is prompted by changing consumer preferences, is high performance finish and finish durability. Although a variety of different colors and textures of locksets are popular in Europe, Americans continue to prefer polished brass. And, due to a constant attack by perspiration, salt, heat, rain and humidity, polished brass tends to pit, tarnish and discolor. The challenge for manufacturers has been to produce a bright brass product that stands up to these assaults. Lockset makers have developed more durable finish processes and provide extended warranties.

In the past, a lacquer or clear coat process was popular. Todan most manufacturers use advanced powder coating technology or vacuum deposition to improve finish durability.

When researching finishes, consider the end use. Hardware for a seaside home will require a much stronger and perhaps more costly finish than a home in a more temperate climate.

(3) Regulations. Since 1992, all construction and remodeling professionals have been required to address the Americans with Disabilities Act. The chief aim of the ADA is to provide individuals with disabilities equal opportunity and access to "public" accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services. and telecommunications. Both new and existing buildings must now comply with these requirements.

With l3Vo of the national population, or 34 million people, over the age of 65 and an additional 76 million baby boomers turning 50 last year, market- ing professionals have found that they not only comply with the ADA, but also generate sales since the increased functionality of these products appeals to these consumer segments. In the lockset industry, for instance, much energy has been devoted to the development of levers because they serve dual purposes. They address ADA requirements, but can also be showcased for their ease of use and decorative appeal. There has been a marked increase in consumer preference for levers over the traditional knob desien.

Many manufacturers

concentrate their resources on a single channel of distribution.

(4) Security. An increasingly important concern when purchasing or installing residential hardware is its security rating. Home security has been a growing public concern, causing demand for additional security features to skyrocket. Many homeowners are investing in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Grade 2, light commercial products to benefit from additional security features.

FBI statistics show that a prowler enters a home every 1l seconds and project that one in three homes will be robbed in the next 20 years. And according to the National Crime Prevention Institute, the most econom- ical countermeasure the homeowner can deploy is to install good hardware on their homes and make sure the existing locks on both doors and windows are being used on a regular basis.

Furthermore, the average age of homes is getting older-over 26 years-and many of these homes still have their original doors, windows and hardware. Experts recommend examining the hardware on those homes. They may be outmoded and in need of replacement with newer products. But security doesn't end with door locksets. Doors, windows and jambs must be solid and strong in order for the homeowner to maintain the highest level of home security.

To meet the need for increased security, high security features are a must in the product mix of most major manufacturers. Harloc's deadbolt locks, for instance, include reinforced cylinder casting, an anti-pry rotating cylinder guard, an all-steel latch, and solid brass cylinder assembly.

(5) Installation. In today's "I need it done yesterday" society, quick and easy installation is essential. The faster the hardware can be installed, the sooner builders can meet deadlines. Efficient installation maximizes both productivity and profitability.

Management courses often teach that if a step in a process is not valueadded, then that step should be taken out. Consequently, manufacturers are continuously trying to remove complex and time-consuming steps from the installation of all hardware.