Vacations shouldn't mean work

lrr L.isure homes. the selection of matt:ritrls rcquiring the least maintenance is especiallr. important. With Palco redwood "lcisrtrc woorl." natural bcauty is not sac. rifict'd to get a maintcnance-free surface for siding. trim, dcck and patio materials.

Palco of{ers the followins on how to "takc a vacalion from staining and painting." Let tlre redwood exteriors age to a driftrvood gray with no finish of any kind. A coat of watcr repellcnt, factorl applicd" provides a buckskin tan color upon aging maintained by ot:casional application o{ water repellants. For immediate driftll'ood color, a one time application of bleaching oil is recommended or it can be staincd any color.

An advantage of redwood is that any time during the life of the builtlitrg it can be stained. restained or paintcrl. 'iFini.h- ability" can be particularly important at resale time.

Palco-Ply redwood plywood combines advantages of redwood with plywood panel sizes. Popular clear heart saw-textured panel has a knot free, heartwood face with a rough-sawn texture and factory applied, clear water repellent. This panel catr i"rv" as both siding and sheathing, or can be applied over any type of sheathing.

A wide range of face patterns are made: plain face; textured l:11 with grooves spaced 4." or 8", or a combination oI 4r, and 12"; invcrted batten with 1t/rn wide grooves spaced I2". Thicknesses are gftl for plain Iaces, 5,/"t' for grooved patterns. Lengths are B'.9' and 10,.

Besides clear hcart. Palco has select saw-textured grade, combining redwood with the economy of facc u"n""r. that include saprvood and filled knot holes. In addition to saw-textured surface. a wire bruslred surface is availablc.

Palco redwood "leisurc wood" siding, pancling and trim includcs bevel sidings and t & g vee-joinr l-'oth sides. Thcie products have a special saw-textured surface on one sidc, the other side surfaced.

Redwood is unique in that it combines minimum maintenance, natural beautv and .conomy. ll,'dwood keeps its shape and the building stays tight despite extreme weather_ changes and {requent unoccupied periorls of vucation lromes_

fhof's How lt Goesl

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"Where do you want this Iightweight plywood?"

IHE A,TERCHANI MAGAZ'NE f,i fr

Hardwood is a fast seller for dealers

TTIHILE HARDWOODS seem to be a W logical item for building materials dealers to sell, most have felt that they should be stocked only in sufficient quantities and varieties to satisfy the needs of their builder customers.

And, when Cooper Lumber Co. opened their block-square, self-service store in West Los Angeles, the decision was made that little, if any, hardwoods should be included in the inventory. Priority was given to paneling decorative doors, tools, patio furniture and other specialty items witl good demand and a full mark-up.

But, each department has to pay its way, and Dan Blufi, manager of the inside lumber department, wanted something difierent than the ordinary softwoods to keep his average up. He became aware that custo. mers seem to be more and more interested in difierent kinds of woods. Many customers were referred to another store which specialized in hardwood.

As a result, Dan contacted Penberthy Lumber Co. which has a franchised dealer program for retailers who stock and sell hardwoods. Dan 'found that Penberthy maintains a 7 million bf. inventorv of over 75 hardwood species.

A small, initial order was placed for Shedua, goncalo alves, and Indian laurel. Penberthy supplied a display and litera. ture which helped inform customers about the various hardwoods and some of their uses. 'Ihe result was that the inuentory turned in two weelcs. This confirmed Dan's belief that people are really interested in attractive woods and that there are plenty of applications for them.

The next step was a 20' display near the entrance to the store with several additional species. A large Woods-of-the-World sign was erected and a series of stalls built with red velour backgrounds. Gold chains were put across the stalls with the names of each specie printed on a finished sample of the variety in the stall. The hardwood is now turning at a rapid rate, providing a fiull 50/o mark-up and has one of the highest per square foot averages in the store. Other species have been added, and customers are asking for additional varieties.

Builders, cabinet shops and smaller furniture manufacturers are also drawing on the Cooper inventory. Many of the new species of hardwoods can be substituted for walnut in a better grade and at a lower cost. Blufi says that when a customer can buy tigerwood for only 14 cents more than ash, there is no problem in selling the more exotic wood.