Lumber quality not declining

f\hanges in the wood products

\Zindushy have given rise to criticism that lumber products have declined in quality. But like beauty, quality is often in the eye of the beholder and a closer look-at lumber prodrcts today shows while they may look different, they perform as well, if not better, than those of the pasf

Too often, comments aboui qualrty ignore how and why lumber is graried. Lumber grading rules are a set of criteria which define how various lumber characteristics, such as wane or knots, will affect the srucnfal performance of dimension lumber and the aesthetic value of appearance grades. These characteiistics are detennined, in large part, by the natural variations in each tree from whicb lumber is cut.

Since the late 1960s, lumber grades and the national grading system have operated under procedures outlined in Voluntary Product Standard 20-94, published by the Anerican Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC). For nearly a quarter century, the sizes, grades and tenninology detailed in this standard have remained virtually unchanged. Lgqber is graded tuiay by sanOlrOs which have been in place for two and a half decades.

Knots and wane are two commonlv cited lumberquality problems'. However, these two characteristics cannot be changed in the raw material - unless someone invents a square ffee with no b,ranches. Sq sruiturat lunber grades consider how the combination of lorots, wane and other elements affect the srengttr of the piece. By focusing on how charactefrsdcs affect the final end use of the produc! lumber grades accommodate changes in the size.and type of log available ror p(rcessrng.

In recent years, the mix of logs p-roc-e-ssed by sawmills has changed significantly. The legal gridlocFon public forests and a general shift away from old growth has led to smallei, second and third growth timber as the chief resource for mills. This affects the variety of lumber grades that can be cut from a log and the extent to which non-limiting characteristics appear within a grade.

By Robert H. Hunt President Westem Wood Products Association

Large diameter logs from older trees tend to yield more clear lumber than smaller sizes. At the sane time, the big logs have lager knoa or other undesirable characteristics, which reduce the grade. While more clear lumber is found in old growth timber, there is also a higher volume of lower grade materials.

Second growth timber may con0ain more lmots. It yields less clear, wanefree lumber and a higher percentage of middle-grade ma6riat. This his fostered a perception that it is of lower quality. But knots are smaller and tighter, and the slope of grain is often better for some categolies of struchrral lumber. Smaller logs produce a larger share of strucnral lignt framing grades such as Select Structural No. I and No. 2.

The effects of more second growth timber can be seen in WWPdgrade recovery surveys. Dimension, or structural lumber, traditionally accounts for nearly half of the Westt lumber production and includes the grades most commonly cited as having quality problems. In 1972, about 704o of dimension lumber was graded as Standard and Better, or No.-2 and Befier. As more second growth timber moved to the mills, that percentage rose. By 1992, these grades accounted for more than 807o of production - providing the market with the products most in demand. At the same time, the volume of high grade, clean material has declined, as has the amount of lower srades.

Grade recovef is not the only area where dimension productioir has changed. Higher volumes of unseasoned, or green, lumber are used today. Twenty years ago,2\Vo of alt

Story at a Glance

Western dimension lumber was green, with moisnrre oontent above l9%. Bv 1992, some 44Vo was graen.

Green lumber requires different storage, handling and installation techniques thq 0.y lumber. Without precautions, lumber can dry unevenly, causing warp, twists and splits. Improper storage can lead to mold, mildew and stains. In some instances. these problems have prompted questions about the quality of the lumber. But proper storage and handling can minimize perceived quality problems in green lumber.

Lumber customers today have a vast array of grades to select from when choosing a producl Those who want a structural product with high appearanoe qualities can find the lumber to meet those needs. But, they need to unders0and thatjust because it looks good doesn't mean it will perform any better. An4 given the limited supply of such products, the price witt-bb higher than that of otheigrades which may not look as good, but will perforrr as required.

With today's economic realities, it is more important than ever to choose the proper grade of lumber for the intended application. The key to making the proper selection lies in lnowing which grades are best suited for the intended use.

Even with the extensive quality control system in place for lumber, there is an occasional siuration when a lumber shipment is off-grade. Should reasonable questions arise about quali!y, g_p!g1s are available to those buying WWPA grademarked lumber.

Often a call to the supplier or WWPA can resolve the problem. In instances where an objective assessment is desired, a professional WWPA lumber inspector can reinspect lumber to detennine if it meets stated standards. If it falls below required sandards, the customer may refuse to accept it and the mill pays for reinspection costs.

Over the past decade, WWPA has seen a steady decline in reinspection requests, reflecting improved relations between mills and customers, a better understanding of lumber grading sAndards in the market and the industrv's commifilent to quality products.

Lumber, Cedarvilte, Ca. OrcPrc moned its El Cajon, Ca., w@bouse to a larger location in qanaee, Ca. ...Vt*lng Industries, Inc., Portland, Or., opened a 150,@ sq. ft. window ind door ;plant in Vacaville, Ca., Ric King, mgr., Tbm Muljat, sales mgr. .,. Ply-Gem Industries reporte0ty is considering restructurin€ wtttl- tb closing or rel,ocation of fasilitiee, staff cuts and a write-down of Anerican il{iil & Manufactging is enlarging its San Diego, Ca, wrehouse ...

Ilanekaseinaugurated a new 1g5,aQa eq. fi" waiebuse witfr a 20,000 sq. ft mrs€ry ad 3?,000 sq. ft. &ive-tbrough lumber yard in Vancouver, Wo., AnC.2i ... Bud's Lumber South Bgqd, Wi, is increasing floor space by 3,3@ sq. flgq 3,300 sq. Harnpton Distribution Centet L ' ft. *9 $di$ a.Victorian faCade Hanpton.Lutnber Saleq Co.. sub_ Cuiii n9Q llayyey Roofing sry.E$&"#,f&W:#f^iri with a ribton cuffiis ceremony ... *_d_fii.frg;, ;03*,.,fi- rhr ffirorri a new L.z3 acrc racifity wifh cqv- acquhed Roof Ttle Mutufacturing, maribboncufiingceremony... g1.eg storage- sp-a€e___on the Coiona, Ca., and Sanjil RooftiS Willamette--C_oUmbia Waterway Whiolesale and Distribution,-lni. nryst iane & Nursery, Seattle, sfi;il;;650 E;;;;;., pott: o,r ciuii*ia Anaheim. ca. and

Errrsr nune 6r. Nursery, s€atlle, )Ystem, 4050 Front Ave., Port- of Californla, Anaheim, Ca., and wa-, pospory. ttr stoct('orerinj iaia,-G:, rat" tltir ;ffi6'.::' - -'- ;d;A;';#rfi A;-riil:: (see story p, 32) but moved atread L " ' openecl a plant in corona " ' oq g$y 46,^19? sq. ft. store with Witlanune Industrics, Inc., will Wisconsin-California Forest a I5,pQ s9.-ft.lumner and nursery _convert its Eugene, Or., particle- Producls, neoong,"C;;i* ;;; areainBend, Or...' lgtto pl?nt d med.ium density wnotesaG urancn"io-ntdroto,-G Sbe-rboard md permanently close Mauk Forest Products moved . !!9^"2tpp!:: investigating 1ts q*eelqo-me, Or,, plyyriod and its Searne sates offiie tJneif: l$tdiog a 130,000 sq. ft store on l_umber^figglting plarit-Nov. I ... mond, Wa., Hq. with the ptip19 *t*,*.doyoloyo Bellevue, Pope & Talbot'his installed two ment irrBairres'Maull;il6;- Wa", and received &sign approval dry kilTs at its Port Gamble, Wa., pleted 58 years wifhffi fit* ..:for adding a greenliouse at a sawmiil...

Tl$tin, C+, store...

Second quarter net income: _ Stimson Lumber, Libb_y, Mt., Hom.e Depoi, up 32Vo, $178 mil. Servistar/-Coast_to Cotast is *as.l'ot@F Ao# itr .pry*".iii i6ilnn*n*", W 31.6va, g24.4 !{Pa}<ting a Springfield,..Ot.,-ql- plant ang-diuelt nroOuctibri to its miltion r.gilqtc'h _C"b:-p"i;; y:ii:htrffi'.Hrfrr*ffi;?g

3"ffi*;,Yh!'#?# 3iil:#Tl

3ee a sharedividend seetloi- -gore !!an $177,000 to the City of dimension frilt damage_d t-he uuiioJrs aoi duppiie;j, U.il-*; Duarts ca ... Jipinirii;i;Wi;irrr,"

A housing export accord signed Hope Natioryil Medical center-ano powe-r plant serving thE iiuuy in San DilE;;-b;;;i"ii -hffi; Beckmfln Research Institute, Lomplei...

Slqne Forgst Industries is con- sped up export orii*streo nousei . J. P..Dolan, Jr.P'.Qotgn laryber

!91i9^"riltfl;t;qfiil{2., and to Japan where housing cosrs are fs rctir.ing a$ t_iguica$_18 o-r_teas- I4e9!ord,-or.,-sales orfiiei in 50%'more than in tdu.b. ... ; Tg stoieS i-n vacayill€, Napa, Medford ... Blue ox Manufact- number of western tetaiiJis'i*o CaStro V-alley,. tVlilpitas .-n9 uring,.Safr.anosa Ci,crosd and -*.nor"r_rGs operiled business ... Madeia, Ca., mill .., July hoann g starts eates ngs.t

Anniversa rye.s: Mytjy- F?191, ^'Legd91s incruding M-2d.9c i",i:f,#4ffil*'Hl#;ffirroJ Products, Healdsburg,Sq., 119: lglqtty, Ca,.P_CA, Surp:rise.UAtey lqdilcre4sedZ.S%,muttifamnf, Idaho Timber Corp- Boise, Id., Eteetiic ytit( Superioi Catyoit'a lvi%: . butldiG &r"rd'.oga lsth... are foreclosing on Surprise'Vailey up2.l%.

Lap Siding

Available in wood grain textured or smooth surface

3/8' 3 ply and 112" 5 ply

6n,8", 10', and 12"widths

8'and 12'lengths

Can be face nailed

APA approved for 24" oc applications

MDO Plywood Lap Siding, Soffit & Trim

Soffit Panels

Available in wood grain textured or smooth surface

Standard thicknesses 5/16" through 1-118'

4'width

8', 9', 10', and 12'lengths

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LVL Trim Boards

MDO overlaid 2 sides

Standad thicknesses 4/4 through 8/4

4'through 12" widths

8', 9', 10' and 12'lengths

Textured 1 side;smooth 1 side