Builders Look Up to Disdero Lock-Deck Laminated Deckitg

Cautious Lumber And Panel Forecast

North American lumber and structural wood panel production is expected to decline somewhat in 2001, while LVL and wood l-joist output will increase, according to APA-The Engineered Wood Association and the Southern Forest Products Association. Both predict high oil prices and the Fed's desire to keep inflation in check will keep the economy from growing too fast.

The increased market growth of the past two years in remodeling and nonresidential construction is forecast to decrease as well due to slower job growth and higher interest rates. In turn, single and multifamily starts should slip from 1.58 million this year to 1.45 million in 2002, with current levels returning in 2005.

Single-family units each consume on average 14,200bd. ft. of lumber and 11,600 sq. ft. of structural panels (3/8" basis), while 5,540 bd. ft. of lumber and about 4,000 sq. ft. of structural panels are used per multifamily unit.

The weakening of the dollar and the expected recovery of European and eastern Asia economies should increase exports, partially offsetting the declines in housing starts. Europe, Japan, Mexico and the Caribbean account for threefourths of all North American lumber and panel exports.

More builders and homeowners are looking up to the warm aesthetics of Lock-Deck wood interiors. This T&G laminated wooddecking combines a structural roof system and a handsome finish surface.

The furring, sheathing and finishing often required with steel or other materials is eliminated, meaning faster construction at lower cost.

It's available in six and eight inch widths as well as two, three, four and five inch thicknesses. LockDeck is dry, strong, and bonded with a waterproof adhesive.

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While raw materials are expected to be sufficient, rising timber costs have hit the South especially hard. In the West, continued environmental restrictions on public and private timber, coupled with increased use of private timber supplies will lead to tighter western timber supplies over the next five years. Conversely, Canadian forests should continue to meet softwood lumber producers' needs, not withstanding new environmental legislation or other factors.

North American lumber production is forecast to decline 2Vo next year from 65.7 billion bd ft. to 64.5 billion, and to 63.3 billion bd. ft. in 2002,before increasing to 68.1 billion bd. ft. in 2005. U.S. production is expected to be 34.6 billion bd. ft. in 2001, with Canadian production at 29.9 btllion. While Canada exports almost two-thirds of its lumber production, the U.S. should consume 54 billion bd. ft. of lumber next year, of which 19.5 billion ft. will be imported.

Structural panel production in North America is expected to slip 2.37o to 39.1 billion sq. ft. (3/8" basis), with U.S. output at 2l.l billion ft., and Canada I 1.4 billion. OSB our put should exceed plywood production by about 1.2 billion bd. ft., growing to approximately 2.7 billion ft.by 2002 and approaching 9.6 billion three years later, when North American totals could reach 42 billion sq. ft.

Glulam timber production is forecast to be 355 million bd. ft. in 2001 for North America, increasing to 372 million ft. by 2002, and achieving a record high of about 475 million ft. by 2005. The increase will be largely influenced by the economic recovery of Japan, the glulam industry's largest export market. Another factor will be the increased use of glulams in place of solid sawn timbers. Total glulam exports should reach 25 billion bd. ft. this year, 35 million ft.by 2002 and about 45 million ft. by 2005.

Wood I-joist production is expected to continue to rise as more builders become familiar with the product and switch from lumber. This year's production is forecast to be 940 million linear ft. and to increase about 67o annually through 2005 to 1.4 billion linear ft. I-joists account for roughly 387o of the raised wood floor market, and are expected to total 557oby 2005.

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Lastly, LVL production is forecast to reach 54.5 million cubic ft. this year, and to continue to rise annually to 74 million ft. in 2005.