Dealer business is on the beam

THE County Lumber Co. in I Santa Barbara, Ca., says it is winning the repeat business of general contractors by helping them plan their construction projects around glue laminated beams available from inventoried supplies.

Officials of the seven-year-old firm attribute such cost and time saving suggestions to gaining a greater share of the general contractors' market in the three counties they serve.

"When a contractor calls to order a beam, we try to direct him to a size in stock," said John Locke, County Lumber dispatcher. "It's a matter of getting him in the habit of calling ahead of time."

The firm further assists builders by having available a large selection of laminated timber in stock. The firm orders exclusively from Standard Structures Inc., Santa Rosa, Ca., makers of Standard Lam and Quick Lam.

"Standard Structures keep their word on delivery dates, and that's what counts in our business," said Greg Gartrell, president of County Lumber.

Employees of the lumber yard are quick to point out that use of laminated timber, rather than a large solid sawn beam, results in material savings, according to Locke. In addition, the walls supporting the beams don't have to bear as much weight as they

Story at a Glance

Stocking glued laminated timber helps this dealer supply his builder customers with the beams they need . firm also works to encourage contractors to order ahead when special beams will be needed.

would if conventional beams were used in the same situation.

Glue laminated beams are engineered, stress-rated timbers comprised of wood sections securely bonded together with adhesives. Laminations may be made of pieces end-joined to form any length, pieces placed edge to edge make wider ones, or pieces bent to a specified curve during gluing.

The County Lumber Co. operates a bulk lumber yard in Goleta, outside Santa Barbara, and a retail lumber yard in Santa Barbara. A third location designed for the do-it-yourself market is scheduled to open in Santa Barbara this month.

Gartrell and the other three owners are an integral part of the firm's daily operations, keeping their fingers on the pulse of the building community they serve. Other owners are Al Topping, v.p., Ron Barker, secretary, and Dick Owen. treasurer.

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