TFeaters pull southern pine decking West

A BOUT 75Vo of all new outdoor lLdecks East of the Rocky Mountains are built of pressure treated southern pine lumber. In the past three years, southern pine is making its mark in western markets as well.

If southern pine is taking Horace Greeley's advice, much of the credit should go to western pressure treating firms that promote the southern species because it accepts deep penetration of CCAchemicals with no need for incising.

Western retailers and builders report a number of new trends in outdoor deck construction:

(a) the growing demand for hot tubs has increased sales of larger decks;

(b) a greater percentage of decks are now being built by contractors rather than homeowners;

(c) decks are increasingly a yearround business rather than a springtime project.

Another trend is the growing number of retailers who use computeraided designs to show homeowners and builders what the completed deck will look like.

Many treaters not only supply the lumber, but also help their retailer customers with assistance on in-store events such as deck clinics for homeowners and contractors, and buying shows for contractors.

Universal Forest Products, the largest treating firm in the nation, reports that No. I southern pine and 5/4 premium SYP decking is taking market share from cedar, redwood, and other traditional western species such as hem-fr.

Universal sales manager Eric Zurbrigen says, "Five ye:us ago, people thought we were crazy to try southern pine in the West. Now it's one of the premier decking species in the region. We chose to treat premium grade SP because its grain structure helps fend off the warping that can affect lumber in dry climates. Also, it is virtually a wane free product. We're excited about the growth prospects of southern pine, and we'll eventually take it even farther West."

Schollenbarger Wood Treaters, Bernalillo, N.M., reports that its retail dealer customers [[e thi appearance of No. I treated southern pine. According to Schollenbarger's Robert Monroe, "The competition for the deck market is getting more intense between plastic decking, redwood, cedar, ponderosa and lodgepole pine.

"Five years ago, people thought we were crazy to try southern pine in the West."

However, southern pine is gaining market share because it is smooth and non-incised, and pre-stained for an attractive appearance."

United Building Centers, with 120 retail building materials locations in l1 Western and Midwestern'states, has noted that southern pine is gaining market share throughout the region.

Nate Shawcroft, UBC, Pegosa Springs, Co., recently supplied treated southern pine decking for a 16x30 foot wrap-around deck on a log cabin at 9.500-foot elevation. "We like the 40year warranty that our treater gives homeowners on treated southern pine," he says.

UBC's Susie Mounts says that cedar and redwood are feeling the competitive pressure from southern pine, because it is lower in cost and comes pre-stained and pre-sealed from the treater to resist warping. UBC also has deck displays at many of its yards.

Rmrurs

I*mberrnen's Building Centers, Redmond, Wa., has acquired Cannon Beach Lumben Inc., Cannon Beach, Or., as its 44th location ...

RJW Lutnber Co., Healdsburg, Ca., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, hoping to streamline operations and refocus on engineered wood with Golden State Lumber's assistance

Orchard Supply Hardware opened new stores Ocl24 in Elk Grove, store mgr. Steve Wilkens, and Long Beach, Ca., store mgr. Richard Penticott

City Mill remodeled its 50,000sq. ft. headquarters store in Honolulu, Hi.

HomeBase plans 110,000-sq. ft. stores for El Centro, Ca., and College Grove Center in San Diego, the first of 8-10 units planned for 1999 HomeBase 'offered a $3.000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the armed men who robbed its North Hollywood, Ca., location Oct.4 ...

Eagle Hardware & Garden has secured sites in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler and Mesa, Az., with 1-2 more to follow in the area in 2000

Ace Hardware is seeking to build a slightly larger replacement store in Forest Grove, Or.

Lowe's Cos. is examining sites in Phoenix and Mesa, Az., for new 150,000-sq. ft. superstores and in Riverside, Ca., for a DC

Home Depot opened a new store Qct. 29 in Centerville, Ut., and unveils new units Nov. 12 in Santa Maria, Ca., and Dec. 3 in Billings, Mt., and Grand Junction, Co. ...

Home Depot is nearing completion on a new store in Chandler, Az.; is building a 116,000-sq. ft. unit in Vancouver, Wa.; completed an environmental review for a proposed store in San Pedro, Ca., and submitted more neighbor-friendly plans to co-anchor a rebuilt Harbor Center in Costa Mesa, Ca. ...

Home Depot was the target of environmental demonstrations Oct. 14 in front of 75 of its stores, including Anchorage, Ak.; Tempe and Phoenix, Az.; Clovis, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Rohnert Park, Stanford and Ventura, Ca.; Denver, Durango, Louisville and Pueblo, Co.; Corvalis, Portland and Salem, Or.; Salt Lake City, Ut., and Seattle, Wa.

Wxor:sluns/thrurlcrunrns

Pacific Hardwood, as part of its expansion plans, has moved to a' permanent new location at 2202. North Pacific St., Orange, Ca. ...

Down. River International, Sacramento, Ca., has merged with Goldenberg Group, Los Angeles, Ca.; Down River's Louisville, Ky., facility and corporate offices will be closed leaving the companies with distribution and manufacturing facilies in Ca., Or., Wa. and Mexico...

Crown Pacific, Portland, Or., has rebuilt its Bonners Ferry, Id., mill and is starting up a new stud mill in Port Angeles, Wa.

Star Paper Tube added a regional warehouse in Denver, Co., for its Protect-A-Board and Protect-A-Wrap strap and edge protectors.,.

Pioneer Resources, with over 360,000 acres of timberland in Or., Wa. and Ca., has been acquired by Strategic Tirnber Trzsr, New London, N.H. ...

Strtta Forest Products has added a Weinig six-head sticker at its Profile Planing Mill, Santa Ana, Ca., and a new rip saw and sticker at its County Planing Mill, Rialto, Ca.

Newell Co. agreed to purchase Rubbermaid for $5.8 billion; Newell chairman William P. Sovey and vice chairman and ceo John J. McDonough will retain their positions in the merged company, Newell Rubberrnaid; Rubbermaid chairman and ceo Wolfgang Schmitt becomes vice chairman...

Louisiana- Pacific agreed to accelerate payments above its original settlement of the OSB siding class action suit and added $125 million to anew fund ...

Pacific Lumber Co. says its own personnel uncovered and reported its clearcutting in a protected zone near Eureka, Ca., and blame contractor Rounds Logging for the violation

Plum Creek Timber Co. agreed to pay Sappi Fine Paper North America $180 million for 905,000 acres in Maine ...

Setzer Forest Products, Sacramento, Ca., is now the exclusive agent for Magic Freestyle door locks, made by Samil Industries, Seoul, Korea

P e nofin- P e rfo ftrutnc e Co atin g s Inc., Ukiah, Ca., h'as named two new manufacturers reps: Westem Sierra Sales/Benchmark in No. Ca. and Stan Tgsfunan & Associ' ates,lnc. in So. Ca.

Ace Hardware Corp. is partnering with X-Rite to provide stores with access to its MatchRite paint matching technology

Johns Manville, Denver, Co., agreed to buy the perlite insulation manufacturing assets from Building Materials Corp. of America from GAF Corp. ...

American Tool Cos., Inc. has completed its acquisition of British tool manufacturer Polyhedron Holdings PLC for over $50 million...

New Web sites: Westcoast Hardwoods, Arcata, Ca., www. wchardwoods.com ... Custom-Bilt Metals, South El Monte, Ca., www.custombiltmetals.com

Housing starts in Sept. (latest figs.) slid 27o to a seasonallY adjusted annual rate of 1.576 million ... single family starts fell 17o to a 1.253 million pace multifamily starts were 32,000 for 2-4 units, 298,000 for 5+ units ... permits decreased Svo to an annual rate of 1.545 million

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