Remodeling boosts treated sales

By Les Lonning President Western Wood Preservers Institute

I F SOMEONE were ro invenr a I new product or idea that would conserve energy and prevent the annual harvesting of over 226 million merchantable trees in the United States, while saving $6 billion annually and increasing the gross national product, there would be little argument that the idea would receive enthusiastic approval.

Each year healthy trees consume about 12 tons of carbon dioxide. If increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect, the preservation of trees should use up about 9.8 million tons of carbon dioxide per year and help slow down this effect. This benefit alone should be sufficient to promote the new idea or product.

The "new idea" that conserves all these trees isn't new at allit's wood preservation, which makes the harvesting of millions of trees unnecessary.

Since 1985, wood preserved by pressure treatment has been one of the most dynamic segments of America's lumber industry. Pressure treated wood production has risen 25-30V0 a year over the last decade, until it now accounts for about l0% of overall lumber production and sales.

Story at a Glance

Rising cost of housing will strengthen remodeling and re pair market with the pnessure treated vrrood s€ment benetrting.

Lumber used in residential construction is predicted to decrease 4.30/o in 1990, but repair and remodeling, which accountfor 320/o of the total softwood lumber consumption, will decrease only slightly. We believe this market accounts for an even higher percentage of treated lumber production.

One of the most significant causes for increased remodeling is the rising cost of housing since l974.ln Seattle alone, the value of existing housing is increasing at an estimated 1.5% per month. Such factors discourage new home buying while encouraging homeowners to renovate the houses they live in now.

There have been dramatic increases in the building of pressure treated wood decks and other backyard projects. According to McGrawHill, homeowners built over l-l/2 million decks in 1987, at an average cost of$4,000 per deck. In 1988, this increased to l-3/4 million decks. In homes where untreated wood has rotted or been attacked by insects, pressure treated wood is being used as a replacement. Such renovation is a strong indicator of the increasing market for pressure treated wood.