what builders rezrlly want-

QOUTHERN California builders, all mem' J b"r. of the Home Builders Association, recently received a three'page question' naire from the Wood Information Bureau of Southern California. Designed to find out what builders want from the lumber industry, the survey has to date brought about a3I percent response from the builders contaeted. The results to this time, with additional replies expected, have been made available to CLM and are published here for the first time.

IiAPORTANT VOTUME REPRESENTED

The 194 builders to whom the surveY was sent are responsible for approximately 75 percent of the tract home construction in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The reliability of the survey is supported by the fact that all questionnaires returned and tabulated were completed and signed by the builder himself, or a principal of his company.

The large majority of the builders con' tacted are involved in building tract homes in the two counties. Fifty-eight percent indicated that they planned to build'oabout the same number of units in 1965 as in I9@." Thirty-nine percent said that they 'oplanned to build more."

The question was asked: WOULD A PERMANENT LOCATION AND DIS. PLAY OF WOOD AND WOOD PROD. UCTS. IN MANY SPECIES AND FORMS, BE USEFUL TO YOU? WOULD YOU VISIT IT REGULARLY TO SEE WHAT'S NEW?

., 50% ol the replies n this Erestion

24% said, "no".

' Because many lumbermen have suggested that the lumber industry needs a stafi of experts to work with builders and archi' '- tects, this question was asked of the builders: IF A WIB REPRESENTATIVE, FULLY ACQUAINTED WITH SPECIES, GRADES, USES, AND OTHER TECH. NICAL DETAILS AND BUILDING CODES WERE AVAII,ABLE ON CALL TO YOU, WOULD YOU MAKE USE OI' HIS KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICES?

7I/o ol the an'swers u)ere 'oYes", 26/o replieil "ma'ybe", an'il 3/o said ,rndr, o'Yes" 26/o, "Not enough" l8%, "Could, trse more" 50/o'r "No" 6/o.

Then the following question was asked: IF THE MAN DESCRIBED WERE AVAILABLE BY TELEPHONE, WOULD YOU MAKE EVEN GREATER USE OF HIS SERVICES? OR, WOULD YOU PREFER PERSONAL CALLS?

51/o nid "yes", 20/o said, "tnay' be," 9/o indicated, that theY would preler personal caUs, and 20/o' ans' wered, that they would not Preler personol calls.

The next question .may surprise those in the industry who believe that promotion to builders is not necessary: DO YOU FEEL THE LUMBER INDUSTRY PRO. VIDES YOU WITH SUFFICIENT USE. FUL INFORMATION ABOUT LUMBER SPECIES, THEIR USES, CHARACTER. I STI CS" GRADES, AVAILABILITY, COST FACTORS. ETC.?

The question was asked: WHERE DO YOU USE WOOD MOST? (aside from framing), and the answers were as fol' lows: (percentages indicate the number of menti,ons in relation to the other uses).

Floors: 9%

IValls: 9Vo

Ceilings: 2%

Windows: 4/o

Cabinets:'28/o

Exterior

Sidings 27/o

Roofs: 2l%

Characteristics

In another question, a list oI various soft and hardwood species was presented; and the question asked: WOULD YOII LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS, USES, ANI) COST FACTORS OF ANY OF THESE SPECIES?

53% lailcil to answer the question, and 47/e inilicaud' one or trrore species about which theY wanted, MORE information.

In an attempt to find out if builders lack information about specific aspects of construction, this question was asked: DO YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED ON ENGINEERED WOOD LAMINATED BEAMS?

38/o saicl "yes", 35/a sa'id' o'rto", and, 27/o soid tha,t they "wanted mbre informntion."

The use of cement slab floors in home construction has cut heavily into the conventional floor-joist and soft or hardwood floor construction. Assuming that possibly builders don't think of using wood floor construction because they don't know the advantages of it, this qraestion was asked:

WOULD

You Like Information

ABOUT THE SALES ADVANTAGES OF WOOD FLOORING?

One-thiril ol thc answers soid, "Yes" they woulil lihe more informatbn,, antl the two'thirds balance saiil "no".

The increased use of fire-retardent lum' ber represents a largg new market for the lumbei dealer. So this question was asked of the builders: DO YOU HAVE SUFFI' CIENT TECHNICAL DATA ON HAND REGARDING FIRE.RETARDENT LUM. BER?

13/o answered, o'Yes" ; tl4/o sai'd "rw" ; 37/o said theY "Wanted more informatiord', anil 7/o' laileil n ans' wer the question.

lloRE OR IESS?

The final question of the survey asked: DO YOU INTEND TO USE MORE OR LESS WOOD IN FUTURE CONSTRUC. TION?

29/o answereil 'oMore"; 3/o saiil "Less"; 30/o rePlied o'About the san1,e", and, 3B/o' laileil n a'nswer the question.

Calilornia Lurnber Merchant interview' ed Jim Cooper, whose advertising agency handles the LEC-Wood Information Bureau advertising and promotion account, to determine the purpose and interpreta' tion of the surveY.

o'During the pait year we have received inquiries Irom Luilders and architects who have heard of our promotional efiorts," Cooper said. "In Planning the 1965 ptogtu* we want to give builders what ih"f tt."d and ask for in both general and technical information. This survey was conducted to find out just what builders do and don't want from the industry' The results to date, although incomplete, seem to be PrettY clear'cut.

The survey indicates clearly that the industry still has a big job to do to get over the story of the value and uses oI wood in all kinds of construction. During 1965 WIB will put a program into effect designed to put into the hands of archi' tects and builders, the technical and general information requested by them. Until, however, more firms join in this promotional efiort, we will not have sufficient funds to do a IOO/o, job in 1965 or in any year, for that matter," he continued'

A 3I% return in any survey is con' sidered very good, and it is estimated that this survey, when completed, will reflect at least a 6O/o reponse.

Companies or individuals wanting a coPy of the completed survey are invited to con' tact the Wood Information Bureau of Southern California, tlll Wilshire Boule' vard, Los Angeles, 90017.