W D t I }I G.

Re-Co) ; Ray Harrell, executive vice-president and research director of Lu-Re-Co, and Dan Sedgwick, promotion director of the Douglas Fir Plywood Assn., Tacoma, Wash.

In the opening session, Harrell and Thompson explained the so-called "core" of the Lu-Re-Co program, proven under fire in the east and midwest, where dealers are facing increasingly heavy competition from several major prefabricators.

Both men noted that, while prefabrication has not previously been a big factor in the West, there are many signs pointing to its growth both in the West and Southwest (National Homes, the largest prefabrication outfit in the world, recently purchased a plant in Decoto, California,

" iust a few miles south of Oakland)

Lu-Re-Co, of course, utilizes ihe modular concept in much the same way as the prefabricator. The big advantage to the lumber dealer is the standardization of Lu-Re-eo components. By manufacturing wall panels in only 2, by 8 and 4 by 8' modules, many dealers have found lhat they can easily stock panels for as many as five complete homes.

Standardization of parts makes it possible to supply in- numerable designs from this stock. By adhering to 2 f.oot and 4 foot wide modules, practically bny housJ order becomes just a matter of "so many 2'by 8'and 4' by 8' solid panels, so many window panels, so many door panels, etc."

Another big saving to the Lu-Re-Co dealer is in his delivery costs, Harrell stated. "By actual average I count," he noted, "a lumber dealer will make anywhere from 20 to 25 deliveries on a conventionally built home. A Lu-Re-Co package.will complete the same job in only7or8deliveries." fn.answering a question from the floor regarding pre-

Advantages to the contractor are obvious, the principal one being his saving on labor costs at the jobsite. Harrell told the group that actual savings to builders using the Lu-Re-Co method would run from 7 to I0%, the result of cutting down on his on-site labor.

Harrell noted that the average wall erection time for a 1,000-sq. ft. home will normal.ly run from 45 to 60 minutes. Five men can easily complete the "shell" of an average home, including trusses, ioof sheathing and siding, in*a sipgle day.

In announcing the Component Clinic to his dealer members, Jack F. Pomeroy, executive vice-president of the Lumber Merchants Assn. of Northern Califomia, said: cutting vs. prefabrication, Harrell said that he personally felt that pre-cutting was more like "cutting with a halfpair of shears." Rut he again stressed the need to fully explore the modular, or Lu-Re-Co., concept before deciding.

". . In our conversations with members during the past several weeks, it is apparent that many are seriously concernd about the increasing volume of direct selling and announced expansion plans of major West Coast prefabricat-ors. These dealers aie often in areas where pre-cutting or pre-fabricated homes have not been a major competitive faCtor. However, with the ease of transporta- tion which components and fabricated homes offer, it may well be these markets will be ripe for pre-fab development.

"We are sure you know that ihe manufactuied home of 1960 is no longer a box affair but is offered in a variety of models Ianging from a 1200-sq.-ft, $8,600 home to a 2350-si1.-ft. custom home selling at $40,000 exclusive of land.

"It was with this background in mind that your Association arranged the Conrponent tonstn-rction C[nic sir that memberdealers would have all the facts in hand to make their decision as to whether they wished to actually build components in their yard and offer-them as a sales tool to their buildEr customers, or !o elgage in- direct building, or to merely have all the facts in hand when their contractor customers inquire as to its feasibilitv.

"Component Construction is deffnitely i strqng trend-no dealer who is interested in the progress of his ffrm -can afrord to ignore it. ."

Naturally, conditions vary in difierent parts of the state. Possibly a modified Lu-Re-Co system would work better than the whole system in some areas. Possibly pre-cutting is the answer for some dealers; possibly the remodeling and cash-&-carry trade is better for others.

The advantage of Lu-Re-Co again Flexibility. Standardization of parts allows the dealer to go just as far as he wants. Assuming he wants to go the whole package, Harrell then shifted discussion to the manufacturing of box beams and roof trusses.

Harrell disclosed that Lu-Re-Co. with the assistance