EXPO 2009

June 11-13, 2009

in New Orleans

July 20, 2007

Editors Receptive to SP Advantages

Dozens of editors from national consumer magazines received the latest Southern Pine news this week during a series of Midwest editorial visits by SFPA Vice president of Communications Richard Wallace. The media tour started in Minneapolis, Minn., where Richard presented Southern Pine Council materials to four editors from Handy magazine, the monthly journal for the Handyman Club of America. The group discussed updates to SPC’s Web site and publications of interest to the club’s one million members along with a review of SP pattern samples. “I refer to the Web site frequently – it’s a great resource,” said Senior Editor Dan Cary.  Richard and editors also discussed green building issues for an upcoming “green-themed” issue. Across town, a trio of editors at The Family Handyman appreciated learning the latest developments in treated lumber. Their questions centered on finishing Southern Pine and proper fasteners for outdoor projects.

Heading due South, the tour continued in Des Moines, Iowa, corporate home to Meredith Publishing, which produces Better Homes and Gardens along with dozens of special interest titles and several Web sites. Fourteen editors attended a Southern Pine presentation. Deck construction details, raised floor advantages and environmental issues generated lively discussions. One editor requested samples of SP log cabin siding and flooring to discuss with her design team for an upcoming feature. Editors from Meredith’s books and online divisions learned how SFPA can be a resource for supplementary photography, tips and other content.

The final stop was August Home Publishing where Workbench and Woodsmith magazines reach some three million woodworkers and handy do-it-yourselfers. Editor Tim Robertson and three senior editors were interested in the variety of SP patterns available for remodeling projects, plus the versatility of treated materials.

“All editors appreciated SPC’s online product locator as a convenience to their readers for sourcing Southern Pine materials,” Richard noted.  He also offered the expertise of SFPA staff members to help field their reader questions, plus a reminder to call SFPA for the latest industry trends and statistics. The wood products Help Desk was mentioned as an additional resource for readers.  All editors received a reference package of SPC materials, including the comprehensive Southern Pine Lumber Library CD.

Announcing Two New Members

SFPA welcomes two new associate members, both based in Louisiana. Factory Sales & Engineering Inc. of Covington is a full-service mechanical engineering and design company specializing in biomass industrial boilers and power plants. The firm has designed, built and installed boilers for sugar, wood products and pulp and paper facilities in North, South and Central America and Africa. Hunt, Guillot and Associates LLC is an engineering firm located in Ruston that provides project management and services to a wide range of industrial, commercial, public and private customers. Their areas of expertise include sawmills and engineered wood products, OSB, MDF and particleboard production, and they’ve worked with clients in 20 states and Canada. Business Development Manager Betsy Thibaut will represent Factory Sales & Engineering with SFPA. She can be reached at 985/867-9150 or by e-mail at betsy@fsela.com.  Business Development Manager Stephen Blackwelder is the SFPA contact for Hunt, Guillot. Call him at 318/255-6825. His e-mail address is sblackwelder@hga-llc.com.   

Treated Wood, Raised Floors Included in Upcoming Article

The July/August issue of Commercial Building Products magazine will feature a story on coastal construction by Southern Pine Council public relations consultant Kim Drew. “The article covers the whole house, from the wrap to the roof, to the framing, the doors and windows and even exterior decorative touches,” Kim said. “It talks about hurricane-resistant products as well as those designed to reduce heating/cooling costs and increase energy efficiency. And of course, the article includes significant sections on raised floor construction and treated wood.” The magazine is published for architects, owners and contractors in low- and mid-rise construction and has a circulation of 51,249.  

Top Residential Construction Markets

The top three markets for residential construction in 2006 were Houston, Texas, Atlanta, Ga., and Phoenix, Ariz., according to a list published in the June issue of Builder magazine, a Hanley Wood publication. The article identifies the top builders in the nation’s top 75 residential construction markets. Rankings were determined by the number of total permits issued in each area during 2006.  Top 10 markets with number of permits were:

        Market                                                                     2006 Permits

1      Houston/Baytown/Sugar Land, Texas                          71,257

2      Atlanta/Sandy Springs/Marietta, Ga.                            68,240

3      Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz.                                   43,657

4      Chicago Market Area                                                 43,217

5      New York/White Plains, N.Y./Wayne, N.J.                 39,902

6      Riverside/San Bernadino/Ontario, Calif.                       38,149         

7      Dallas/Plano/Irving, Texas                                          37,226

8      Las Vegas/Paradise, Nev.                                          33,728

9      Orlando, Fla.                                                              30,647

10    Washington/Arlington/Alexandria, Va./Md./W.Va.       27,708         

The magazine reports that “led by an increase of almost 9,000 permits in Houston, Texas replaces Florida as the state with the most permits.” See the June issue of Builder to learn more.

Long-Sullivan Nominations Due Aug. 22

One way to promote the use of Southern Pine is to recognize those who’ve created noteworthy projects with SP lumber. If you know a designer, builder, engineer or other professional who has creatively or uniquely demonstrated the use of Southern Pine in commercial or residential construction, please nominate him or her for the Southern Pine Council’s 2007 Long-Sullivan Award no later than Aug. 22.  The award will be presented at SFPA’s Annual Meeting, set for Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 in Charleston, S.C. See our nomination form for details, and for more information, contact Russell Richardson, SFPA’s director of industrial markets, at 504/443-4464, ext. 239, or rrichardson@sfpa.org.

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