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December 21, 2007

Consumer Media Thinking Green

Contacts made recently with editors of national consumer magazines reaffirm that Americans want more accurate information about green building issues. SFPA Vice President of Communications Richard Wallace completed his annual tour of New York City offices that are home to leading lifestyle publications. Hearst Tower – the city’s first LEED-certified office building – is home to Country Living, House Beautiful and Good Housekeeping, among many others. Richard reviewed the layout of Country Living’s “House of the Year,” which will cover more than a dozen pages in the February 2008 edition. Two photos spotlight treated Southern Pine porch flooring supplied by SPC member Mike Redwine at East Coast Lumber. Richard also discussed future editorial opportunities with the magazine.

A package of Southern Pine reference literature was delivered to an associate editor at Martha Stewart’s Living. The magazine’s staff is putting finishing touches on an article about decking options slated for the March 2008 issue. SFPA provided radius edge decking samples for the feature’s photo shoot last summer. Other stops left Southern Pine information on the desks of editors at Popular Mechanics and Woman’s Day Specials. “These magazines have more outlets requiring material, in print, online and broadcast media,” Richard said. “Editors appreciate SPC supplying them with the latest facts and news about home improvement projects using environmentally friendly products.”

For more information, contact Richard at 504/443-4464, ext. 236, or rwallace@sfpa.org.

Housing Starts Continue Downward Trend

Housing starts fell 3.7 percent in November to a 14-year low of 1.187 million units, while permits contracted by 1.5 percent to a 1.152 million pace, reported National Association of Homebuilders Chief Economist David Seiders earlier this week. In both cases, declines were registered in the single-family sector. Meanwhile, multifamily activity increased. Click here for details.

On a brighter note, though NAHB’s current forecast shows troughs for sales of both new and existing homes in the first quarter of 2008, housing starts could begin to move upward during the third quarter of the year (see Dec. 5 issue of NAHB’s Eye on the Economy).

Report Provides Mills Valuable Info

SFPA’s Mill Activity Summary – started by SFPA more than 30 years ago – provides mill operators data they can’t obtain anywhere else. “This is a composite report for all Southern Pine lumber mills in the South,” said SFPA Financial Services Manager Vernon Barabino. “It shows market trends for industry orders, production and shipments on a weekly and year-to-date basis. No one else in the industry tracks this data weekly.”

Of course, maintaining the value of the report depends on the continued participation of individual mills. “We encourage both SFPA member mills and non-member Southern Pine mills to participate,” Vernon said.

SFPA’s weekly Mill Activity Summary reports are distributed only to SFPA Active and Affiliate member producers and non-member producers who contribute data. The data is reported collectively and individual company information is kept confidential. A monthly version of the report is available to Associate members and other interested companies and organizations.

To learn more about the Mill Activity Summary report and how to participate, contact Vernon at 504/443-4464, ext. 224, or vbarabino@sfpa.org.

Seminars Explain How to Build for Wind, Flood

Back-to-back seminars held recently in South Louisiana continued efforts to educate builders and building officials on the merits of using wood in home construction, even in areas with high wind and flood risk.

The two four-hour seminars were presented by Cathy Kaake, SFPA’s director of engineered and framing markets, and Bryan Reading, senior field services manager for APA-The Engineered Wood Association. Hubert Guy, APA’s engineered wood specialist for the Gulf Coast region, organized the events, which were held in Houma and Laplace.

Cathy provided an overview of high-wind requirements based on the 2006 International Building Code and International Residential Code, and then she and Bryan reviewed requirements prescribed by the Wood Frame Construction Manual’s 130 mph guide for foundation anchorage, floors, walls and roofs. Cathy also explained how raised floor construction helps homeowners meet flood requirements without adversely impacting neighboring properties.

“We’re educating people that you can build wind and flood-resistant structures out of wood,” Cathy said. “We also remind everyone that wood is the most cost-competitive building material available. Our goal is to maintain our market share against other products like steel, masonry and concrete.”

For more information, contact Cathy at 504/443-4464, ext. 214, ckaake@sfpa.org. 

SFPA Member Recognized for Contribution

Long-time SFPA Affiliate member Joe Elder of Elder Wood Preserving Company Inc. recently garnered some much-deserved recognition for a good deed. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries presented Joe an appreciation award for donating $20,000 worth of treated wood to build duck blinds and deer stands for wheelchair-bound, physically challenged hunters. The statewide project is part of LDWF’s Youth and Physically Challenged Hunting program.

“With Mr. Elder’s donations, more physically challenged people will be able to participate in a sport they maybe used to enjoy and now will be able to enjoy again,” said LDWF Physically Challenged Hunt Coordinator Mark Roy in an LDWF news release. “We went to Elder Wood Preserving Company looking for just a discount on the volume we were looking to buy. Joe wouldn’t have any of that and decided to donate all of the wood for these hunting programs.”

Joe has used a wheelchair for several years now and can personally identify with the needs of the hunters served by the program. “I still hunt, but I’m lucky in that I have my own land to use,” he said. “A lot of handicapped people can’t find a place to hunt. These stands open up hunting opportunities to handicapped people that wouldn’t have the physical means to hunt otherwise.”

SFPA joins the LDWF in saluting Joe for a generous donation to an extremely worthwhile cause.

Office Closed for Holidays

In observance of the holidays, the SFPA office will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1.

The staff of SFPA wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Have a great new year, and watch for the next issue of our newsletter on Jan. 4.

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