The agency responsible for deciding whether to put stricter limits on how Southern pine can be used in construction should trust the wood already in use, slow its consideration of changes, and open up the review process, a coalition of lumber and construction industry experts recommends. More
Proposals to reduce some design values for visually graded Southern pine could affect demand next year for more than 1 billion board feet of the species--one-eighth of all the Southern pine dimensional lumber milled annually--as well as trigger longer-term changes in the price and popularity of machine-rated Southern pine, engineered lumber, and other types of softwood lumber, Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) predicted. More
The proposal to reduce some design values for Southern yellow pine by as much as a third has created fear and concern among some dealers, in part because of uncertainty over just how big a deal the change is, participants in a ProSales discussion say. More
The agency responsible for overseeing the setting and publication of performance standards for lumber notified the construction supply industry Wednesday that it will hold a second hearing within two months of the Thursday, Oct. 20, meeting at which it will take up a controversial proposal to lower design values for Southern pine. More
Trade groups for lumberyards and makers of building components sounded the alarm over a proposal to rate visually graded Southern pine, a mainstay in American construction, as being up to one-third weaker by some standards than it currently is regarded. More
Dealer executives often regard the companies they buy and sales reps they poach as opportunities to expand territories and grow market share. But they appear to think less about how those newcomers could poison what the acquirers already have by introducing bad, or at least contrary, ways of doing things. More
Onex Corp. now plans to take majority control in Jeld-Wen Holdings by increasing the amount of its investment in the window and door manufacturer to $864 million from $675 million and upping its stake to 58% from 39%. More
"Once you have closed on the acquisition there are several steps you need to take to ensure success," writes Jim Sobeck, owner of New South Construction Supply in West Columbia, S.C. "Most of these steps need to be done quickly after closing to increase your chances of a successful acquisition." More
Guardian Building Products, the insulation manufacturer and building products distributor, named Steven D. Ziessler as its next president, replacing the retiring Duane Faulkner, the company announced. More
Universal Forest Products Inc. announced that chief executive officer Michael G. Glenn resigned "for health reasons and to make way for new leadership." Glenn will remain at the job while the board of directors evaluates candidates to take his place, UFPI said. More
