Category — Uncategorized

REDWOOD

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Redwood Forests Certified
for Sustainable Harvests

Four of every five acres of commercial redwood forest are now independently certified as well managed and harvested on a sustainable basis. The major redwood lumber mills and landowners have completed independent third-party certification of their redwood forestlands. As a result, over 1 million acres, approximately 80 percent of the available redwood commercial forest are certified under one of the two most widely recognized certification programs: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI SM ) program.

There are 1.74 million acres (1) of Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests on California’s north coast. About 26 percent, or 450,000 acres of these forests are preserved in national, state and municipal parks, national monuments and other administratively withdrawn lands (2) where harvesting is prohibited.

Of the remaining 1.29 million acres where harvesting can take place, approximately 1.03 million acres (3) (80 percent) are currently being well managed according to independent third-party certification programs.

Forest certification provides consumers with assurance that the redwood products they purchase have been harvested in an environmentally sound manner. The basic tenants of certification programs include:

sustainable forestry
prompt reforestation
protection of water quality
enhancement of wildlife habitat
minimizing the visual impact of harvesting
protection of unique sites
improvements in wood utilization
These voluntary third-party certification programs are in addition to the mandatory requirements of California’s Forest Practices Act, recognized as the most thorough timber harvesting regulation in North America. Section 913 of the Forest Practices Act requires that any company owning commercial forests greater than 50,000 acres prepare a Sustained Yield Plan. These plans must project an equal balance of growth and harvest over a 100 year period while ensuring sustainability of all forest resources, including wildlife, watershed and soil.

References:

1 U.S. Forest Service Inventory and Analysis, Pacific Northwest Forest Range and Experiment Station, Portland Oregon reporting 1,244,000 acres with a plurality of redwood trees and another 496,000 acres with redwood present. (See also Fox III, Lawrence, “A Classification, Map and Volume Estimate for the Coast Redwood of California,” 1988, revised Oct. 1989, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif., with California Department of Forestry; reporting a plurality of redwoods on 1,663,000 acres and occurring on another 287,000 acres.)

2 Solinsky, Frank and Dean, Consulting Foresters, Trinidad, “Acreage and Volume of Coast Redwood Timber in Public Ownership In California”, Sept., 1990. (More recently withdrawn acreage added.)

3 Forest Stewardship Council, www.fscoax.org. American Forest & Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI SM) Program, www.afandpa.org/forestry/sfi or www.aboutsfi.org.

June 30, 2009 No Comments

Properties and Uses Of CEDAR

by admin

Introduction

This page discusses the almost magical wood — Cedar. You will find a wide range of facts and information about both Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar that will inform and maybe even surprise you. Native to western North America, Western Red Cedar is a most remarkable natural product and one of the most highly-prized softwoods, renowned for its natural beauty and outstanding physical properties. Northern White Cedar is native to the U.S. northeast and the adjoining Canadian provinces.

The continuing popularity of cedar is due to its striking natural beauty, durability, and affordable price. Because of its durability in an exterior environment and its extremely low maintenance, cedar is an ideal choice for long-lasting, affordable outdoor patio, deck, and lawn furniture. Cedar furniture has also found popularity as an indoor furniture, desired for its sturdy rustic look. Northern White Cedar is especially well suited for indoor furniture.

Cedar’s unique properties and characteristics have been recognized and appreciated throughout history. The Western Red Cedar has great cultural, economic, and spiritual significance to the Native American peoples of the Pacific Northwest. They used every part of the tree in every aspect of their life.

Cedar Science

Our cedar furniture and garden products are made from two different cedar species: Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar. These cedar species are both evergreen conifers in the cypress family. They share many similar charactersitics, however being different species, also have several differences.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Western Red Cedar is found in the coastal forests along the upper Pacific coast of North America, from southern Alaska to northern California. The principal supplying region is the coastal forest area of British Columbia (where the Western Red Cedar is the official tree). Cedar naturally grows in mixed softwood forests intermingled with other species such as Douglas Fir, Pacific Coast Hemlock, and Sitka Spruce. Western Red Cedar forests are largely managed forests. In a managed forest environment, natural regeneration, controlled harvests, and a planned reforestation program try to ensure a perpetual harvest with good forest conservancy practices.

Western Red Cedar grows in low to mid elevations, along the coast and in a wet belt of the interior. It prefers cool, moist locations, and a slightly acidic soil. The tree can be described as large to very large, with a tapering trunk that often spreads widely at the base. A mature tree can attain a height of 180 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 feet. The Western Red Cedar is slow-growing and long-lived. A specimen can live upwards of 1000 years, and has one of the longest lifespans of any North American softwood. Cedar has a low density of 22 lbs. per cubic foot, with a low specific gravity of 0.33. This makes it one of the lightest softwoods available, but also soft, and prone to indentation. The low density also gives cedar it’s excellent thermal insulation properties.

The heartwood of Western Red Cedar contains extractives that are toxic to the decay-causing fungi. Two principle agents responsible for this decay resistance are Thujaplicans (taken from the scientific name for Western Red Cedar) and water soluble phenolics. The tree’s ability to produce these agents increases with age, making the outer layers of the heartwood the most resistant. (In general, sapwood, in all species, has a low resistance to decay) These naturally occurring substances repel moths, insects, termites, carpenter ants and bees, and ambrosia beetles — the bugs just don’t like cedar and prefer to eat elsewhere.

Western Red Cedar has very distinctive heartwood and sapwood. The sapwood is whitish-cream in color, seldom greater than 1″ wide in mature trees, and is clearly delineated from the heartwood. The heartwood color varies considerably more, and is not consistent in color at all. Freshly cut Western Red Cedar can vary from a dark chocolate brown color to a salmon pink, and can be variegated. The color ages to the more familiar reddish-brown, and eventually to a silver-gray with exposure to the elements.

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Northern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Northern White Cedar is an evergreen tree with fan-like branches. Native to the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, Northern White Cedar prefers to grow in wet forests. Although not currently listed as endangered, the species is threatened in some areas with a high deer population, as the deer eat the soft evergreen foliage.

The Northern White Cedar is a much smaller tree than the closely related species, Thuja plicata or Western Red Cedar. The tree grows to a height of 25–65 feet, with a trunk diameter of 1 to 2 feet. The Northern White Cedar is slow-growing and long-lived, with specimens achieving 1000 years or more. Often the tree is found stunted, twisted, or growing prostate on the ground.

Northern White Cedar has a low density of 19 lbs. per cubic foot. This makes it one of the lightest softwoods available, but also soft, and prone to indentation. Strong and lightweight, the low density also gives cedar it’s excellent thermal insulation properties. The bark is red-brown, however the wood has a creamy-white color. The Northern White Cedar also contains chemical compounds which make it naturally decay and insect resistant.

Properties of Cedar

Cedar wood is typically straight and even-grained. Because of its height and growth habit he Western Red Cedar tree in particular produces a trunk that is usually free from side branches for many feet up, leaving the outer layers of the tree knot free and clear. This feature makes the timber especially suited for quality joinery and woodworking (such as furniture). Cedar, although lightweight and not dense, has 80% of the strength of oak. It is light, yet strong — a rare combination (An example is the use in ladder poles because of its light weight, strength, straight grain, and freedom from knots)

The low density of cedar accounts for its outstanding dimensional stability. Density is directly related to dimensional stability. The less dense a wood is, the less it tends to shrink and swell in response to changes in moisture content. Cedar’s low density allows it to be stable, even in humid environments. This same low density gives cedar a high thermal co-efficient. It is an excellent insulator. For furniture, this means that even on hot summer days the furniture is comfortable to sit upon.

Perhaps the most famous of cedar’s properties is its resistance to rot, decay, and insects.
The naturally occurring oils produced by the tree discourage most wood-eating insects. The death rate for termites consuming cedar varies with the source and the termite species — from 100% in several days to 40% in several weeks. Termites prefer other food than cedar, but some species will consume cedar if no other food source is present. If you live in termite-prone areas, and you plan to allow your cedar furniture ground contact, you might wish to treat the furniture with a quality wood preservative. Consult professionals in your area to determine the severity of the problem, and to ascertain what products they recommend. The same chemicals that deter insects from eating cedar are what give it the distinctive cedar aroma that most people find so pleasant, and why cedar is used to line clothes closets and to make cedar chests for clothes storage.

The insect resistant quality of cedar makes it a good choice if you are looking for an alternative to chemically treated wood. Much of the outdoor furniture that you find today achieves it’s exterior durability through a toxic chemical treatment. These chemical preservatives require warning labels for those who handle and work the wood. The three major ingredients of some pressure-treated wood are copper, chromium, and arsenic (CCA).
If you have small children or are chemically sensitive yourself — you do not want outdoor or indoor furniture made from these materials.

Working Cedar

Cedar is lightweight and easy to work. Most woodworking operations are a pleasure to perform with cedar. You can cut, shape, plane, sand, fasten, glue, and finish cedar with ease. It is available in long lengths of timbers with straight and true grain. It is extremely stable dimensionally, and rarely cracks, splits, warps, twists, or cups — it remains straight and flat.

Among all the softwood species, cedar is considered to have the best finish-retention properties. It has an exceptional ability to retain many types of finishes. This is due primarily to the wood’s outstanding dimensional stability. But other factors also contribute, including a fine texture, a growth pattern with narrow bands of summer wood, and freedom from pitch and resin. (See Finish for options on finishing your cedar furniture.)

Cedar is the preferred wood for nearly any purpose where an attractive appearance with resistance to weather and decay is desired. It is one of the most desirable of woods to use for outdoor furniture, and complements a rustic interior perfectly. Beautiful — Light — Strong — Decay & Insect Resistant — Finishes Well — Reasonable in Price. What’s not to like?

June 11, 2009 No Comments

Installing Wood Siding

by admin

Installing Wood Siding

By Tim Carter
©1993-2009 Tim Carter

Summary: Wood siding has been used on houses for hundreds of years. Engineered wood siding is an improvement on traditional siding as it allows us to make the most of our natural resources. If you want the best exterior wood siding, look for wood that contains natural preservatives and has vertical grain. Western cedar is a great wood siding species.

DEAR TIM: The house I grew up in had traditional wood lap siding. It seemed to wear like iron and it has a fantastic traditional look and feel. I would like to install some on a new home and wonder if it is still available and what is the best way to install it. Perhaps the biggest question is how do I make sure that paint will never peel or blister on this new wood siding? Phoebe H., Palo Alto, CA

DEAR PHOEBE: You know what they say don’t you? Imitation is the highest form of flattery. It seems like all of the non-wood siding products for years have copied the lap wood siding look. Aluminum, fiber cement and vinyl siding have had imitation lap sidings for years. This tells you that not only is the wood siding a timeless material, the lap siding look is perhaps the most popular. My wife and I love the real lap wood siding on our own home.

Lap wood siding is still available but you have to be sure you buy the right one. I prefer wood products that include preservatives injected by Mother Nature. Cedar and redwood are two such sidings. Both of these wood species have a considerable amount of natural preservatives. You may find other soft or hardwood siding materials, but only buy them if you can be sure they have been treated against wood rot.

Installing wood siding takes time and is not hard to do. Note the painted ends of the pieces behind my head. Each end is painted before the siding is nailed to the wall. PHOTO BY: Kathy Carter

Be sure to discuss wood grain orientation with the siding salesperson. The best wood siding has vertical grain. Less expensive wood sidings will sport flat grain. You can easily tell a vertical grain wood siding if you look at a freshly cut end. If you see ten, twenty or even 50 of the dark tree rings on the cut edge, the siding is indeed vertical grain. Flat grain wood siding may only have one, two or three dark tree rings visible on the end of a piece of siding. The vertical grain wood siding is more stable and the grain will not raise on the flat surface that you see once it is installed.

Before you even think of nailing up your first piece of siding, there is a critical step you must follow. The wood siding needs to be primed on both sides and all edges before it is installed. Furthermore, each time you cut a piece of siding and are sure it is the correct length, those exposed cut ends must be painted before the siding is nailed to the wall. These critical painting steps help ensure the finish coat of paint will never peel or blister. I feel the best finish paint to use is one that is a blend of acrylic and urethane resins.

If the back and edges of the wood siding are not painted and water soaks into the wood, paint failure is an almost certainty. The water in the wood wants to get back into the atmosphere and it works its way to the front surface of the siding. Once there, warmth, wind and direct sunlight cause the water in the siding to form a vapor which can actually create a real blister in the finish paint. If you paint the back and edges of the siding, water can’t get into the wood in the first place.

The sides of the house must also be covered with a water barrier such as traditional asphalt-saturated felt paper or some of the modern synthetic fiber woven water and air barriers. You must use metal flashings and special drip caps moldings above horizontal trim boards, windows, doors and any other dissimilar material other than the siding. The flashings and drip caps help direct water away from the siding and prevent water from getting behind the siding or any trim boards used with the siding.

Be sure the first piece of wood siding or the lowest wood trim board laps over your foundation at least one inch. Water is your worst enemy and you want to ensure that water gets away from the siding and foundation of your home as quickly as possible. Follow all building codes with respect to the height above grade where the siding must start. Not all codes are the same, but I would not have the wood siding any closer to the soil than six inches. The greater the distance between the soil and the first piece of wood the better. If you can adjust your foundation height so there is a ten or twelve-inch space between wood and soil, do so.

Here is the finished product. Isn’t this a handsome garden shed? The wood siding and all trim details match my house perfectly. PHOTO BY: Tim Carter

The nails you use for wood siding are very important. The best nails are specific siding nails which have very blunt points and are made from stainless steel. These nails also have stacked rings on the shank of the nail for extra gripping power. Siding nails often have smaller heads as well so they are not that obvious if you install them flush with the surface of the wood siding. On painted siding, I always countersink the nail and fill the resulting hole with exterior spackling compound.

To make sure the wood siding does not fall off the wall over time, be sure the nails used are long enough. The nail must pass through the siding, then pass through any sheathing such as plywood, foam board or oriented strand board and finally into a wood wall stud. The nail needs to penetrate the wood stud at least one and one-quarter inch. Do the math and you will discover it is best to use a nail that is 2.5 inches long.

April 15, 2009 No Comments

PONDEROSA PINE

by admin

Ponderosa Pine

from WWPA’s Ponderosa Pine Species Facts
published August, 1995
©1995 Western Wood Products Association

Quick Index

Forest range, growth habits
Grading
Characteristics
Factory and Shop products
Treated products

Forestry

Range – Ponderosa Pine is one of America’s abundant tree species, covering approximately 27 million acres of land. Stands can be found from Canada to Mexico and from the Pacific Coast eastward to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Its growth range covers an area encompassing more than 35 percent of the total acreage of the U.S.

California, Oregon and Washington account for a major share of the annual harvest. Arizona and South Dakota are also important producing areas with lesser amounts coming from Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and New Mexico.

Growth Habits – Ponderosa Pine trees average 100′ to 160′ in height, with some exceeding 180′. The trees range from 2-4′ in diameter, with the rate of growth depending upon altitude, soil, temperature and rainfall.

Mature Ponderosa Pines can be easily identified by their distinctive orange-brown bark which is arranged in large plates. The dark yellow-green needles are 5-10″ long and grow in clusters of three. The cones, similar in color to the bark, are 3-6″ long and 2-4″ in diameter. Seeds are 5/16-3/8″ long with a 3/4-1″ wing.

In pure, or nearly pure, stands of Ponderosa Pine there is a standing inventory of approximately 188 billion board feet of lumber; in mixed stands there are additional billions of board feet in unmeasured inventory. Most Ponderosa trees grow, mature and survive for about 125 years before they are lost to natural causes such as rot, insect damage, fires or wind throw. Occasionally, a lone specimen will survive for nearly 200 years. Their typical site is on semi-arid plateaus and slopes, often surrounded by juniper and sage.

Ponderosa Pine forests are usually selectively harvested rather than clear cut. This method of logging removes only the mature trees and leaves the other trees to re-seed and mature. Selective harvesting often makes it difficult to identify a recently logged stand.

Ponderosa Pine (pinus ponderosa) is one of the Western pine species that includes Idaho White Pine (pinus monticola), Sugar Pine (pinus lambertiana) and Lodgepole Pine (pinus contorta). The Western pines are distinct from the Southern Yellow pines which are denser and pitchier, with widely different characteristics and uses.

Production

The annual production of Ponderosa Pine ranks third in volume after Douglas Fir and Hem-Fir (the two species preferred for structural framing), but second in total value. California and Oregon are the leading suppliers of Ponderosa Pine.

Ponderosa Pine is also sold in export markets, with Mexico the largest foreign customer, followed by Canada, China and Japan. The applications for Ponderosa Pine abroad are very similar to those in the United States.

Manufacturing

Seasoning – All Ponderosa Pine is dried before surfacing to assure uniformity of the finished size. It is seasoned in temperature and humidity-controlled dry kilns or stacked and air-dried until the moisture content reaches the desired level–from 12 to 19 percent.

As with other pines, Ponderosa can be subject to blue stain if a felled tree or green lumber becomes too warm before it is dried. Blue stain does not affect strength and is admissible in some of the lower grades. It can be hidden with paint or enhanced with clear finishes depending on user preference.

Shipping – Ponderosa Pine is usually milled and shipped as a single species and can be specified and bought as such. However, it is sometimes mixed with other species of similar design characteristics, such as ponderosa Pine-Sugar Pine, or Ponderosa Pine-Lodgepole Pine. It is also marketed under the name “White Woods”, which can include a mix of Engelmann Spruce, True Firs, Hemlock and any of the other pines.

Ponderosa Pine Grading & Quality Control

Grading – Lumber Grading Rules assure users of Ponderosa Pine and other softwoods consistent standards of quality, regardless of which mill produces the lumber.

In the 12 western states, the primary growth area for Ponderosa Pine, most pine production is graded under the supervision of Certified Inspectors from the Western Wood Products Association (WWPA), a grading and quality control agency. The most widely produced grades are Selects, Commons and Factory lumber.

Appearance Grades – Ponderosa Pine Boards are graded primarily on appearance for a multitude of applications. There are three grades of Selects and five grades of Commons(WWPA Rules) and there are also Alternate Board grades available (West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau Rules).

Structural Grades – Ponderosa Pine structural grades are used where light to moderate strength levels are required. The 2×4 and 2×6 sizes are especially popular as decking material, once the lumber has been pressure treated with preservatives for outdoor uses.

Factory Grades – Factory and Shop grade lumber products are intended specifically for manufacturing. The grades have evolved on the basis of millwork cutting sizes and are defined by the number of clear standard size cuttings which can be obtained by ripping and cross cutting the various grades.

Characteristics & Best Uses

Ponderosa Pine has a minimal amount of reddish-brown heartwood and an exceptionally wide sapwood which is honey-toned or straw-like in color. It has a straight, uniform grain which machines to a clear, smooth surface. When freshly sawn or surfaced, its pleasant smell is reminiscent of the forests where it grows. Ponderosa Pine is often specified when appearance rather than strength is of primary importance.

Dimensional Stability – All woods shrink and swell to some degree as their moisture content fluctuates with atmospheric conditions. However, Ponderosa is relatively unaffected by changes in humidity after drying, making it valuable for work that requires close-fitting joints. It has a uniform cell structure and shrinks only a moderate amount, in comparison to other softwood species. It seasons beautifully with minimal splitting, cupping, or warping.

Residential Construction – Appropriate applications for Ponderosa Pine include light framing, spaced sheathing, floor and roof decking. As a treated product, it is superb for decks and other outdoor projects. Although it is not as strong as some of the heavier, denser softwoods, Ponderosa’s combination of dimensional stability, strength and workability is well adapted to most light framing applications including joists, studs, rafters, plates and soffits. The wood resists splitting when nailed which allows for the use of larger nails and increases nail rentention.

Traditional outlets, such as retail lumber yards and most home improvement centers, usually carry and extensive inventory of Ponderosa Pine products. Both amateur and professional remodelers also find many applications for Ponderosa in home repairs, paneling, decks, renovation, retrofitting and room additions.

Factory and Shop Products – Ponderosa Pine is well suited for remanufacturing which requires clear, splinter-free wood, with a minimum of knots, resin and other unwanted characteristics. The large trees include substantial volumes of virtually clear sapwood with relatively few, widely-spaced knots. Shop and Factory lumber is graded to yield standard cuttings of clear material suitable for fabrication. Such wood is selected to be almost completely free from pitch and resin pockets, has an even grain and is dimensionally stable. Ponderosa also ranks moderately high for ease of gluing and is used for all types of products where glued-up construction is required.

The species is prized for moulding and for doors, windows, frames and drawers where durability under movement is essential. It has the ability to withstand scuffs, shocks and jars without spliting, which makes it the premier wood for these and other applications such as sashes, jambs, shutters, screens, columns, stairwork and fascia.

Paneling – Pine paneling is often associated with Early American decor in kitchens, family rooms, dens and bedrooms. However, new finishing techniques and patterns make it appropriate for contemporary or traditional settings.

Many patterns are reversible, offering a choice of pattern or surface finish in a single panel. However, it’s important to remember that paneling boards are inspected and graded on the patterned or face side; the back or reverse side may have characteristics which would make it a lower grade, but desirable for a specific design effect.

Most lumber dealers carry a limited selection of paneling patterns in stock, but can special order any of the standard patterns. Some dealers will arrange to have a unique pattern custom milled.

Woodworking and Furniture – Many of the properties that make Ponderosa Pine a first choice for paneling also put it at the top of the list for furniture and architectural woodwork such as built-in bookcases, benches, cupboards, desks and kitchen cabinets.

Cabinetmakers and woodworkers appreciate the wood’s uniform cell structure, scarcity of resin pockets, and resistance to splitting. Finished parts fit together snugly without binding. The lumber is easy to work with either hand or machine tools and converts readily into fine mouldings and cabinet work.

In the last few years there has been a resurgence in the popularity of pine furniture–antique pieces, new pieces from old pine and new pieces from new lumber. Honey-toned Ponderosa Pine is a natural accompaniment to the country look, while simply-styled bleached pine is appearing with increasing frequency in contemporary furnishings. Ponderosa Pine furniture is available both finished and unfinished, in a variety of styles and qualities.

Finishing – Ponderosa Pine takes most finishes beautifully, including paint, stain, lacquer and varnish. Unlike some of the heavier woods, paints and stains do not raise the grain; however, knots should be sealed before painting to prevent them from bleeding through the finished surface.

Treated Products for Outdoor Projects – The use of treated Ponderosa Pine continues to increase particularly in the western and upper mid-western parts of the country. It can be used for fences, planters, storage sheds, play structures, decking, deck railings, benches and other outdoor projects.

The large proportion of sapwood in Ponderosa makes it well suited to pressure treating because the preservatives can penetrate the sapwood cells deeply and uniformly. Only seasoned (dried) lumber is used in the treating process and after treatment, the wood should be allowed to reach equilibrium moisture content with the surrounding atmosphere before it is installed in its permanent location. The quality-control mark, shown right, should appear on treated lumber.

Ponderosa Pine can be treated for above-ground or in-ground contact, and unlike some softwoods, it can be pressure treated for in-ground use without incising (perforating) the wood. The waterborne preservatives leave a clean, dry, odorless surface ready to be painted or stained. The treated product holds up well in storage, making it easy to yard for distributors and retailers, which in turn, makes it readily and widely available.

In addition to the standard dimensions, treated Ponderosa Pine is also available in two WWPA radius-edged decking grades, Patio I and II, which are milled expressly for use as outdoor decking.

The American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) provides treating standards and retention levels for a number of preservative and fire-retardant chemicals. All pressure-treated wood should bear the mark of a quality control agency approved by the American Lumber Standard Committee. Chemical retention is stated in terms of the weight of the chemical retained (in pounds) per cubic foot (pcf) of wood after treatment; the larger the number, the more chemical retained.

For more information refer to the Western Wood Preservers Institute’s brochure Guide to the Characteristics, Uses and Specifications of Pressure Treated Wood.

Industrial Uses – Industrial uses for Ponderosa Pine include pallets, concrete forms, crates and boxes, dunnage, hives, partitions and foundry patterns. It is also used for a wide variety of wood packaging and novelty items such as boats, wagons, toys, window shade slats, rat and mouse traps.

Additional Information

For additional information on grades, design values and spans, refer to WWPA’s Product Use Manual. For additional four-color pictures of Western lumber in a variety of species and grades, refer to the following Western Wood Species books:

Volume 1: Dimension Lumber
Volume 2: Selects-Finish/Commons-Boards
Volume 3: Factory Lumber

For additional information on WWPA pattern options, in profile, refer to WWPA’s Standard Patterns.

For additional information on treated lumber, contact the Western Wood Preservers Institute.

Quality control

The WWPA grademark identifies Western Lumber products backed with assurances for quality, performance and technical support. WWPA maintains a team of lumber inspectors throughout the Western region to monitor the grading and quality control of Western Lumber products from WWPA Member mills, ensuring products consistently meet grade specifications. Additionally, WWPA has technical experts on staff with training and work experience in design, engineering, lumber specifications, code conformance, construction, manufacturing, wood technology and forestry. From the Association’s headquarters, these experts offer technical assistance in all aspects of Western Lumber end use for WWPA Member company products.

To order a full-color version of this publication, complete with photos and examples of grades, or any other WWPA title referred in this text, go to the WWPA Publications

For a list of WWPA Member mills that produce Ponderosa Pine lumber products, go to the WWPA Members section.

April 6, 2009 No Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WOOD

by admin

Environmental Benefits

Green by Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood

The ATHENA™ Sustainable Materials Institute’s ultimate goal is to encourage the selection of material mixes that will minimize the environmental impact of a building over its life-cycle. The ATHENA computer model was used to compare alternative wood, steel and concrete structural designs for a three-story office building. The ATHENA findings are the result of a five-year research program involving architects, environmentalists, economists, engineers, and representatives from the steel, concrete and wood industries. ATHENA™’s life-cycle research found that wood building products have the lowest environmental impact when compared to other major building materials, based on raw materials and energy use, emissions to air, water and land.

What are the facts?

Total energy use: The wood building used the least energy. The concrete option required 1.7 times the energy for wood. The steel option required 2.4 times the energy. Wood simply does not require much energy to manufacture.
Greenhouse gases: The wood building had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The steel building generated 1.45 times and the concrete building generated 1.81 times the greenhouse gases for wood.
Air pollution: The wood design had the lowest air pollution index. The steel building produced 1.42 times and the concrete building produced 1.67 times the air pollution index.
Solid waste: The wood design had the lowest solid waste. This takes into account both manufacturing and on-site construction waste. Steel produced 1.36 times and the concrete produced 1.96 times the solid waste. This means there is virtually no waste during the manufacturing process and the use of engineered wood products has radically reduced the on-site construction waste.
Ecological Resource Use: The wood design had the lowest ecological resource use index. Steel was 1.16 times and concrete was 1.97 times the index for wood. This factor compares the long-term effects of resource extraction. Although forestry affects a large area, reforestation means the effects are short term. Sustainable forest management practices help ensure that disruption is minimized.
Conclusion: The office building built with wood had lower environmental impact for energy use, greenhouse gases, air and water pollution and ecological resource extraction than the steel or concrete building. A similar case study of residential buildings (comparing wood, steel and concrete construction) produced similar findings in terms of wood’s superior environmental performance.

These facts and others based on the ATHENA life-cycle findings can be found in a new primer put out by the Canadian Wood Council & the Forest Products Association of Canada have put out a primer, “Green by Design”.

“Green By Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood.” Canadian Wood Council & Forest Products Association of Canada. (CWC & FPAC)

A primer on the environmental comparisons of wood and other materials in home and building construction.

This brochure explains why asking for Canadian wood products is the best environmental choice. It shows how taking a life cycle approach to building design will result in wood being the winner over competing products such as steel and concrete.

Addressing Negative Perceptions and Campaigns

According to the Wood Promotion Network, the last five years have witnessed mounting efforts by competing industries and environmental groups to reduce the market for wood. Their recent studies show that between 1997 and 2000 lumber alone lost 2.5% of the residential market for floors, walls and roofs. Significant environmental campaigns have been aimed at putting pressure on major corporate buyers of wood products. As a result, the public has been led to believe that forest are diminishing, that industry practices are not sustainable, and that the world needs to use less rather than more wood.

The Wood Promotion Network is N. America’s largest ever coalition of wood product and allied industry companies and related associations, representing more than two-thirds of N. American wood production. These companies have joined together to educate builders, DIYers and homeowners throughout North America on the benefits of wood building materials and the abundance of today’s North American forests.

Thus, the WPN goals are to secure and expand wood markets in N. America and to increase confidence about forest abundance and sustainability. While the goals may seem ambitious, the hard facts show that wood is the best environmental choice, hence it is not surprising that their campaigns to date have resulted in major achievements in terms of improving building and consumer perceptions of wood.

What are some of the messages that the Wood Promotion Network gets across:

N.America’s forests are abundant and growing, based on satellite imagery.
Wood is the best insulator against heat and cold, which makes it the most energy efficient material that can help keep home energy bills in check.
Regardless of market volatility, wood is the most affordable building material you can use. Framing an average 3-bedroom home can cost up to 30% less with wood versus other framing materials.
New innovations in engineered wood products and pre-made panels and trusses help builders and homeowners keep framing costs down. (WPN AR2001).
The production and use of wood is easier on the environment than any other building material. It takes less non-renewable fossil fuels and less energy to produce wood framing materials than alternative framing materials. (WPN AR2001).
Wood is the world’s only 100% renewable building material and is manufactured with the organic power of solar energy. (WPN AR2001).
Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Canada’s sustainably managed forests ensure that there is an ample supply. New manufacturing technology allows every part of the tree to be used so that nothing is wasted. Advanced engineered wood products make use of fast growing species to produce high strength products without requiring large dimension timbers to meet building needs. (WPN AR2001).

Build with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

Over 80% of Canadians believe that sustaining the environment is a major priority. Many of us do our part, by recycling newspapers, refusing or reusing shopping bags, and composting waste.

But we may not realize that we make a much bigger impact on the environment through our choice of building materials.

Due to sustainable forestry practices, the volume of wood in Canada’s productive forests increased by 35% between 1976 to 1991. Last year alone, over 700 million seedlings were planted. That’s about 25 trees planted for each Canadian.

But how do we replace the thousands of tons of ore that went into steel beams or aluminum siding, or the millions of litres of petroleum that went into making plastic components?

The answer is – we can’t. Those resources are finite. Once we consume them, they are gone forever.

A study by the Canadian Research Alliance examined the relative environmental impacts of various building materials. The results clearly demonstrate not only that wood is a renewable resource, but also that the manufacture of wood products is cleaner, less wasteful, and consumes less energy than the alternatives.

Life-cycle analysis shows that a steel wall requires 3 to 6 times more energy to extract, manufacture and construct than a wood wall. The steel wall also uses 25 times more water in its manufacture, and releases 3 to 6 times more carbon dioxide emissions.

The manufacture of concrete produces 2 to 3 times more carbon dioxide than wood, and results in 5 times more solid waste.

The production of aluminum generates 8 times more polluting emissions in the air and 300 times more in the water, than the manufacture of wood. The manufacture of aluminum siding requires 5 times more energy than wood.

Construction is a $25 billion a year industry in Canada. That’s the equivalent of almost $900 for each Canadian, much of it spent on building materials.

Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/

Selecting Environmentally Friendly Flooring

Wood flooring is renowned as a feature that wears well and minimizes the accumulation of dust and microbes. And the engineered wood products used for sheathing and for beams and joists are made with glues that don’t contribute to allergies.

Thinking of replacing that worn flooring in the front hallway?

By shopping around, you can get information about the price, style, and maintenance of commonly-used flooring products.

It is much harder to learn about the hidden impact of these products on the environment. To make an informed choice, consumers also want to know about the composition and manufacture of various flooring materials.

Synthetic sheet flooring, such as cushion flooring, is made from non-renewable petroleum resources. Because it is non-biodegradable, scraps cannot be recycled. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive, depleting the supply of fossil fuels.

Ceramic tiles are made by firing clay, a plentiful resource. However, the kilns used to fire the clay consume large quantities of energy. Ceramic tiles are not recyclable.

Linoleum is made with renewable ingredients (linseed oil, cork, wood dust and dyes) that have been heat-cured and sealed, but it is not recyclable. Various chemicals are used for manufacturing, although less than are required for synthetic floor materials.

So what can you select that is environmentally friendly as well as being durable, easy-to-care-for, beautiful and affordable?

The answer is wood. Oak and maple hardwood flooring – solid plank, pre-finished wood flooring systems, parquet tiles and veneer – comes from wood, a renewable resource. Part of the energy used in the manufacturing process comes from wood waste materials.

Veneer flooring is comprised of a surface of high quality hardwood laminated to a plywood or particle board backing, and packaged as tiles. Wood fibre waste from low grade wood is used in the backing, and high-grade wood is used in the surface veneer.

When you’re shopping around, ask your retailer or contractor for more information from the flooring manufacturer. That way you can select a product that is attractive to the environment AND to your home.

Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/

Build that New Fence with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

When you shop for materials to build your new fence or deck, you probably think about things like appearance, ease of installation, and cost. But what about the cost to the environment of the building materials that we buy?

Over 80% of Canadians believe that sustaining the environment is a major priority. Many of us do our part by recycling newspapers, adding extra insulation in our homes, and walking to the video store at the corner instead of driving. But we also make a major impact on the environment when we choose building materials, often without realizing it.

Wood is a popular and attractive choice for many outdoor landscaping projects. Due to sustainable forestry practices, the volume of wood in Canada’s productive forests increased by 35% over the last 20 years. Last year alone, about 700 million seedlings were planted. That’s over 20 trees planted for each Canadian.

But what about that chain-link fence, those concrete patios stones or that vinyl lounge chair? How do we replace the thousands of tons of ore that went into the manufacture of steel, or the millions of litres of petroleum that went into making plastic components?

The answer is – we can’t. Those resources are finite. Once we consume them, they are gone forever. And the manufacturing process has added to the world’s pollution problems.

A study by the Canadian Research Alliance examined the relative environmental impacts of various building materials. The results clearly demonstrate that the manufacture of wood products is cleaner, less wasteful, and consumes less energy than the alternatives.

The manufacture of concrete produces 2 to 3 times more carbon dioxide than wood, and results in 5 times more solid waste.

The production of aluminum generates 8 times more polluting emissions in the air and 300 times more in the water, than the manufacture of lumber. The manufacture of aluminum siding requires 5 times more energy than lumber.

So when you go to buy the materials for that new fence or deck, consider the alternatives – and make an informed choice.

Source: http://www.cwc.ca/environment/green_facts/
Click here for more green facts on trusses, building basements, whole buildings and more!

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April 5, 2009 No Comments

Sustainable Forest Management

by admin

Key Facts on Sustainable Forestry in Canada

Size
About half of Canada’s land mass is covered by forest, that is approximately 417 million hectares. Only ¼ of Canada’s forests are dedicated to forest management (119 million hectares), the remainder, for example, is either protected from harvesting, is of a non-commercial quality, or is commercial but not yet accessed or allocated.

Ownership
94% percent of Canada’s forests are publicly owned, while the remaining 6% is private property belonging to more than 425,000 landowners.

Harvest Levels
Canada harvests less than ½ of 1% of its commercial forest area each year, or ¼ of 1% of its total forest area. Moreover, it grows twice as much timber as it harvests. About ½ of the Canadian forest will NEVER be harvested. That never-to-be-logged Canadian forest is larger than California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana combined.

Fire, Insects & Disease
Did you know that Canada harvests less of its commercial forest each year (0.4%) than is taken by fire, insects and disease (0.5%).

Regeneration
By law all forests harvested on Canada’s public lands must be replaced. . More than half of the area harvested in Canada is left to regenerate naturally. Many tree species can reestablish themselves on a site without planting or seeding. These natural mechanisms include seeding from the adjacent forest, suckering of stumps and roots, and growth of young trees remaining on the harvested area. In summary, regeneration is accomplished by natural regeneration (53%), planting (43%), and aerial seeding (4%).
An Abundant and Growing Forest
The area of trees growing in Canada is growing not shrinking. In fact, during the 5 year period, 1990-1995, the United Nations FAO estimated a net increase of 4% in the area of trees growing in Canada’s commercial forests.
Helping Our Climate
Trees are living plants that ‘breathe’ to help them grow. As they breathe, they remove unwanted carbon dioxide from the air – a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming – and replace it with life sustaining oxygen.
Park System
Canada is the world leader in terms of area dedicated to its national and provincial park system for the use and enjoyment of Canadians and citizens around the world. Its national and provincial parks alone occupy some 56.8 million hectares. Compare that to the area of forests managed primarily for wood production in Canada – 119 million hectares – and one can quickly see that Canada’s forests are maintained for a variety of values and uses.
Original Forest Cover
Almost half of the Earth’s original forest cover is gone, much of it destroyed within the past three decades. In contrast, Canada has maintained over 90% of its forest cover and it has done so while being one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality forest products.
Forest Certification
Certification provides proof that forests are being managed by an independent 3rd party audit. Currently, if including CSA, SFI, FSC and ISO 14001 certifications, Canada has certifications covering some 115 million hectares of forest land- the largest certified forest area in the world! If however, one considers only those certifications to forestry-specific standards such as CSA, SFI, FSC, Canada has over 25 million hectares of forest land certified – of which 1 million is certified to FSC (see next bullet). However, the area of certifications to forestry-specific standards (CSA, SFI, FSC) is scheduled to grow considerably by 2006 given a new commitment by the Board of FPAC. It is also important to remember that the vast majority of wood coming from Canada’s forests are well-managed, certified or not. For more information on the forestry specific standards noted above or on forest management certification status in Canada, visit www.CertificationCanada.org.

FSC Forest Certification
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is not practical for small 10-100 acre parcels of land which are the primary source of high value hardwood in Canada. Costs to implement and maintain an FSC certification would be higher than the value of product derived. To be brief, FSC on small private lands managed for timber is conceptually unworkable in Canada. This point is made given that many environmental organizations lobby purchasers of Canadian forest products to specify FSC certified wood – this is an unrealistic demand for most small private woodlots in Canada. It should also be noted that even large scale commercial forestry operations in Canada for the most part are not pursuing FSC certifications for a variety of reasons. To date, 1 million of 25 million hectares of certified forest land in Canada is certified to the FSC Principles.

Key Facts on Sustainable Forest Products in Canada

What are the ATHENA™ Sustainable Materials Institute’s Life Cycle Facts in Support of Wood over Competing Products?

Total energy use: The wood building used the least energy. The concrete option required 1.7 times the energy for wood. The steel option required 2.4 times the energy. Wood simply does not require much energy to manufacture.

Greenhouse gases: The wood building had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The steel building generated 1.45 times and the concrete building generated 1.81 times the greenhouse gases for wood.

Air pollution: The wood design had the lowest air pollution index. The steel building produced 1.42 times and the concrete building produced 1.67 times the air pollution index.

Solid waste: The wood design had the lowest solid waste. This takes into account both manufacturing and on-site construction waste. Steel produced 1.36 times and the concrete produced 1.96 times the solid waste. This means there is virtually no waste during the manufacturing process and the use of engineered wood products has radically reduced the on-site construction waste.

Ecological Resource Use: The wood design had the lowest ecological resource use index. Steel was 1.16 times and concrete was 1.97 times the index for wood. This factor compares the long-term effects of resource extraction. Although forestry affects a large area, reforestation means the effects are short term. Sustainable forest management practices help ensure that disruption is minimized.

Conclusion: The office building built with wood had lower environmental impact for energy use, greenhouse gases, air and water pollution and ecological resource extraction than the steel or concrete building. A similar case study of residential buildings (comparing wood, steel and concrete construction) produced similar findings in terms of wood’s superior environmental performance.

What are some of the key sustainable wood product messages that the Wood Promotion Network?

N. America’s forests are abundant and growing, based on satellite imagery.

Wood is the best insulator against heat and cold, which makes it the most energy efficient material that can help keep home energy bills in check.

Regardless of market volatility, wood is the most affordable building material you can use. Framing an average 3-bedroom home can cost up to 30% less with wood versus other framing materials.

New innovations in engineered wood products and pre-made panels and trusses help builders and homeowners keep framing costs down.

The production and use of wood is easier on the environment than any other building material. It takes less non-renewable fossil fuels and less energy to produce wood framing materials than alternative framing materials.

Wood is the world’s only 100% renewable building material and is manufactured with the organic power of solar energy.

Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Canada’s sustainably managed forests ensure that there is an ample supply. New manufacturing technology allows every part of the tree to be used so that nothing is wasted. Advanced engineered wood products make use of fast growing species to produce high strength products without requiring large dimension timbers to meet building needs.

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April 4, 2009 No Comments

Canadian Forest Lands

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Sustainable Forest Management

Canada’s Forests – So Little Used – So Much Protected

How big are Canada’s forests?

417 million hectares of forested land – the boreal and temperate forests cover approximately half of Canada’s landmass, about 417 million hectares.
234 million hectares of forest with commercial potential – occupying a space about as large as the Mediterranean Sea.
Only ½ of the commercial forest, (or about ¼ of the total forest) are managed primarily for timber production, while the rest remain inaccessible or have not been allocated for that purpose.
What is harvested? Only 1 million hectares per year, that is less than ¼ of 1% of the total forest area.
How much parkland? Canada is the world leader with its national and provincial parks alone occupying some 56.8 million hectares. Compare that to the area of forests managed primarily for wood production in Canada – 119 million hectares – and one can quickly see that Canada’s forests are maintained for a variety of values and uses.

Source: Based on info found in the State of Canada’s Forest Report 2001/2002 produced by NRCAN.

How Much Wood Is Harvested in Canada Annually?

Did you know that the forest industry harvests less wood each year than is destroyed by wildfire, disease and pests?
In fact, Canada harvests only about ¼ of 1% of its forest lands.
Did you know that the Canadian forest sector harvests four times less (proportionally) than the five largest European forest nations combined?
Due to ever improving sustainable forestry practices, the volume of wood in Canada’s commercial forests just keeps on growing. In fact between 1976 and 1991 it increased by 35%.

Country	Volume Harvested	Total Forested Land
Canada	190 million m3	417 million hectares
Europe*	195 million m3	100 million hectares

* Sweden, Finland, Norway, France & Germany combined

How Extensive is Canada’s Original Forest Cover and Park Lands?

Almost half of the Earth’s original forest cover is gone, much of it destroyed within the past three decades. In contrast, Canada has maintained over 90% of its forest cover and it has done so while being one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality forest products. The CLA considers this fact to be instrumental in getting across the message that Canada is a leader in sustainable managing the natural forest, and it continues to improve based on the integration of new knowledge, information, research and development.

Not only does Canada maintain the highest percentage of original forest cover and untouched forests in the world, the reality is Canada’s forest industry has spent the better part of the last two decades making enormous strides in its forest management techniques, in lessening its environmental footprint – all in recognition of its role in the stewardship of a valued world resource. These achievements point to our ability to continue to be leaders in the management of natural forests using all three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environment.

Likewise, Canada is the world leader in terms of its national and provincial park system which now occupies some 56.8 million hectares. Moreover, this network of national and provincial parks continues to expand. For example, in October 2002, Prime Minister Jean Chretien announced that Canada plans on creating 10 new national parks over the next five years to protect unique landscapes and animals in the world’s second largest country. The total area covered by the 10 new parks will be around 100,000 square kilometers, almost doubling the area occupied by the existing 39 national parks.

“Canada is blessed with exceptional natural treasures. We owe it to Canadians and to the world to be wise stewards of these lands and waters,” Prime Minister Jean Chretien said in a speech to mark the announcement.

Forest Types, Ownership & Legislative Approach

Forest Types There are more than 30 species of softwoods and 100 species of hardwoods in Canada. Most of Canada’s commercial lumber and wood products come from softwoods, which are more plentiful, however, there are numerous high-end, value-added products predominantly produced from Canada’s hardwood forest resource.

Softwood is the term commonly used for coniferous trees. These are trees that bear cones and have needle-like leaves which generally remain green throughout winter. Softwoods include spruce, pine and others.

Hardwood refers to deciduous or broad-leaved trees, such as maple and oak. The leaves change colour in autumn and are usually shed before winter. Hardwoods tend to be denser and therefore harder than softwoods.

Source: State of Canada’s Forests Report 2001 – 2002. NRCAN.

Source: CWC web-site (see links section)

Forest Ownership & Responsibility Public Lands – Canada is unique in that 94% of its forest lands are publicly owned. Under the Canadian Constitution, the provinces have ownership over most publicly owned forest land—71% of the total forest land—and are legally responsible for it. The federal government’s responsibility for forests is based on its ownership of 23% of Canada’s total forest land, most of which is located in the territories. The federal government has, however, devolved responsibility for management to the territorial governments (devolution to the Government of the Yukon is to be completed in 2003).

Private Lands – Six percent of Canada’s forest land is owned by an estimated 425 000 individuals, families, communities and forest companies. Click here for more information on private lands in Canada.

Legislative Approach – Today, each province or territory has its own legislation, regulations, standards and programs through which it allocates forest harvesting rights and management responsibilities. About ¼ of 1% of Canada’s forests or about one million hectares are harvested annually. Each province or territory establishes Annual Allowable Cuts, which are based on the average volume of wood that may be harvested under sustained yield management. More than half the harvested area is left to regenerate naturally, usually after some form of preparatory site treatment. The remaining areas are seeded or replanted. Roughly 1.6% of Canada’s forests are affected by fire, insects and disease each year, and they are also left to regenerate naturally.

In addition, many provinces and territories have legislation that provides for public participation as part of the forest management planning and allocation process. The broad spectrum of forest user—the public, forest industries, Aboriginal groups and environmental organizations—are consulted in order to ensure that recreational, cultural, wildlife and economic values are incorporated into forest management planning and decision making.

To learn more about each of the Ministries across Canada responsible for forest management, click here.

In addition to provincial forestry legislation, there is federal legislation to ensure water quality is maintained and it is also working towards introducing federal legislation for species at risk. For example, in 1992, Canada became the first industrialized country to ratify the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity. In doing so, Canada committed itself to ”Develop or maintain necessary legislation and/or regulatory provisions for the protection of threatened species and populations.” To fulfill this commitment, Canada has been working toward an improved protective framework for species at risk. In October 1999, the federal government committed itself to bringing in a new Species at Risk Act (SARA) as one of its first environmental priorities for the new millenium. Bill C-5 the Species at Risk Act, was passed by the House of Commons and tabled in the Senate in June 2002. The law is expected to be passed by the end of 2002″.

Source: Based on information in The State of Canada’s Forests Report 2001 – 2002. NRCAN.

Focus On Hardwoods From Canada

Canada has a large hardwood resource. The Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) has been calculated and set at 65 million m3 per year. The harvest level is approximately 35 million m3 per year or 55% of the AAC.

There are two broad categories of hardwoods in Canada:

Aspens and poplar (which require full sunlight to grow) – used mainly for wood- based panels, such as plywood and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and for hardwood Kraft pulps and papermaking.
Tolerant hardwoods (so called because they are tolerant of shade. They also regenerate naturally when managed under partial-cut or selective harvesting systems). -used for lumber, veneers, furniture, cabinet making, flooring, and other value-added products with the low-grade logs being used for pulpwood or fuel wood depending on the marketing.

Canada has about 25 commercial species of tolerant hardwoods. 15 species are found in small quantities. Approximately 10 species are of significant economic importance.

Tolerant hardwoods found predominantly in Canada’s three eastern Forest Regions:

The Deciduous Forest Region- predominantly hardwood	0.4 million hectares
The Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Region- a mixed-wood forest	24.5 million hectares
The Acadian Forest Region- a mixed-wood forest	8.8 million hectares
Total Area	33.7 million hectares

Of Canada’s multiple-use forest land, approximately 23.4 million hectares, or 11% is in private ownership. 18 million hectares of the privately owned forest land lies in 5 of the eastern provinces with the vast majority falling within the three forest regions where the Tolerant Hardwoods grow.

Approximately half of the area of these three forest regions is in private ownership. Families own almost 75% of the private land as farm woodlots that average 40 ha in size. These lands tend to be the most productive and produce large volumes of tolerant hardwood logs. The area that is in public ownership is managed under strict provincial government regulation that ensures respect for the AAC, environmental guidlines and prompt regeneration after harvest.

In Canada stands of tolerant hardwoods, whether in public ownership or owned by industry or families, are managed and harvested using several partial cut or selection systems. Little planting is required after harvest, as natural regeneration is usually abundant.

(Source: Tony Rotherham. Nov. 2002)

Focus on Private Woodlots

Private woodlots are an important part of the sustainable forest management (SFM) equation in Canada. There are an estimated 425 000 woodlot owners in Canada who collectively own more than 18 million hectares of commercial productive forest land, which represents more than 12 percent of Canada’s total. Woodlots are an important source of commercial timber providing an annual harvest of 39.6 million cubic metres, or 21 percent of the national harvest¹. Equally, if not more important to woodlot owners, woodlots provide habitat, biodiversity, clean water, and spiritual and recreational opportunities.

(Source: http://www.modelforest.net/e/home_/privwoodse.html)

Six percent of Canada’s forest land is owned by an estimated 425 000 individuals, families, communities and forest companies.
If we compare the size and annual production of Canada’s family owned private forests to the listing of forest statistics for member countries of the FAO we find that these forests would be 13th in area and annual production – somewhere between Finland and France. The wood from private woodlots forms an important part of the 180 million m3 annual raw material requirements of the Canadian forest products industry. The woodlots have a significant presence in the southeastern regions of Canada, and are the source of a high proportion of Canada’s tolerant hardwoods.
These privately owned forests, of which 80% are located east of Manitoba and mostly in the Atlantic provinces, are generally productive and of high quality. They are the source of 19% of Canada’s industrial roundwood production (logs, bolts and pulpwood), 77% of maple products, 79% of fuelwood and firewood, as well as most of the nation’s Christmas trees.

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April 4, 2009 No Comments

REDWOOD GRADES

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Garden Grades		The garden grades, Deck Heart, Construction Heart, Deck Common, Construction Common, Merchantable Heart and Merchantable, are offered seasoned or unseasoned. They are frequently specified for decks, fences and garden structures where knots or other characteristics have little or no effect.
		All Heartwood
		Construction Heart/Deck Heart A heartwood grade containing knots of varying sizes and other slight imperfections. Available seasoned or unseasoned. This highly useful grade can be ordered surfaced or rough. Deck Heart has similar appearance and uses as Construction Heart but is also graded for strength. Deck Heart is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only. Uses Decks, posts, retaining walls, fences, garden structures, stairs or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.

		Merchantable Heart This economical heartwood grade allows slightly larger knots than construction grades; holes limited to size of knots. Allows checks, some splits and some manufacturing flaws. Available unseasoned, surfaced or rough. Uses Fences, retaining walls, garden structures or other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.
		Heartwood and Sapwood
		Construction Common/Deck Common Same general characteristics as Construction Heart, but contains combination of heartwood and sapwood. Unseasoned or seasoned, it can be surfaced or rough. Deck Common is also graded for strength and is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only. Uses Decking, fence boards and other above-ground garden uses that do not require heartwood’s insect and decay resistance.

		Merchantable Has same characteristics as Merchantable Heart but contains sapwood in varying amounts. This economical grade is available unseasoned and can be ordered surfaced or rough. Uses Fence boards, rails and other above-ground outdoor and garden uses. Also subflooring and temporary construction.

Architectural Grades		The architectural grades, Clear All Heart, Clear, Heart Clear, Heart B and B Grade, are normally sold kiln dried (preshrunk and stress free) for the finest exterior and interior architectural uses. No other wood equals these finish grades in beauty and dimensional stability. They are the choice grades for siding, paneling, trim and cabinetry where attractiveness and tight joinery are desired.
		All Heartwood
		Clear All Heart Finest architectural heartwood grade, normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned), well manufactured, free of defects one face (reverse) face may have slight imperfections). Available surfaced or saw-textured. Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork. Also fine decks, hot tubs, garden structures, industrial storage and processing tanks.

		Heart B Quality heartwood grade containing limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear All Heart and Heart Clear. Available kiln dried or unseasoned. This grade can be surfaced or saw-textured. Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses. Quality decking, garden shelters and other outdoor uses in contact with the ground.
		Heartwood and Sapwood
		Clear Same general quality as Clear All Heart except contains sapwood in varying amounts. Some imperfections not permitted in Clear All Heart. Normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned). Available surfaced or saw-textured. Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits. Also quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground applications.

		B Grade Quality grade containing sapwood, limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear. Certified Kiln Dried; also unseasoned. Available surfaced or saw-textured. Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses; quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.



CALIFORNIA REDWOOD ASSOCIATION · 1 888-CALREDWOOD · info@calredwood.org
© 2005, California Redwood Association. All rights reserved.

April 3, 2009 No Comments

NEW: CEDAR PANELS

by admin

Softwood Forest Products Buyer

Feature Story

COLUMBIA CEDAR Soars To New Horizons

By Merry Schmidt

Panel Crafters, Inc., a sister company to Lazy S Lumber Inc. in Beavercreek,Ore., and Columbia Cedar Inc. in Kettle Falls, Wash., recently began production of their new line of Cedar Craft – Cedar Siding panels.

Kettle Falls, Wash.—Columbia Cedar Inc., headquartered here, and Lazy S Lumber Inc., located in Beavercreek, Ore., have long been known as a leading contender for their innovation and progressive approach in the Cedar lumber industry.

“In spite of tightening supply issues throughout the Northwest, the companies continue to find ways to procure raw product while installing more efficient equipment to further enhance the usage of the raw material that is delivered to the mills,” said Ralph Schmidt, who along with his wife, Merry, own both Columbia Cedar and Lazy S. “It’s a philosophy we’ve had here from day one.”

Columbia Cedar recently completed a new office designed by Mark Schmidt, Ralph’s brother, with interior hardwood panels of cherry, Brazilian rosewood and calico hickory supplied by Panel Crafters. “This is a much needed new office that may eventually become our ‘world headquarters’,” the Schmidts said. “We have plans for an asphalted parking area and a new lunchroom.”

Columbia Cedar also recently completed a new debarker and storage building as stage one in retooling for more efficiency. “Efficiently using the resource is crucial in staying competitive in this market,” Ralph said.

Ralph and Merry Schmidt recently relocated to Eagle Point, Ore., to spend more time at Panel Crafters, but “commute” between Columbia Cedar and Lazy S to provide direction and “problem solving 101” to the companies. “Our customers have

Bob Wright is the quality control manager and assistant mill manager for Columbia Cedar.

come to depend on and expect the type of products and service that we provide on an ongoing basis,” Ralph said. “We thrive on the challenge that it is to continually stay fresh and innovative beyond just the next six months or even a year. We are optimistic for the future in this industry where many are pulling out.”
Panel Crafters Inc. is located in White City, Ore., near Medford. This facility is a hardwood panel lay-up plant that specializes in hardwood veneers of all species and grades and can produce an industry leading special 5’ x 8’ sizing as well as the standard 4’ x 8’. In June 2008, Panel Crafters introduced two new lines of APA (American Plywood Assoc.) T1-11 sidings. Cedar Craft is a Western Red Cedar panel veneer on exterior grade plywood for home siding. It has all the beautiful characteristics of Western Red Cedar with an economical price. The other is an okoumé, an African hardwood, panel that has a clear (no knots) face and is used for siding as well as soffit materials.
“We select the logs for peeling from Columbia Cedar, and ship the skins directly from a peeling plant to Panel Crafters, and sales is directed from Lazy S Lumber, enabling the three companies to weave together a very good working team of sales and production staff,” Merry said. “We’ve selected sound, second growth tight knot logs, and shipped those to be peeled and composed, and then bring the skins to Panel Crafters where they are graded, sorted and laid up into the Cedar Craft line of panels,” Ralph said. “So I know the quality of the skins and can assure my customers of the integrity of the panels.”

Steve West is the resource manager for Columbia Cedar and Panel Crafters. He is responsible for buying all of the logs and sorts for Cedar Craft veneer logs.

Ralph added, “What makes Cedar Craft unique is the skins are exactly as nature made them. We don’t cut or blow out the knots and replace them with synthetic putty. We only repair the knots that fall out during the creation of the skins, and lay-up, so the natural look of tight knot Cedar is graded into our product line.

“The added rough saw will texture and pattern the panels exactly as specified by the APA,” he said. “We’ve worked very closely with them to assure our customers are getting a product they are familiar with in construction, but unique and natural in appearance.”

Ralph added, “To add versatility to our product lines, we are also providing an okoumé faced line we call Craftsman. It’s an A-grade okoumé panel that will have the same textured finish as the Cedar Craft panels, but is a true clear, light wood color.”

Nice and Knotty

Chris Retherford, sales manager at Columbia Cedar, said, “Some of our customers have been misled to believe that okoumé is Cedar. I think it’s important to know the difference. Okoumé is an African hardwood and is also known as gaboon. It has a light salmon to tan color, and in veneers it rarely has knots. Our Cedar Craft panels are authentic Western Red Cedar, from our own Cedar logs, that have all the qualities and appearance of natural Cedar.”
Ralph said, “I’ve been in the Cedar business for more than 35 years, and have on my team the most knowledgeable group of guys in the business selling. For the Cedar and okoumé panels, call Todd Fox, Dave Duncan or Larry Petree at Lazy S Lumber, or Chris Retherford at Columbia Cedar. At Panel Crafters, the best guys in the business are Mike Palmerton who is

The Cedar Craft product line has earned the APA grade stamp for T1-11 sidings and is manufactured to APA (American Plywood Association) 303 sidings specifications.

our sales team manager, Tom Overbeck and Paul Kell. These guys have integrity and do their best for our customers in service. They are hardwood specialists and can get the job done.”
Green In Many Colors

Paul Kell, sales at Panel Crafters, said, “Panel Crafters is unique in the panel business, because we offer FSC-certified as well as no added formaldehyde products and can obtain products in ranges that most other suppliers can’t. With our 5-foot wide presses and sanders, we offer product dimensions that save you time and money on both material costs and cut waste that needs to be disposed of after the job is finished. Our versatility allows us to manufacture panels from 3×6 to 5×10 and any dimension in between. Cross grain, book match, slip match or whole piece. We like the ‘out of the norm,’ and can mix those with our standard panels.”
Panel Crafters Inc. is a sister company to Lazy S Lumber Inc. of Beavercreek, Ore., and also to Columbia Cedar Inc. of Kettle Falls, Wash.

The companies are owned and operated by Ralph and Merry Schmidt who at this writing have transferred to Eagle Point, Ore., from their home in Kettle Falls, Wash., to spearhead the Panel Crafters “Cedar Craft” project. “This is what we do,” Merry said. “When we commit to a company, we do what it takes to make it successful so the transfer was easy.”

Panel Crafters’ skins come from selected Cedar logs taken at Columbia Cedar. At Panel Crafters, they are graded, sorted and laid up into the Cedar Craft line of panels.

The Schmidts named their products including Smith River 6 patch clear, Deschutes 6 patch premium knotty, Rogue Valley 18 patch knotty and McKenzie paint grade after the region.

“Ralph and I worked on those names while driving down from Kettle Falls,” Merry said. “The area’s rivers are so beautiful and it was a catchy way to identify our products, with the Deschutes being our favorite because we’ve spent so much time on that river fishing for steelhead. If you’ve ever caught a 12-pound keeper, you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

For more information on Cedar Panels contact Dave Stepro at 775-972-7300.

More info for Softwood Forest Products Buyer

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April 2, 2009 No Comments

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Installing Wood Siding

Ponderosa Pine

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Environmental Benefits

Green by Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood

What are the facts?

“Green By Design: Renewable, Durable, Sustainable Wood.” Canadian Wood Council & Forest Products Association of Canada. (CWC & FPAC)

Addressing Negative Perceptions and Campaigns

Build with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

Selecting Environmentally Friendly Flooring

Build that New Fence with Wood and Help Protect the Environment

Key Facts on Sustainable Forestry in Canada

Key Facts on Sustainable Forest Products in Canada

Sustainable Forest Management

Canada’s Forests – So Little Used – So Much Protected

How Much Wood Is Harvested in Canada Annually?

How Extensive is Canada’s Original Forest Cover and Park Lands?

Forest Types, Ownership & Legislative Approach

Focus On Hardwoods From Canada

Focus on Private Woodlots

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