Wood Protection Association

I ran across the Wood Protection Council Today. The text below is from their homepage. It seems like a good organization for information and training for the UK and, maybe, EU standards.

Welcome to the Wood Protection Association – Preserving Confidence in Timber!
Wood is a superb material and the only truly sustainable resource for construction. Plantation grown softwoods from certified sources are most widely used in construction but such timber lacks sufficient natural durability for many situations. However, the correct treatment in conjunction with good design and maintenance will deliver exceptional performance for any application.

The Wood Protection Association provides:
■ Advice on selection of suitable wood species for different end-uses
■ Advice on selection of appropriate wood protection products
■ Specifications for high quality preservative treatments for all Use Classes
■ Specifications for flame retardant treatments
■ Information on suppliers of coatings, preservatives, flame retardants and wood treated with these products
■ Information on safe and effective use of all types of wood protection products and treated timber

For safety, value and versatility, pre-treated timber is the ideal construction material. Yet, along with its practical benefits, its use also has considerable environmental importance making possible the continued utilisation of timber with the lasting care of the world's forest resources.

http://www.wood-protection.org/default.asp

Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook

This leads to the Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook page where you can download the book in one pdf (very large file) or by chapter. Here is the table of contents, which is on that page (the links for each chapter are active):

Cool book and it's free.

Front matter (PDF 292 KB)
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Chapter 1 -- Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Wood (PDF 916 KB)
Timber Resources and Uses
Species Descriptions
U.S. Wood Species
Imported Woods
Chapter 2 -- Structure of Wood (PDF 434 KB)
Bark, Wood, Branches, and Cambium
Sapwood and Heartwood
Growth Rings
Wood Cells
Chemical Composition
Species Identification
Chapter 3 -- Physical Properties and Moisture Relations of Wood (PDF 495 KB)
Appearance
Moisture Content
Shrinkage
Weight, Density, and Specific Gravity
Working Qualities
Decay Resistance
Thermal Properties
Electrical Properties
Coefficient of Friction
Nuclear Radiation
Chapter 4 -- Mechanical Properties of Wood (PDF 1.2 MB)
Orthotropic Nature of Wood
Elastic Properties
Strength Properties
Vibration Properties
Mechanical Properties of Clear Straight-Grained Wood
Natural Characteristics Affecting Mechanical Properties
Effects of Manufacturing and Service Environments
Chapter 5 Commercial Lumber (PDF 551 KB)
Hardwood Lumber
Softwood Lumber
Purchase of Lumber
Commonly Used Lumber Abbreviations
Chapter 6 -- Lumber Stress Grades and Design Properties (PDF 329 KB)
Responsibilities and Standards for Stress Grading
Visually Graded Structural Lumber
Machine-Graded Structural Lumber
Adjustment of Properties for Design Use
Chapter 7 -- Fastenings (PDF 1.1 MB)
Nails
Spikes
Staples
Drift Bolts
Wood Screws
Lag Screws
Bolts
Connector Joints
Multiple-Fastener Joints
Metal Plate Connectors
Fastener Head Embedment
Chapter 8 -- Structural Analysis Equations (PDF 320 KB)
Deformation Equations
Stress Equations
Stability Equations
Chapter 9 -- Adhesive Bonding of Wood Materials (PDF 433 KB)
Adhesion to Wood
Surface Properties of Wood Adherends
Physical Properties of Wood Adherends
Adhesives
Bonding Process
Bonded Joints
Testing and Performance
Chapter 10 -- Wood-Based Composites and Panel Products (PDF 904 KB)
Scope
Types of Conventional Composite Materials
Adhesive Considerations
Additives
General Manufacturing Issues
Standards for Wood-Based Panels
Plywood
Particle and Fiber Composites
Wood-Nonwood Composites
Chapter 11 -- Glued Structural Members (PDF 975 KB)
Structural Composite Lumber
Glulam
Glued Members With Lumber and Panels
Structural Sandwich Construction
Chapter 12 -- Drying and Control of Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes (PDF 1.3 MB)
Determination of Moisture Content
Recommended Moisture Content
Drying of Wood
Moisture Control During Transit and Storage
Dimensional Changes in Wood
Design Factors Affecting Dimensional Change
Wood Care and Installation During Construction
Chapter 13 -- Biodeterioration of Wood (PDF 599 KB)
Fungus Damage and Control
Bacteria
Insect Damage and Control
Marine Borer Damage and Control
Chapter 14 -- Wood Preservation (PDF 1.2 MB)
Wood Preservatives
Preservative Effectiveness
Effect of Species on Penetration
Preparation of Timber for Treatment
Application of Preservatives
Handling and Seasoning of Timber After Treatment
Quality Assurance for Treated Wood
Chapter 15 -- Finishing of Wood (PDF 2.2 MB)
Factors Affecting Finish Performance
Control of Water or Moisture in Wood
Types of Exterior Wood Finishes
Application of Wood Finishes
Finish Failure or Discoloration
Finishing of Interior Wood
Finishes for Items Used for Food
Wood Cleaners and Brighteners
Paint Strippers
Lead-Based Paint 15-35
Chapter 16 -- Use of Wood In Building and Bridges (PDF 779 KB)
Light-Frame Buildings
Post-Frame and Pole Buildings
Log Buildings
Heavy Timber Buildings
Timber Bridges
Considerations for Wood Buildings
Chapter 17 -- Fire Safety (PDF 318 KB)
Fire Safety Design and Evaluation
Fire Performance Characteristics of Wood
Flame-Retardant Treatments
Chapter 18 -- Round Timbers and Ties (PDF 396 KB)
Standards and Specifications
Material Requirements
Availability
Form
Weight and Volume
Durability
Strength Properties
Chapter 19 -- Specialty Treatments (PDF 298 KB)
Plasticizing Wood
Modified Woods
Paper-Based Plastic Laminates
Glossary (PDF 178 KB)
Index (PDF 154 KB)

Vermont Timber Works - Mortise and Tenon

I found Vermont Timber Works online today. They have done some impressive work and have a very nice explanation of their methods at http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/joints.html

This picture is a great example of mortise and tenon work.

Here is their "tools of the trade" page showing that they do a lot of their work by hand. Funny that I do not see a CNC machine.

Welco Lumber

This is an interesting supplier who was off my radar until recently - Welco Lumber

A list of their product lines...

Wood Preservatives: we offer wood preservative treatments of CCA, ACQ, Creosote, ACZA, and Penta.

Re-manufacturing: we offer a complete service of custom dressing, ripping, chopping, trim sawing, custom dapping, and custom drilling.

Custom Cut: we can offer all sizes up to 50 ft. of custom cut timbers in all species. Our timbers are used in many projects such as hotels, temples, aquariums, libraries, damns, canals, tunnels and wharves.

Bridges: we supply timbers to contractors servicing the forestry, oil & gas industry as well as pipeline contractors and government agencies.

Railway: we supply rail companies, treaters and contractors with crossing planks, cross ties and railway bridge timbers.

Marine: we supply timbers and piling for use in coastal marine applications both treated and not treated.

Log Home: we supply throughout North America; waney cants, slabbed logs, house logs, and appearance grade timbers, as well as D. logs in 6 x 8 and 8 x 8. All of our log home timbers are produced to meet or exceed Wall Log 40 Grade and are available in lengths up to 50 feet.

Our mills in Northern British Columbia log heavily in the winter months. The extreme cold climate slows growth, improves wood quality, and yields wood with a low and uniform moisture content. We use dense, high quality pine and spruce which is resistant to checking and we also air dry our cants to a moisture content of maximum 23%.

Oil & Gas: we supply pipeline skids, bridge timbers and pipeline chauls as well as crane mats in both hardwoods and softwoods for crane matts, please see our link to www.tundramatt.com

Sawmills: our exclusive mills are located in northern British Columbia and Southern Alberta producing in excess of 50 million board feet annually.

This page is at http://www.welcolumber.com/products-timbers.html
I like their favicon although I would prefer more pictures on their site.

Home Depot Considers sale of supply business

ReutersMonday, February 12, 2007; 2:41 PM
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc. (HD.N) said on Monday it was considering a sale, spin-off or initial public offering of its professional supply business to focus on its retail stores, reversing a controversial policy of former CEO Robert Nardelli to expand the unit.
Wall Street has criticized the wholesale distribution unit with its lower profit margins, saying it diverted resources from retail stores as competition from Lowe's Cos. (LOW.N) intensified. Home Depot Supply accounts for some 15 percent of the company's total sales, while retail stores account for 85 percent of revenue.
Partnership

Home Depot Supply sells building materials, wastewater and utility products to municipalities and contractors in the United States and Canada.
"With annual revenues of approximately $12 billion, HD Supply is a healthy, growing and vibrant business," CEO Frank Blake said in a statement. "We are undertaking this evaluation to determine whether there are strategic alternatives with respect to HD Supply that would optimize shareholder value."
The company said it has retained Lehman Brothers as its financial advisor to assist in the process.
Home Depot launched the supply business in 1997 and grew it by acquiring companies like National Waterworks Holdings, a water and sewer products supplier. The unit continued to expand under Nardelli, who joined the company in 2000, and last year the company bought Hughes Supply for $3.2 billion.
Home Depot has been under intense pressure from investors because of weakening sales and profits. It also faces a regulatory probe into its stock options award practices.
Nardelli earned at least $119.2 million in salary and bonus, not including options, through the end of fiscal 2005. When he stepped down as chairman and chief executive in January, it was with a severance deal of about $210 million.
When Nardelli resigned, the retailer said it was by mutual decision between him and the board. He was replaced as chairman and chief executive by Frank Blake.
"You have a new regime in place, and it's trying to put its mark on where the growth of the company really sits," said Bill Schultz, chief investment officer for McQueen, Ball & Associates, which owns Home Depot stock.
Blake is "trying to cut expenses and trying to change the culture a little bit," Schultz said.
Sales growth at Home Depot's stores has cooled over the past year as the U.S. housing market slowed. Sales at stores open at least a year fell 5.1 percent in the third quarter, and in November it said it expected a 4 to 5 percent rise in earnings per share for its 2006 year, down from a previous forecast of growth at the low end of 10 to 14 percent.
Analysts have said Blake, a former General Electric executive, is taking a more inclusive and conciliatory approach to shareholders and employees than Nardelli.
"The company is refocused on retail, seems determined to listen to its major shareholders, and will likely use the $10 billion in proceeds to buy back more stock," Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter said in a research note
Last week, Home Depot gave a seat on its board to Relational Investors, an activist shareholder that had announced plans to nominate at least two directors to the retailer's board this year. The decision to add Relational principal David Batchelder to the Home Depot board ended the firm's threatened proxy fight.
In a research note, Sanford Bernstein analyst Colin McGranahan said a potential buyer of Home Depot Supply could include Wolseley PLC (WOS.L), a British building materials supplier, and private equity firms.
Shares of Home Depot were up 46 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $41.46 on the New York Stock Exchange, while Lowe's rose 26 cents to $33.68.
Home Depot's stock is up less than one percent so far this year.

You can find this full article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021200745.html

Declining Demand for Lumber through 2007

This is an interesting outlook for 2007 lumber business.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Butch Bernhardt
Prepared December 28, 2006 503-306-3488

DECLINING DEMAND FOR LUMBER
TO CONTINUE INTO 2007 AS HOUSING SLOWS

PORTLAND, Ore. – After four consecutive years of record lumber consumption, demand for lumber fell in 2006 and is expected to slow further during 2007, according to a forecast by Western Wood Products Association (WWPA).

A decrease in housing construction is expected to reduce lumber demand in 2006 by 3.2 percent to 61.9 billion board feet, compared to the all-time high of 63.9 billion board feet recorded in 2005. The slide in demand will continue into 2007, with WWPA forecasting total lumber use at 57.1 billion board feet, a decrease of 7.2 percent.

Slower housing markets are the key reason for the lumber demand declines. New housing starts will be down nearly 9 percent in 2006, and fall another 10 percent to 1.69 million in 2007, according to the association’s forecast. Residential construction is the largest market for lumber, accounting for more than 40 percent of the lumber used each year.

The volume of lumber used in repair/remodeling is anticipated to decrease as well, though not as deeply. WWPA anticipates repair/remodeling use of lumber to fall 2.6 percent in 2006 and nearly 6 percent in 2007.

“While home prices will still fall in some areas, we think that housing starts and home sales are nearing a sustainable rate,” said Kevin Binam, the association’s chief economist. “But construction is going to be lower than we’ve seen in the past few years and that will mean less demand for lumber.”


DECLINING DEMAND FOR LUMBER

The weaker markets for lumber will create challenges for Western lumber mills. Lumber production in the West is expected to finish 2006 at 18 billion board feet, down 6.7 percent. For 2007, production volumes are expected to fall again by 6.7 percent to 16.8 billion board feet.

Production at mills in the Coast region, covering the western portions of Oregon and Washington, is anticipated to be 6 percent lower in 2006, then dip by 4.7 percent to 10.5 billion board feet by 2007. Mills in the rest of the Western region will feel the downturn more acutely, with production down 8 percent in 2006 and off another 9.7 percent to 5.5 billion board feet in 2007.

Sawmills in the South also will be impacted by slower markets. After producing at record levels the past two years, Southern production is predicted to slip by 7.1 percent to 17.4 billion board feet in 2007.

Lumber imports are forecast to fall as demand slides, though volumes shipped from Canada will fare better than those coming from other foreign shippers. WWPA estimates Canadian imports will be down 1.4 percent in 2006 and off another 6.1 percent in 2007, slipping below 20 billion board feet for the first time in three years.

Non-Canadian imports will see larger declines, decreasing 11.7 percent in 2006 and 18.6 percent in 2007 to 2.28 billion board feet. Unfavorable currency exchanges and lower lumber prices are expected to reduce shipments from Europe by almost 600 million board feet from 2005 levels.

Western Wood Products Association represents lumber manufacturers in the 12 Western states and Alaska. Based in Portland, WWPA compiles lumber industry statistics and provides business information services to mills. The Association also delivers quality standards and technical support services to the industry.

You will find the full downloadable text for this article at the wwpa website at http://www.wwpa.org/newsroom.htm