Don’t Just Design a Deck, Design an Outdoor Living Experience

May 11th, 2012 by

Don’t just design a deck, design an outdoor living experience.
Planning Tips for your Humboldt Redwood deck

Once you’ve decided to add a deck to enhance your outdoor living space; there are some important things to consider that go beyond the size and design of the deck. Here are five tips to help you get the most out of the design and placement of your Humboldt Redwood deck.

  • Easy access. Free-standing or attached, make sure the deck is easily accessible and integrated into the design of your house and yard. Traffic patterns on and off the deck and into the house and yard need to be simple and logical.
  • Optimize for sun, shade and wind.  Check the seasonal and daily sun patterns and prevailing winds. It’s no fun reading the morning paper on a windy deck or sunbathing in the shade. Simple shifts in the site plan can make a big difference in the quality of your deck experience.
  • Balance privacy and view. Consider the view onto the deck as well as the view off of your deck. Depending on your site, you may want to add privacy screens or greenscaping. Well-placed arbors or other garden structures can help block views and create a sense of privacy.
  • Know what’s underneath. Decks cover ground, so it’s really important to know what’s in the ground beneath your deck. The location of utilities such as power, cable, water, and sewer lines should all be identified before you break ground.
  • Safety. Decks are supporting structures with load-bearing responsibilities. There are codes that govern the construction of decks. They are not just suggestions or good ideas. They are critical to the safety of all who use the deck. Be sure to know and follow all local deck-building codes.

Of course to truly get the most out of your backyard deck, be sure to choose naturally strong and durable, FCS certified Humboldt Redwood. Tips and information to Build a Redwood Deck are available, and Humboldt Redwood lumber is readily available at a number of fine lumber yards and home improvement retailers throughout the western United States. Visit our Where to Buy Humboldt Redwood page to find a stocking location near you.

Golden State Lumber Newark’s 12th Annual Contractor’s Day BBQ

May 10th, 2012 by

The Golden State Lumber yard in Newark, California will be hosting their 12th Annual Contractor’s Day BBQ on Friday, May 18th. Bay Area contractors are welcome to attend the event from 10:00 – 2:00. The Golden State Newark yard is located on 38801 Cherry Street, Newark, CA 94560. Special offers and events include:

  • One day tool sale
  • Vendor demonstrations
  • Free BBQ lunch
  • Free T-shirts for everyone
  • Entertainment
  • Games & Prizes
  • Raffle Drawings

 

Golden State Lumber is one of Humboldt Redwood’s valued lumber yard partners. Visit our booth at the event to learn more about Humboldt Redwood and to receive fun giveaway prizes and more. Look for our Humboldt Redwood decking and fencing products as well. If you are a Bay Area contractor you don’t want to miss this event!

ProBuild Garden City, Kansas Customer Appreciation Days

May 3rd, 2012 by

The ProBuild yard in Garden City, Kansas will be hosting a Customer Appreciation Day on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Visit them from 11:00 – 3:00 to receive special one day low prices on thousands of items. A free lunch will also be served. In addition, ProBuild experts will be on hand to provide the latest information and expertise on home improvement projects. ProBuild Garden City, KS is one of Humboldt Redwood’s valued retail partners. You may find our Humboldt Redwood decking products and much more during their Customer Appreciation Day. Don’t miss the biggest building materials show in southwest Kansas on Wednesday, May 9 in Garden City, Kansas!

 

Retail Partner Spotlight: Mendo Mill & Lumber

April 26th, 2012 by

Mendo Mill & Lumber is one of Humboldt Redwood’s valued retail partners! With five store locations throughout Mendocino and Lake Counties in Northern California, Mendo Mill is an Ace Hardware affiliated lumber yard and home center. You can shop their conveniently located stores in Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, Clearlake, and Lakeport.

Mendo Mill sells a wide range of home and building materials including paint, tools, and of course lumber and building materials. Mendo Mill stocks a full assortment of Humboldt Redwood decking and fencing products and offers delivery services to their valued customers throughout Mendocino and Lake Counties. Mendo Mill has also begun carrying the Deckorators® line of decorative post caps, post covers, and balusters. In addition, Mendo Mill stocks Allweather Wood treated wood for decking substructures, fence posts, and other building and agricultural uses. Visit your local Mendo Mill location and start designing and building your dream Humboldt Redwood deck with beautiful Deckorators accessories!

And, Mendo Mill has some exciting news to share. May 5th and 6th Mendo Mill will host their Spectacular Spring Sale featuring 20% off everything in store – yes, everything! Visit any of Mendo Mill’s five locations May 5th and 6th to receive 20% off everything you buy. Whether you need to repaint your home, buy a great Father’s Day gift, build a new fence or deck, or any other home improvement project, Mendo Mill has the materials and expertise to help you get your project started.

Featuring convenient locations, helpful staff, and competitive prices, Mendo Mill is your go-to Ace Hardware affiliate in Mendocino and Lake Counties. Visit MendoMill.com for additional information or visit the Mendo Mill Facebook page. And, don’t forget their Super Coupon – featuring the lowest prices on the planet!

And don’t forget to mark your calendar now for the Mendo Mill Spectacular Spring Sale, featuring 20% off everything in store!

Redwood lumber marketing project launching soon; supervisors approve using Headwaters Fund grant

April 25th, 2012 by

Megan Hansen/The Times-Standard

Posted:   04/25/2012 02:18:06 AM PDT

Humboldt County residents can expect to start seeing advertisements promoting the use of redwood over other building materials thanks to a marketing program that will utilize a Headwaters Fund grant.

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve spending $750,000 in Headwaters Fund money during the next three years to develop and implement a redwood lumber advertising campaign.

Headwaters Fund coordinator Dawn Elsbree said the goal of the campaign is to convince California residents to choose redwood over wood-plastic composite lumber when building decks. She said the hope is an increased demand will help retain, if not increase, local jobs.

”Humboldt County has two-thirds of the national redwood supply,” Elsbree said.

The Headwaters Fund board — created by the county to utilize $22 million in state and federal funds given to offset the sale of the Headwaters Forest Reserve — approved the grant application in March. Elsbree said the board plans to review the project’s impact after its second year, before funding the third year.

The project is a collaboration of the Humboldt Economic Development Division, the California Redwood Company and the Humboldt Redwood Company.

Carter Welch, vice president in marketing for the Humboldt Redwood Company, said people don’t realize that redwood decking is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than composite. He said composite companies have been busy promoting their own products.

”Composite spends about $20 million a year on marketing,” Welch said.

He said preliminary research indicated people’s opinions about using redwood versus composite decking dramatically changed when focus group subjects were shown a short video clip about redwood.

The supervisors were generally supportive of the redwood marketing idea, but did raise concerns about the project’s projected job retention rates. A county staff report indicates the marketing project is expected to create a 40 percent gain in redwood volume and help retain 827 jobs.

Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace said early on in the meeting that he wasn’t convinced by the numbers and thought they might be too optimistic. He also thought the project’s price tag was a bit large.

”If $750,000 could create a 40 percent gain in 10 years, I’ve got to ask ‘then why hasn’t the industry done it already?’” Lovelace said. “Why do they need us?”

Two members of the public raised concerns about the project and one other voiced support for it.

Carl Schoenhofer, vice president and general manager of the California Redwood Company, said individual redwood companies have been trying to brand and market themselves for years. He said this project is different.

”This gives us the opportunity to do it in a collaborative way,” Schoenhofer said.

The supervisors ended up approving the project on a 4-0 vote, with 1st District Supervisor Jimmy Smith absent.

Jacqueline Debets, county economic development coordinator and project manager, said the exact date of the advertising campaign kick-off has yet to be determined. She said the plan is to run a series of television commercials, create a website and create a social media presence.

”I would like to do a local event,” Debets said. “Hopefully, we’ll announce something in a month or so.”

In addition to approving the redwood marketing project, the supervisors approved allocating $101,000 in Headwaters Fund grants to two other community projects.

The first project involves creating two commercial kitchens in an existing building at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka. Money from the Headwaters Fund, in the amount of $61,000, will be used to build the kitchen facilities. People will be able to rent the kitchens to create Humboldt-made edibles and products.

The second project will utilize $40,000 in Headwaters Fund money to support a community facility called Studio 299 in Willow Creek. Funds will be used to expand a newly purchased property in the downtown area for the eventual creation of a center for the arts.

Megan Hansen can be reached at 441-0511 or mhansen@times-standard.com.

This article may also be found on the Times-Standard website, Redwood lumber marketing project launching soon; supervisors approve using Headwaters Fund grant.

Fence Ideas for a Small Backyard

April 23rd, 2012 by

No need to feel “fenced in” in a small backyard.

It’s a bit of a design challenge to create a feeling of expansiveness in a small yard, yet still maintain the desired amount of privacy. Choosing the right fence design is the beginning of the solution.

A tall, solid fence will certainly keep nosy neighbors at bay, but it will also have the effect of shrinking the yard and walling you in—hardly the relaxing effect you’re looking for.

Here are some ideas for Humboldt Redwood fencing that will add just the right amounts of durability, security, privacy, warmth and aesthetic charm.

Lattice top Humboldt Redwood fencing provides open spacing for light at the top and gives your yard some breathing room. It adds a designer’s touch to your landscape.

Shadow box Humboldt Redwood fences offer a variation on the traditional picket fence. Viewed from an angle, the pickets do have visible spacing, but viewed from straight-on, the fence acts as a complete privacy fence. Choose a height that suits your house and your privacy requirements. This is a good application if you wish to have a finished look on both sides of the fence, or a “good neighbor” fence.

You can enhance a small yard by creating functional areas using landscaping and simple redwood garden structures – privacy screens, planters, pergolas, etc. Use louvered redwood screens to create a quiet conversation space; or line a patio with redwood planters to define a space with natural color.

So with a little imagination and Humboldt Redwood, you can turn a small backyard into a collection of functional spaces. For more ideas on how to create naturally warm and beautiful outdoor living environments, visit our Redwood Plans page.

When it’s time to buy Humboldt Redwood, you will find it can be conveniently found at independent lumber yards and home improvement retailers throughout the Western U.S. Visit our Where to Buy Humboldt Redwood page and search for a stocking dealer in your location.

Choosing a Redwood Deck

April 18th, 2012 by

A beautiful deck adds much to your home’s character and your family’s quality of life.  Once you’ve decided to enhance your lifestyle with a new deck, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is what material to use.  There are a number of options to choose from:  composites, cedar, tropical hardwoods or redwood.

When compared with the other options, redwood decking comes out on top in most categories.  It is naturally beautiful, environmentally friendly, durable, economical and easy to maintain.

Naturally beautiful:  A redwood deck has unparalleled natural warmth and beauty.  Unlike composites, which look and feel like plastic, or other woods, which need constant maintenance to stay attractive, redwood stays beautiful with minimal maintenance.

Environmentally  friendly:  Redwood lumber is harvested from sustainable forests in accordance with the certification standards of the Forest Stewardship Council.  Because it is naturally disease and insect resistant, there is no need to treat it with chemicals to preserve the wood. Composites, of course, are derived from plastic materials and wood fillers which are not biodegradable. Redwood decking also meets California’s strict fire codes without the need for toxic chemicals that composites use.

Durable: A typical redwood deck will last as long as 25 years and redwood’s dimensional stability makes it less likely to warp, peel or split than other types of wood. Unlike composites, which can fade, crack and warp in the hot sun, and tend to stain easily, redwood is easy to clean and resists staining.

Easy to maintain: Redwood keeps its beauty and structure with little maintenance.  A simple stain or finish with a water repellant  protects the natural color, or it can be allowed to weather to a soft gray.

Economical:  Redwood is competitively priced when compared with composites or tropical hardwood.

Simply put, a redwood deck is the perfect choice for natural outdoor living.

For more information, check out this informative Choosing a Redwood Deck video. In addition, for all your redwood decking needs, Humboldt Redwood has you covered. Available through select, independent lumber yards and home improvement retailers throughout the Western U.S., visit our Where to Buy Humboldt Redwood page to find a location near you!

LBM Journal Features Humboldt Redwood Decking in April 2012 Issue

April 11th, 2012 by

The April 2012 issue of LBM Journal features the biggest-and-best-ever roundup of decking products including a variety of decking surface materials as well as fasteners and connectors, and railing and lighting products. This robust collection of the best decking materials available on the market today also includes our very own Humboldt Redwood decking. You may download a copy of the original LBM Journal Decking Materials article to read it in its entirety. The section featuring Humboldt Redwood Decking is provided here as well.

FSC® Certified Humboldt™ Redwood Decking

Humboldt Redwood is a leading producer of sustainable, Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) certified, redwood decking. FSC certification is regarded as one of the toughest standards for forestry management in the world, and the FSC product labeling system provides a credible link between responsible forest management and products containing wood. In terms of beauty, it can be tough to beat the warmth, color, and lasting character of Humboldt Redwood decking. And with shear strength that’s described as five times greater than plastic composite lumber, Humboldt Redwood decking will not split as easily as some other materials. The natural durability of Humboldt Redwood decking renders it resistant to insects and decay. Maintained properly, a Humboldt Redwood deck can last 25 years, after which it can be reused or recycled.

www.getredwood.com/lbm

LBM Journal Features In-Depth Decking Trends in April 2012 Issue

April 10th, 2012 by

The April 2012 issue of LBM Journal features in-depth information on decking trends in 2012. Offering industry insights and interviews with a number of leading decking manufacturers, this article provides a comprehensive look at current and evolving trends in the world of decking and outdoor living products. A summary of the article is provided below. You may also download the original LBM Journal 2012 Decking Trends article to read it in its entirety.

Deck sales long have been associated with upgrading homes and replacing existing projects, and marketers indicate that project interest is growing as the economy improves.

“We’re definitely seeing a rebound in decking projects,” says Carter Welch, vice president of marketing for Mendocino Forest Products Co. in Windsor, Calif. “Our research shows that homeowners were delaying maintenance and new projects until the economy improved, and now those projects are starting up. Contractors and dealers are both seeing a fuller pipeline.”

Aesthetics Rule

According to one marketer, “Deck purchases all start with aesthetics.” To that end, decking manufacturers are upgrading and expanding their lines, especially adding new colors and multi-tone looks. Customers are looking to add more colors and style overall, such as patterns and designs in their decks.

High-Performance Upgrade

Consumers are taking a closer look at how “performance” is actually defined and which companies support their products best. Contractors too are paying more attention to avoid callbacks or having to redo projects at their expense. According to one marketer, “Especially with PVC and composite products, the bar has been raised on what performance and low maintenance mean.” Meanwhile, wood products can tout their low-maintenance qualities. According to the California Redwood Associations’ Charlie Jourdain, “Redwood decks have a strong 25-year life cycle, and we consider that the life cycle for any deck before a homeowner looks to upgrade or replace it.”

Green Building Plays Role

Wood manufacturers see more interest in getting back to natural materials. According to Mendocino Forest Products’ Carter Welch, “Contractors definitely are getting more inquires on green decking products and how homeowners can create more green outdoor living space.”

Wood manufacturers also cite life-cycle studies completed for their products, which show the cradle-to-grave energy cost for wood being lower than for other materials. “There’s definitely a trend toward more natural and environmental-friendly products…” adds another marketer.

Hidden Fasteners Dominate

As homeowners look to make their decks more an extension of their homes, they also want a clean, smooth appearance. That has caused a dramatic rise in hidden-fastener systems. Accessory pieces such as exterior mouldings and fascia, are also gaining popularity.

With so much activity underway in an otherwise down economy, decking marketers are encouraged by what lies ahead. Many companies, such as Mendocino Forest Products, are exploring markets beyond their current distribution. Evolving technologies will also likely play a role in expanding features and uses for decking materials.

Headwaters Awards $750,000 for Lumber Marketing Project

April 9th, 2012 by

Jessica Cejnar/The Times-Standard/times-standard.com/

Posted: 03/28/2012 02:08:41 AM PDT

The Headwaters Fund board approved a grant for a project aimed at convincing California residents to choose redwood over wood-plastic composite lumber when building decks.

Six members of the fund board awarded a three-year $750,000 grant — $250,000 a year — to the Humboldt Economic Development Division, which is working with the California Redwood Company and the Humboldt Redwood Company on the Forest Products Initiative marketing project. Board member Jackie Deuschle-Miller, a former Green Diamond Resource Company employee, recused herself.

The economic development division is sponsoring the grant and managing the project, said Jacqueline Debets, economic development coordinator and project manager. Under the grant’s conditions, the board will review the project in two years and will have the option to withdraw funds.

The board overseeing the Headwaters Fund — created by the county to utilize $22 million in state and federal funds given to offset the sale of the Headwaters Forest Reserve — also required the economic development division and the two companies to give annual budget reports.

The California Redwood Company — a subsidiary of Green Diamond Resource Company — and the Humboldt Redwood Company will match the Headwaters grant by contributing another $750,000 toward the project cost, Debets said. The total project cost is estimated to be $1.5 million.

”The goal is to increase the volume of redwood sales and thereby stop the loss of jobs in lumber manufacturing,” Debets said, adding that several manufacturers of redwood lumber have said rebuilding the value of redwood is the most important thing that could be done for the industry. “We’re all marketing redwood for one of the highest and best uses, which is for decking.”

The Forest Product Initiative will focus on redwood’s durability and strength over composite lumber for use in decks, according to Carter Welch, vice president in marketing for the Humboldt Redwood Company. The marketing will be done primarily via 30-second television commercials. Welch said his company and the California Redwood Company plan to target men — primarily ages 35 to 55 — and will air the commercials during sports programs.

Both companies and the economics development division plan to gauge consumer response by doing a quantitative study after next year’s building season, Welch said. He added that both companies conducted a study using 1,000 California residents on who would use composite lumber versus redwood lumber. After viewing the companies’ video, more residents said they would use redwood lumber versus composite.

”We’ll constantly evaluate it and tweak it,” he said, referring to the project.

California is the primary market for redwood, Debets said. Over the last 10 years, the composite lumber industry has grown and has waged an aggressive and successful marketing campaign against redwood. Up until now, redwood lumber manufacturers haven’t responded, she said.

In those 10 years, 2,100 lumber manufacturing jobs have been lost, Debets said. The economic development division anticipates 2,400 replacement jobs by 2018 as people retire, but if the redwood lumber industry doesn’t maintain or increase its market share, those jobs will be reduced through attrition, she said.

According to Carl Schoenhofer, vice president and general manager of the California Redwood Company, the redwood lumber industry was hit hard by the weak housing market as well as the composite lumber industry marketing itself as the environmentally-friendly alternative to redwood.

”We haven’t told our story,” he said. “We’re all fighting over the same piece of pie. The opportunity here is to try to grow that pie. It’s simply a matter of getting the facts out.”

During the board’s discussion, new member Gregory Seller said the lumber industry in the county has historically been plagued by boom and bust cycles. He said the project could be used to increase demand to support a buoyant, sustainable industry, or it could result in overtaxing the area’s lumber resources.

”If we increase demand beyond that point and don’t change the price, we go into a boom and bust cycle,” he said.

Welch replied that if the demand for redwood lumber was increased by 40 percent over the next 10 years and stayed within California, the industry could remain sustainable.

The money for the initiative grant is coming out of Headwaters’ revolving loan fund, said Headwaters Fund coordinator Dawn Elsbree. The balance in the revolving loan fund is $8.5 million and could be reduced to $8 million if necessary, she said. Approximately $100,000 in interest is added to the revolving loan fund each year.

Elsbree said she would bring the matter before the Board of Supervisors by April 24.

Jessica Cejnar can be reached at 441-0504 or at jcejnar@times-standard.com.

This article may also be found on the Times-Standard website, Headwaters Awards $750,000 for Lumber Marketing Project.

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