National Hardwood Magazine - September 2023

TAKE A HARD LOOK AT

TAKE A HARD LOOK AT PROTECTING YOUR HARDWOODS. SPECIALTY CHEMICAL PRODUCTS THAT PROTECT AGAINST: ✓Mold & Mildew ✓Rot & Decay ✓Staining ✓Weather ✓Insects KopCoat Protection Products offers specialty chemical programs and application products designed to safeguard against biological and weathering damage. Through our commitment to innovation, we’ve developed cutting-edge technologies that address the common challenges associated with wood: weathering, rot, and decay. kop-coat.com NORTHEAST Continued One Massachusetts supplier at the time of this writing expressed that his business was doing good. He mentioned that the level of activity remains unchanged compared to six months ago. He offers all Northern Hardwood species in a variety of thicknesses and grades. When asked about his transportation he said it is fine and they mostly will use their own trucks with the occasional hire for a longer delivery. “ As far as labor goes, it is bad,” he added. In Pennsylvania, a sawmill representative reported that he is experiencing a slowdown in business activity. “Things weren’t as bad 6 months ago, but it’s gotten very slow here recently,” he said. His company provides Hard and Soft Maple, Red and White Oak, Poplar and Hickory in No. 3 Common or Better, with 4/4 being the main thickness. “Hickory is our best seller right now. Poplar is probably our second best. We don’t do a whole lot of White Oak, but we do get a lot of calls for it. Usually any of the White Oak we get around here is 3 Common.” He sells to moulding and flooring manufacturers, carpenters, and some brokers. “The small cabinet guys seem to be totally booked. They are telling their customers that they are out a year before they can get their kitchen cabinets done. The small guys seem to be busy,” he commented. Transportation was not an issue for him at the time of this writing. Prices of fuel going down has helped with his total overall transportation costs. Labor is another story and he mentioned that it’s been difficult to keep good workers with his remote location. n SOUTHEAST Continued from page 9 His two mills handle mostly Red and White Oak, and Poplar with a little bit of Ash, Soft Maple, and Cherry in a variety of grades and in the thicknesses of 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4 and 10/4. When asked about transportation he said that it has been a struggle. “The biggest problem I have doesn’t have to do with the markets. It has everything to do with freight. And by that, I mean the cost of freight.” He added that overall, his labor was doing good, but they are having some trouble with logging. In Mississippi another contact said that his sales were getting better at the time of this writing and commented, “It’s no question it’s better than six months ago.” He sells to end-users along with pallet, moulding, and flooring manufacturers. His company offers Red and White Oak, Poplar, Ash, Gum, and Hickory in 4/4 and 5/4 thicknesses. He noted that White Oak is currently his best-selling species. “Transportation is okay right now and the availability with trucks is getting better. Labor is an ongoing issue and since Covid it’s just gotten worse,” he remarked. One Alabama lumberman expressed that the initial part of the year has been going at a slower pace and is having a big problem with supply. “We could be better if we had more logs. What’s happening is the paper mills in this region shut off the pulpwood. And without the pulpwood the loggers don’t want to bring the Hardwood sawlogs. It was about mid- February when suddenly, our supply went away about 70 to 80 percent.” He noted that he is not sure if the cause is from them using a different type of paper or if the paper mills inventory is backed up. When things are running normally his company supplies all NHLA grades of Red and White Oak, Poplar, and Gum mostly in thicknesses of 4/4 with some 5/4 and 6/4. He added that White Oak is selling the best for them at the time of this writing. His customers include flooring and cabinet manufacturers, along with millwork firms and concentration yards. He stated that transportation is plenty available, receiving multiple calls a day from freight forwarders, but he just can’t secure the log supply his company currently needs. n WEST COAST Continued from page 9 because you need them around when business turns around,” he added. An Oregon source said they are still busy, but he has concerns for the second half of the year. “I see signs of a slowdown coming for us. We have enough orders to keep us going for the next month or so.” He offers Walnut, Oak, Maple, and Elm in 4/4 through 12/4 in higher end grades with Walnut being his current best seller. His customers include mostly end-users who build high-end furniture and interiors. “Our customers seem like they are preparing for a slowdown as well. Some are already there, but a lot of people we sell to have 12-to- 16-week lead times, so they haven’t felt it quite yet,” he added. When asked if transportation or labor was an issue, he said that transportation isn’t much of a factor anymore. Please turn the page CLARK LUMBER COMPANY • 6 Sawmills producing 48,000,000’ of Appalachian Hardwoods 4/4 - 8/4 • 900,000’ drying capacity • 2,500,000’ kiln dried Lumber Inventory • Species: Red & White Oak, Hard & Soft Maple, Poplar, Ash, Cherry, Hickory, Walnut and Aromatic Red Cedar • Export prep & container loading • A team of over 130 employees manufacturing Appalachian Hardwoods Hugh Clark, President; Brandon Clark, Vice President; and Joseph Draper, Sales “From our Forest to your Facility” Brandon Clark bclark@clarklumbercompany.com Joseph Draper jdraper@clarklumbercompany.com Clark Lumber Company 552 Public Well Road Red Boiling Springs, TN 37150 Office: (615) 699-3497 www.clarklumbercompany.com 56 SEPTEMBER 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry SEPTEMBER 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 57