Click the link to listen to this week’s Around the House. In this week’s segment, Don Magruder talks with Tim Nickerson and Roland Close from the Ro-Mac Garage Door Department about keeping your garage door working properly.

Click to Listen to Around the House – Garage Doors Part 1

Click to Listen to Around the House – Garage Doors Part 2

Click Here to Download

This post is part of our new weekly segment, Around the House with Ro-Mac Lumber, broadcasted live on WLBE 790 AM every Monday at 12:00 pm. Each week, we’ll discuss common household problems and give you the information to fix it. Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

In the building supply industry, it’s not very often that a new product will catch our eye; but every once in a while, we find a company to get excited about. Each month we’ll showcase a new product or company that’s making a splash in construction and show you why they just might change the way you build.

Cardinal Neat®

How often do you find yourself cleaning the windows in your home? Chances are it’s too often. New technology in window glass allows your windows to clean themselves. No more scrubbing, soaping and wiping; plus, you can use fewer harsh cleaning products around the home.

Cardinal Neat^® naturally cleans glass by harnessing the sun’s UV rays to loosen dirt, and allow water to rinse it away. That means your windows will be virtually spotless with little to no work. Your windows will stay cleaner longer and will clean easier.

Florida homeowners and builders will especially like Neat glass because it’s applied to Cardinal’s LoĒ^® coated glazings, making your homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This is a great feature to protect your home from dramatic Florida weather changes.

How it works

The titanium dioxide layer of Neat glass reacts chemically with the sun’s UV rays and causes organic materials that are on the glass to decompose. It works even on cloudy days, as 80% of UV radiation gets through cloud cover. When it rains, the decomposed dirt no longer clings to the glass, easily rinsing away.

A thin layer of silicon dioxide makes Neat glass exceptionally smooth and hydrophilic, much smoother than ordinary hydrophobic glass. This allows water to disperse evenly or “sheet off” and evaporate quickly, greatly reducing water spotting.

For more information on adding Neat glass to your home, contact our Ro-Mac Window Department for a free estimate at 352-787-4545.

Click to Listen to Around the House – The Garden Rebel Part 1

Click to Listen to Around the House – The Garden Rebel Part 2

Click Here to Download

This post is part of our new weekly segment, Around the House with Ro-Mac Lumber, broadcasted live on WLBE 790 AM every Monday at 12:00 pm. Each week, we’ll discuss common household problems and give you the information to fix it. Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

Your Home Builder Association Wood Commodity Index (Index) for February 2012 dropped .6 percent to $269.95 from the prior month, with lumber’s 3.7 percent increase being offset by sheathing’s 4 percent drop.  The net effect is basically a wash.  This indicates price volatility is very prevalent in the market, which offers little solace for builders with upcoming projects.

The lumber portion of the Index increased 3.7 percent to $295.09 as the vast majority of the items increased.  Spruce dimensions priced from a negative 1.2 percent to a positive 8.7 percent depending upon specified length.  Similarly, 2×12 pine varied from a negative 0.9 percent decrease to a 9.5 percent increase depending on length.  This indicates to me the mills are running inventories very lean, and spot price increases are occurring as certain lengths sell down and lead times extend.

The sheathing portion of the Index headed in one direction: Everything went down.   CDX pine plywood dropped $17-$25 per thousand as the panic of the Arauco mill burning down in Chile subsided, and OSB begrudgingly followed with $5 per thousand reductions.  The lesson from the sheathing market over the last 30 days is how susceptible and volatile it has become; just think, a fire at a mill in another country thousands of miles away, in a non sheathing plywood line, drove up prices dramatically.  The closure of the Georgia-Pacific mill in Hawthorne last year will be a huge impact on the state of Florida this year.

The concern for the next few months will be oil prices, fuel costs, and trucking. If oil prices rise as much as some oil traders are predicting, expect cost increases across the board in manufactured items, not to mention much higher trucking cost.  Most dealers and builders are hopeful the predicted increase in housing starts will occur this spring. Even a minor spike in demand will play havoc on pricing.  Builders should be very cautious in project bidding the next few months as sudden increases in materials could eat up all potential profits – oops, I mean the opportunity to break even.

Don Magruder is the Chief Executive Officer of Ro-Mac Lumber & Supply, Inc. in Central Florida (www.romaclumber.com), and he is a former President of the Southeast Mississippi Home Builders Association, and past Associate Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Lake County.  To contact Magruder, email him at gmromac@earthlink.net.

In February 2012, the Ro-Mac Lumber Whole House Commodity Index (Index) basically remained flat from January, with a minor drop of 0.3 percent to $25,725.74.  A retreat in sheathing prices offset increases in most species of lumber, with minor increases in ancillary products barely being noticed. The market appeared to be waiting for a driver from demand, supply, fuel or weather; however, none were found.

For the past three years, February seems to be the spring board for a commodity market rally. In my view, this could be the calm before the price storm.  There are four major factors which could create absolute havoc in all sectors of the building supply business in the next three months:

1. The much anticipated increase in housing starts.  For two years, housing experts have forecasted a pop in starts based on pent-up demand.  Could this be the spring to make it happen?
2. The weather across the country has literally been going from cold-to-hot, and many weather forecasters are concerned about major spring tornado outbreaks.  Could we have a repeat of last spring, which caused so much devastation across the Midwest and South?
3. Thus far, drywall manufacturers seem to be making most of the huge drywall price increases stick.  Will other manufacturers get on board with “this is our price-take it or leave it” mindset?
4. Finally, the biggest threat – fuel prices.  The headline on The Drudge Report is $5 gas by summer. Who knows what will happen if Israel and Iran start throwing darts at one another.  There could be a real trucking problem in the next three months.

Honestly, pricing is a little spooky right now, with little in the way of a stability factor.

Here are some notable price increases over the last 30 days (in what could be termed as an uneventful month):

1. Masonry poly film was up 10.5 percent.
2. 2×4 yellow pine jumped 9.8 percent, while wide-width pines were up 7.5-8.4 percent.
3. Spruce studs were up 5.5 percent, while dimensional spruce floundered with increases in 2×4 at 0.3 percent, and 2×6 spruce managed an increase of only 1.7 percent.

4. Sheathing prices across the board were down as OSB dropped 4.4 percent while CDX pine plywood retreated 6.5 percent.
5. Truss prices firmed up 1.7 percent on higher pine costs.
6. Door pricing increased 1.8-3.0 percent on higher moulding and jamb pricing.

Demand is still muted, despite the warmer winter.  Many in the industry are reporting more activity; however, sales are just not coming to fruition.  Activities such as “tire kicking” may seem encouraging, but, until the register rings, most are skeptical of a truly upward trend.  My advice is simple:  Be very careful the next six months, because it appears the markets are entering a very volatile portion. If the last two years are any indicator, prices could start moving up rapidly.

The Ro-Mac Lumber Whole House Commodity Index is based on wholesale costs of the base components to build a 2,200 square foot wood frame home with a concrete stem wall in Central Florida.  The Index includes foundation, metal, concrete, block, stucco, cement, wood framing, siding, sheathings, trusses, roofing, drywall, insulation, windows, doors, trim, garage doors, and most building hardware.  It does not include décor, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, landscaping, or labor.  Because the Index uses current wholesale costs, this should be a strong indicator of the direction of building prices for the next 30-45 days.

Don Magruder is the Chief Executive Officer of Ro-Mac Lumber & Supply, Inc. of Central Florida (www.romaclumber.com), and sign-up for this Index and other market reports are free.  To sign-up for this information via email, click here.

Click the link to listen to this week’s Around the House. In this week’s segment, Don Magruder talks with Tony Eubanks from Tony’s Air Conditioning about keeping your home cool.

Click to Listen to Around the House – Tony’s Air Conditioning Part 1

Click to Listen to Around the House – Tony’s Air Conditioning Part 2

Click Here to Download

This post is part of our new weekly segment, Around the House with Ro-Mac Lumber, broadcasted live on WLBE 790 AM every Monday at 12:00 pm. Each week, we’ll discuss common household problems and give you the information to fix it. Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

Each lumber species has different characteristics and uses. Here is a brief description of the lumber we carry here at Ro-Mac Lumber.

Wood Types Stocked At Ro-Mac Lumber

#2 Southern Yellow Pine
Primarily used in construction applications throughout the industry. The most common place you will see this type of lumber is roof trusses of a building. It’s a strong structural lumber you can use for building just about any project.

MCQ Treated #2 Southern Yellow Pine: Used anywhere the structure will be exposed to outside elements such as decks, docks and pole barns. It is also referred to as outside treated lumber.

Borate Treated Lumber #2 Southern Yellow Pine
Also known as inside treated lumber. Borate Treated Lumber is treated with a safe, environmentally friendly chemical similar to Borax that deters insects, including termites. It’s used wherever protection is needed from the insects such as lumber touching a slab. For maximum protection from insect infestation, use Borate Treated Lumber throughout the entire home. This wood cannot be used in outside applications because the moisture will make the natural borate leech out.

#2 Western SPF (Spruce, Pine or Fir)
This lumber has a mixture of wood depending on which forest it came from. In Florida, it’s commonly called Spruce Lumber. It is used for many purposes including general construction work. Depending on the grade of lumber, Spruce Lumber can be used in highly specialized areas such as tone wood for musical instruments.

Ro-Mac’s Spruce Lumber comes from Western Canada, and is considered superior to Eastern Canadian wood products. We request a more premium grade spruce than what is normally carried in the big box stores. It has fewer knots and less wane or bark on the edges of the wood.

Western Red Cedar
This reddish-brown lumber is known for its strength, pleasant smell and resistance to rot. It’s often used in outdoor construction to make posts, siding and decking. Occasionally, shingles are still made with Western Red Cedar, but it is not as popular these days because the wood doesn’t hold up well in outside applications when compared to other products. With inside applications, Western Red Cedar is very durable and a good choice depending on the scope of the project.

Engineered Structural Wood
This is a term used to describe a wide category of products. Typically, any product that has been altered to enhance its strength in any application it’s used is considered an engineered structural wood. The first piece of engineered wood was actually plywood in the 1960s. It’s commonly used for roof decking, exterior wall sheathing and encrating products. Another item that is included in this category is Oriented Strand Board (OSB), which is used just like plywood. Blue Land Timbers, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and I Joist are used typically where you need a longer, stronger span of support than what a regular pine lumber will give you.

Poplar
Poplar is one of the least expensive hardwoods. It is a darker wood that is used in the making of door jambs & window sills in custom work. It is also used in furniture and as a hobby wood.

Fir
Typically, this wood is used in clear grade as window sills and trim. It is also made into smooth-grade plywood.

Cypress
Most commonly used as mulch in landscaping, Cypress is also used to construct outdoor items such as fences. Legend states that both Noah’s Arc and the first doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome were made from Cypress wood. How many other wood species have such a dramatic testament to their durability? Because Cypress generates cypressene, its own preservative oil, its heartwood is naturally resistant to insects, decay, chemical corrosion and other damaging elements.  Its color also makes it an ideal choice for more ornamental constructions like cabinets, doors and railings. Some builders use Cypress as a wall & ceiling covering in a tongue & groove board. Its grades go from a clear board to a “pecky” look.

Specialty Woods

Cherry Wood
One of the most desirable hardwoods used to make furniture and cabinets. Cherry Wood is a brown American hardwood with a hint of pink or dark red. It also darkens with age and gives elegance to its look. Cherry Wood is not commonly used in the construction of a house due to price.

Red Oak
This wood is used in flooring, veneers, interior trim and furniture. Red Oak wood has an open grain, so it is subject to moisture infiltration; therefore, it is unsuitable for outdoor uses such as exterior trim.

Need a Specialty Wood for Your Project? Request a Free Estimate for Lumber Here

Click the link to listen to this week’s Around the House. In this week’s segment, Don Magruder talks with John Knop from the Ro-Mac Lumber store in Mount Dora about Ro-Mac products and service.

Click to Listen to Around the House – Ro-Mac Mount Dora Part 1

Click to Listen to Around the House – Ro-Mac Mount Dora Part 2

Click Here to Download

This post is part of our new weekly segment, Around the House with Ro-Mac Lumber, broadcasted live on WLBE 790 AM every Monday at 12:00 pm. Each week, we’ll discuss common household problems and give you the information to fix it. Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

In the building supply industry, it’s not very often that a new product will catch our eye; but every once in a while, we find a company to get excited about. Each month we’ll showcase a new product or company that’s making a splash in construction and show you why they just might change the way you build.

EZ Shear

EZ-Shear is a new product that makes cutting siding products including fiber cement, vinyl, and cedar shake easy, quiet and economical! There’s no electricity and no noise! It’s strong enough to handle cutting your exterior trim products as well.

• Clean cut without surface damage
• Quick set-up
• No electricity needed
• Blade will outlast at least 20 saw blades
• No harmful dust or messy debris
• Quiet
• Cuts most flooring and siding products
• Strong double I-beam construction
• High carbon steel blade
• Cuts widths up to 13 inches
• Cuts depths up to 5/8 inch

See the EZ Shear demonstrated below. If you are interested in learning more about the EZ Shear and how it can help your business, contact a Ro-Mac salesperson today.