Millwork Shops Can Find New Products
To Offer Builders and Homeowners
Local Marketing of Wood Products Grant Project
Harry Watt
NC State University
Wood Products Extension
February 2011
Discrimination Policy Notice
The work upon which this project is based was funded in
whole or in part through a grant awarded by the Wood
Education and Resource Center, Northeastern Area
State and Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service. In
accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,
Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964
(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider
and employer.
Wood Products for Every Purpose-Cupolas
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•
•
•
Cupolas
Vents 24/7
Adds Style
Lots of Design
Options
Cupolas
• Simple Product
for Most Shops
• High Margin
Item to Resale
• “Green”
Environmental
Product
Exterior-Gutters
• Can Make Wooden
Gutters With Metal
Inserts or Solid
Western Red Cedar
• Several Species
Locally Are
Somewhat Decay
Resistant-Locust &
Cypress
Exterior Products-Louvers
• Simple Lumber
Product
• Uses Lots of
“Shorts &
Narrows”
• Lots of Style
Options
• Suitable in Most
Home Style
• Lots of Style
Options for
Straight
Lumber-a
“Chop and a
Rip” = Easy to
Manufacture
• Lots of
Available
Carvings and
Components to
Buy to Add
Style
Exterior Products-Trim
Exterior-Wall Shingles
• Fits Lots of Home Styles
• Low Maintenance Compared to Most Siding
Options
• Can Have Economical Material Costs
Cypress
Wall
Shingles
Exterior-Wall Shingles
•Local Wood Species-White Oak, Cypress
•Thicknesses of 3/8” and ½” Work Well
From 4/4 and 5/4” Lumber
•Length and Widths Can Vary For Style
Exterior-Bark Siding
• Common in
1930’s In WNC
With Chestnut
• Yellow Poplar a
Modern
Replacement
With 75 Years of
History of Good
Service
Exterior-Bark Siding
•
•
•
•
Rustic Look
Low Maintenance
Growing in Popularity
Good Marketing
Needed to Grow
Market
Exterior-Poplar Bark
• Commercial & Residential Usages
• Provides Jobs to Local
• “Hunters & Gatherers”
Exterior-Lumber Siding
• Familiar Products
• Horizontal and Vertical Siding Directions
• Can Use Square Edges or Moulded Edge
Patterns
Exterior-Stairs & Railings
• Two Story Homes
• Good With Porches
• Helps to Have Roof Overhangs in Designs
Exterior-Entry Doors
• May Be the Key Element in a Home Design
• Lots of Opportunity to Combine With Glass
for Unique Designs
Exterior-Garage Doors
Useful in
Mountain
West &
Rustic
Styles
Exterior-Porches
• Simple Straight Wood Designs Satisfy Most Jobs
• Poles Work Well in Rustic Designs
Windows
• Can Go Beyond Specifying Standard Windows
• Lots of Customization Options While Using
Standard Windows
• Lots of Customization Options By Using Stained
Glass
Exterior-Shutters
• Popular With Home
Owner, Who Even
Attach Non-Working
Plastic Shutters to
Homes!
• Lots of Wood Species
to Choose From
• Lots of Style Options =
Lots of Room for
Customers to Pick
What Suits Them
Exterior-Wooden Decks
• Recent Issues Over Wood Treatments
• Decks Vary in Exposure to Elements
• Eastern Red Cedar Could Be Used With
Porches and Overhanging Roofs = Market
Opportunity for Manufacturer and Designer
Wanting New Products
Exterior-Structural Elements
• Timber Frame Very Popular in Mountains
• Can Grow Market By Offering Garages,
Entertainment Buildings
• Great Opportunity in Lower Price Point Homes
Using Smaller Timbers and Splines
Exterior-Timbers
• Can Purchase or Make Assembled Trusses for
Builders to Sit Atop 2x6” Walls for Quick Timber
Frame Elements
• Can Easily Use Timbers on Porches and Roof
Overhangs
Exterior-Timbers-Stand Alone Structures
Lots of Small Timber Frames to Sell
Example Recreation Building in Germany
Exterior-Logs
• Lots of Design Options-Round Logs, Square
Logs
• Opportunity to Grow Markets By Adding
Elements of Log Design in Hybird Homes, Like
Example Followed by Timber Framers
• Engineered Logs Offers Some Superior Working
Properties Over Natural Logs
Interior-Wall Paneling
• Lots of Design Options
– Horizontal or Vertical
– Flat Boards or Patterns
– Wide Range of Suitable Species
– Wide Range of Stains and Paints
– Most Shops Can Produce Paneling Products
Interior-Flooring
• Offers Lots of Options for Species, Grades, Patterns
• Trend is for Getting Beyond Standard 2-1/4” Wide
Installing hardwood flooring
over radiant heat piping
Interior-Trim (Mouldings)
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•
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•
Casings for Doors and Windows
Base Mouldings at Floor
Crown Mouldings at Ceiling
Can Use for Great Ceilings
Interiors-Fireplace Mantels
• Lumber and Plywood Styles Available
• Lots of Style Options
• Can Incorporate Energy Savings Devices
• Can Add Designs With Other Materials, Like
Tiles
Interior-Built In’s
• Built In Seating Is Popular With Clients
• Offers Hidden Storage
• Can Showcase Wood Species That Are
Affordable
Interiors-Open Bookcases
and Storage Units
• We Have Dimension Manufacturers That Can
Supply Glued Panels, Machined and Ready to
Assemble
• Lots of Opportunity for Modular Construction
to Set Up a Product Line
Interiors-Wine Racks & Cellars
• Market Needs Barely
Touched At This Time
• Should Be A
Question to Ask
Homeowner “Do You
Want to Put In Wine
Racking or a Wine
Cellar” , or “Is Wine
One of Your
Passions”?
Interiors-Shutters
• Needed for Privacy with “Close
Neighbors” in Modern HER
Developments
• Lots of Wood Species Available for
Stained Shutters As Well As Painted
Shutters
Interiors-Cabinets
• Key Interior Wood Product in Most Homes
• Industry Has Done Well Meeting the Need for
“Custom” With Standard Products
• 3-D Software Is a Key Driver for Cabinet Market
Growth and Can Be Used In Other Home Areas
Interiors-Kitchen Cabinets
• Vast Majority Are Stock Sized Cabinets
• Most Now Use Paper Interiors and Only Finish
Doors and Face Frames
• Good Marketing for Local Cabinetmakers to
Offer “Good/Better/Best” Quality Lines
Interiors-Cabinets for Garage
• Melamine is
Most Popular
Choice
• Product Line
Usually
Limited to
About 20
Items in a
Modular
Construction
Design
Interiors-Bathrooms
• Can Go Far Beyond the Vanity
• Really Pays to Develop a Product Line
Interiors-Closets
• High Growth
Segment
• Most Are Melamine
• Opportunity for
Wood Stain
Finishes in
Furniture Grade
Finish Quality
Interiors-Entertainment Units
• Storage for Audio/Video Equipment
• Wet Bars Are Popular
Interiors-Flooring
• Almost Unlimited Options– Species
– Patterns
– Finishes
– Arrangements
• Three Styles-Strip, Plank, Parquet
• Two Types-Solid, Engineered
Interiors-Furniture
• All Areas of the Home Need Furniture!
– Dining Room
– Bed Room
– Entertainment Centers
– Display Units
– Storage Units
– Home Office
– Custom Artistic Pieces
Miscellaneous-Children’s Outdoor
Playhouses
Miscellaneous-Outdoor Storage
and Work Buildings
• Design With Elements of Main House
• Outdoor Garages and Car Sheds