Shepformation March 2008

SHEPFORMATION

March 2008

In This Issue

Tony's Terra Firma

Lumber Update

ANDERSEN PRICING 2008

Building Code Update

Product of the Month

Installation Practices

HBAM CAPS Course

Andersen Dinners!

Breakfast of Champions!

On Tuesday, February 12, Tony Shepley was the guest speaker at the Cape Cod Young Professionals (CCYP) "Breakfast With The Leaders" meeting in Hyannis. Tony inspired the group with his insight on Transitional Leadership.

Shepley Wood Products will be sponsoring the next CCYP dinner meeting being held at Sienna in Mashpee on Thursday March 13. To find out more about CCYP visit their website at www.capecodyoungprofessionals.org.

Check Your CO2 Monitors!

Please be sure to check them on a regular basis. Twice a year when the clocks are adjusted is a very handy time.

If you don't have monitors in your home, please get them. Besides being the law, it is a small investment to save lives.

Shepley Helps Beer Lovers Around The Globe!

kenny in truck

On February 2, Shepley driver Kenny Mansbach, may have enhanced the lives of millions. Kenny took the Shepley flatbed over to Cape Cod Beer (located right here in Hyannis) to help unload new beer tanks - .six bright tanks and one 30 BBL Fermenter to be specific!

To quote the famous Benjamin Franklin, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." So thank Kenny the next time you see him. Todd Marcus, Brewmaster/President of Cape Cod Beer did (middle photo)!

Best of luck to Cape Cod Beer on their expansion! Cheers!

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Tony's Terra Firma, Tony Shepley

Green For 30 Years!

On July 14, 2008 Shepley will celebrate 30 years in business! As you know, our signature color has always been green - trucks, signs, sweatshirts, logos, etc. - all sport that color that distinguishes Shepley. Now we're happy to say that "green" has two meanings to us: our commitment to our trademark color AND our commitment to the Green Building trend!

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates that green building will account for $60 billion of development in 2010, compared to $10 billion in 2005. This is definitely an industry trend, not a fad. We've been receiving more and more inquiries about green building products from our customers, and now we're finding some of our customers going for LEED certification on their building projects.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED provides building owners and operators with the tools they need to have an immediate and measureable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED certification is based on a point system in which the project can achieve one of four levels of recognition, listed highest to lowest: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified. Many of the attainable points are based on using certified green materials. Certified materials carry a chain of custody which shows that the product is environmentally conscientious from the certified forest to the finished product.

I am proud to announce that Shepley should be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified by the end of February, allowing us to carry on the chain of custody to our customers! This will make us the first FSC certified lumber and building material supplier in Southeastern Massachusetts. We are also starting an 8-week Green Certification Training course for our sales force. This will have our salespeople certified for green building distribution by the end of May.

We look forward to helping you achieve LEED certification on your next building project, or simply to help you with selecting green building materials. Not every project owner is ready to embrace the LEED comprehensive level of green building yet, and for many it is still a confusing and undefined area in our industry. Some homeowners simply want to embrace sound environmental practices. One of the best summary articles I have read recently (that can help get you and your customers up to speed on green building) may be found at: http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm?fileName=170101a.xml

Don't get paralyzed with information overload! You can approach green building one step at a time, starting with using some common products that won't necessarily create big changes in the way you approach building. For instance, all our Boise Engineered Wood I-joists and LVL material is FSC certified, and our Bodyguard trim boards are not only FSC certified, they also offer the best warranty in the business. These are just two items we already stock and can deliver to your site in a matter of hours. We work with manufacturers like Andersen and Marvin to make sure they practice green manufacturing processes. In fact, Andersen is Green Seal� approved for the way they recycle materials, conserve energy, and select raw materials from sustainable sources, and Marvin is a Built Green™ Industry Leader for the same reasons. We are constantly looking at other product offerings and weighing the benefits and cost to evaluate them as possible green offerings.

In addition to greener materials, we are looking at ways to recycle our own waste, cardboard, banding, and strapping. It's time for all of us to do our part to protect the environment. As Charles Franklin Kettering once said, "We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there."

Some of this information can be referenced at http://www.usgbc.org.

Lumber Update, Jim Baker

Are prices finally at the bottom? For the last several months, we've mentioned curtailments and mill closures that have taken millions of board feet of lumber off the market. Up until now, those production cut backs have had very little effect on pricing, which, with the exception of a couple of burps, has been soft for months. The Random Lengths Lumber Composite posted a $6 gain on February 8; its first up-tick since last November.

While the demand for lumber is still poor, production cutbacks and seasonal issues (such as transportation) seem to have created a situation where supply is finally in balance - precarious as it may be. The Plywood Composite also posted its first gains since November for many of the same reasons. Because of the current economy, most don't expect the huge price spikes we've seen in past years, although, if inventory levels continue to decline, the possibility does exist. A key ingredient to a bull market is volume purchasing and I just don't see dealers taking large positions. Regardless, it will be an interesting spring!

Stay tuned

Andersen Pricing for 2008

This past year has certainly brought many changes to our economy. Margins for almost everyone have been squeezed as cost pressures have increased.

� Transportation and shipping costs increased 64% last year as oil rose from $60.77 per barrel in January 2007 to a record $99.64 in January 2008.

� The Product Price Index for finished goods in December 2007 was up 6.3% from the same month a year earlier.

� The Consumer Price Index, the government's key inflation reading, rose 4.1% in 2007 - the largest increase in this decade.

These are the headlines we read everyday - yet Andersen is announcing the best pricing headline for the year ahead: "No Price increase on Andersen windows and patio doors delivered in 2008."*

This is great news from a market leader like Andersen. With this housing downturn, we understand the tremendous pressure on all of our businesses, and we fundamentally believe we're in this fight together. So we're very excited to pass this announcement along to you.

Andersen has been fiercely determined to establish cost controls and provide continuous product innovation. During the past year, they've been working hard to lower costs throughout the supply chain, and the resulting gains in efficiency and productivity have been instrumental in allowing them to hold prices in 2008*. Since 2001, Andersen's cumulative pricing increase is nearly 10% less than the increase measured by the U.S. Department of Labor for "Construction Materials" during the same period.

We invite you to visit the Shepley Andersen Showroom and learn more about the Andersen line of products. We look forward to helping you on your next project!

*This announcement does not pertain to Andersen� or Emco� branded storm doors. It is Andersen's intent to absorb cost increases and hold prices firm in 2008. Andersen reserves the right to modify pricing if material costs escalate beyond current projections or if business conditions unfold differently than expected. A notification of a pricing change would be provided beforehand. There may be some other changes made to service and replacement item base prices in 2008, but current common unit base pricing is not expected to be changed other than in those unexpected situations mentioned.

Building Code Update, Bill Holzman

7th Edition Building Code Egress Requirements

The 7th Edition One and Two Family Dwelling MA State Building Code requirement for egress has changed; it is now 20"W x 24"H. These measurements used to be interchangeable (20" x 24" or 24" x 20"). This is no longer the case.

5310.1.2 Minimum opening height. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24".

5310.1.3 Minimum opening width. The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20".

See Code Section 5310 and the copied language below from the IRC 2003 commentary (on which the 7th Edition MA Code is based). A paragraph from section 5310.1 reads as follows:

"The required opening dimensions must be achieved by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. Where a window is used as the emergency escape and rescue opening, then it must be the usual double-hung, horizontal sliding, or casement window operated by the turn of a crank. It is impractical to assume that all occupants can operate a window that requires a special sequence of operations to achieve the required opening size. While most occupants are familiar with the normal operation by which to open the window, children and guests are frequently unfamiliar with special procedures necessary to remove the sashes. The time spent comprehending the special operation unnecessarily delays egress from the bedroom and could lead to panic and further confusion. Thus, windows that achieve the required opening dimensions only by having a special sequence of operations performed upon them, such as the removal of sashes or mullions, are not permitted."

Product of the Month, Tim Sheehan

Masonite Doors

I'm happy to inform you that Shepley has partnered with Bridgewater Wholesalers, Inc. � (BWI) to provide our customers with Masonite � steel and fiberglass entry systems. BWI is Masonite's largest independent customer and has been selling Masonite exterior doors for over twenty years. Their typical lead time is only two to three days.

Masonite fiberglass Belleville smooth and textured doors, through BWI, carry a lifetime warranty on the unit (slab and frame) and a 10 year warranty on the glass. Steel doors with steel edges carry a 15 year warranty on the unit and 10 years on the glass. Oak and aluminum sills with horn options are also available. And because BWI is an Emtek and Baldwin dealer, hardware can be purchased and factory applied through them.

Our goal is to offer you exterior door selections to match all of your interior choices. For additional information, contact Tim Sheehan or your Shepley Road Salesperson.

Tim Sheehan started with Shepley in 2001. He is the Interior Trim Specialist for the Mid-Cape area. He is supported inside by Erin Killeen. You can reach Tim and Erin at 508-862-6225.

Installation Practices That Make Sense, Mark Hambly

As we enter a new age of construction and a new building code, the emphasis window installation has changed with many manufactures. Following are some new installation procedures recommended by the top two manufactures-Andersen and Marvin:

� Use a sill pan. Shepley recommends Water Out Flashing.

� Apply silicone sealant to the back side of the window flange - top and sides only. Install unit into the opening making sure the top flange only is under house wrap, then center the unit into the opening on top of the shim. (Use a minimum 1/8" shim under each jamb, as well as shimming at the check rail.)

� After the unit is plumb, level and square, fasten the unit and apply Vycore to both sides making sure to overlap �" onto the outer frame and extending 6" above and 6" below the unit. Next, apply a �" bead of silicone along the top nearest to the flange and apply the drip cap, and then apply Vycore over the top, overlapping the sides. Keep in mind that the top portion of the house wrap needs to go over the top of both the Vycore and the drip cap. (Use Tyvek tape to secure the house wrap over the Vycore.)

� From the interior, cut shims flush and remove band. Using a low expanding foam, seal all sides. Keep in mind not to completely fill the sill area - to allow for drainage.

� When applying exterior siding or trim around the unit, a �" gap is needed for inserting backer rod on all four sides. Next, apply caulking /sealant over backer rod. (Using the backer rod will allow the caulking to expand and contract properly.)

Please remember that the installation procedures by these manufactures will not warranty against air or water infiltration but are a national recommendation of best installation practices to enhance the performance of these units. Please review these installation procedures and feel free to call Shepley Service with any questions. 508-862-6219.

HBAM CAPS Course

The Home Builders Association of Massachusetts (HBAM) is offering the first of a three-class curriculum that will lead to a CAPS designation (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) University of Housing.

What is Aging in Place? In plain English, aging-in-place means remaining in one's home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. It means the pleasure of living in a familiar environment throughout one's maturing years, and the ability to enjoy the familiar daily rituals and the special events that enrich all our lives. It means the reassurance of being able to call a house a "home" for a lifetime.

Why earn a CAPS designation? The CAPS program will expand your understanding of the aging-in-place market, provide the necessary technical knowledge and resources and give you the tools to gain access into that market.

Overview of the program In a three-class program, CAPS teaches the strategies and techniques for marketing, designing, and building aesthetically enriching, barrier-free living environments. This program goes beyond universal design; CAPS addresses the communication and technical needs to a specific market.

How does the designation process work? For the CAPS designation, three classes must be taken. A test is given after each class. Upon successfully completing all three classes, candidates apply to NAHB University of Housing for a certificate of graduation. Graduates receive a certificate, press release, lapel pin and the right to use the CAPS designation following their name in all business promotion and are verified through a listing on the NAHB website by the NAHB Remodelers Council as Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) which provides additional marketing value.

Business Practices for Building Professionals* -- The first of three designation classes is also a valuable stand-alone class for builders and remodelers. It is an all day class which provides sound business practice methods to help make your business run soundly and proficiently. Should you not be seeking the CAPS designation, you may find this a good way to help you evaluate your business practices. (*Candidates who already possess an industry certification with a business component are exempt from taking this class and may progress to the remaining two classes required for graduation. Specific class information will be required on the graduation application.)

When, Where, Cost The first class, Business Practices for Building Professionals, will be held on March 26, 2008 at Bay State Gas Company, 300 Friberg Parkway, Westborough, MA from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. The cost is $195 for NAHB members and NARI Members with membership number, $245 to Non-Members, and $170 to NAHB Remodelers Council Members with membership number.

Register and pay on-line at www.hbama.com. (Shepley is NOT taking reservations for this class, you must use the HBAMA website.)

For more information on professional designations, call the Professional Designation Hotline at 1-800-368-5242 x8154.

Andersen Dinners!