Dura Supreme Introduces A Flat Panel Door Style
Dura Supreme Cabinetry, located in Howard Lake, MN, recently announced the addition of a unique flat panel door style, Covington, according to a company press release. This new cabinet door style is a sophisticated flat panel door style with a deep center panel and a sculpted inside profile. “Covington’s deep panel and beautifully sculpted profile make this cabinet door stand out from the crowd,” explains Karen Wistrom, ASID, NCIDQ, CMG, VP of marketing for Dura Supreme Cabinetry.
Dura Supreme uses solid U.S. Hardwoods – including Cherry, Red Oak, quarter-sawn White Oak, Maple, Knotty Alder, Hickory and Rustic Hickory – in its manufacturing. Dura Supreme manufactures only in the United States.
Dura Supreme manufactures semi-custom and custom, framed and frameless cabinetry for a nationwide network of dealers. For 60-plus years homeowners and designers have looked to Dura Supreme for kitchen and bath cabinetry that fulfills their desire for personalized design choices and outstanding quality of construction, the company stated. To learn more about Dura Supreme, visit www.durasupreme.com.
U.S. Forests, Trees and Wood Products Store Carbon, Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions — But May Wane in Capacity
Forests and harvested wood products, such as the lumber used in houses, store carbon dioxide. Carbon emissions, which contribute to changes in climate, are diminished when absorbed and stored by forests and wood products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s most recent resource update, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals from Forest Land, Woodlands, and Urban Trees in the United States, 1990-2019, not only shows how forests and harvested wood products continue to store greenhouse gas emissions but also signals an anticipated, gradual reduction in the U.S. forest carbon sink over the next few decades. Other Forest Service reports, such as the Resources Planning Act Assessment and previous annual reports, also anticipate this reduction.
Reductions in carbon storage may be fueled by wildfire, drought, insect infestations, disease-related tree mortality and land-use change. Despite this projected wane in carbon storage, U.S. forested lands, wood products, and urban trees continue to represent the nation’s largest net carbon sink — offsetting more than 12 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
Also, the wood used to build homes sequesters carbon over the long term. Since over 90 percent of new single-family homes are built mainly with wood, their carbon storage capacity adds up. New research from Forest Service scientists and partners indicates that the wood used to build and maintain houses will continue to account for nearly half to over three quarters of the carbon stored in wood products annually. The outcome hinges on trends in construction, such as the number of new houses built, the sizes of houses built and the number of houses needing repair.
To learn more, visit www.fs.usda.gov.
National Hardwood Lumber Association Celebrates 125 Years Of Service
Born out of a need to establish uniformity in the trade of Hardwood lumber in 1898, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, located in Memphis, Tennessee, will celebrate its Quasquicentennial this year, a milestone that represents 125 years of foundational support and service to the Hardwood industry.
NHLA Executive Director Dallin Brooks described the achievement as a testament to the steadfast mission of the association to serve not only its members but the Hardwood industry at large.
“An association doesn’t last 125 years unless it brings value to the industry,” stated Brooks. “NHLA is valuable for its grading rules, lumber services, education services and networking services. These core services are the foundation that helps NHLA grow, our members prosper and stabilizes the Hardwood industry.”
The Quasquicentennial celebration will last all year long. It kicked off with a “125 Challenge” and will include a 125th Anniversary and Open-House Celebration at NHLA headquarters in Memphis, TN.
The “125 Challenge” is designed to get members involved by earning points through fun activities to receive exclusive NHLA commemorative gifts. Some activities are part of a member’s normal routine, such as registering for the NHLA Annual Convention. Other activities will stretch their involvement, such as speaking to a class about the Hardwood industry or taking a video of their company in action.
The 125th Anniversary and Open-House event will be held on Wednesday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The NHLA facilities will be open for tours and a formal presentation and rededication ceremony will take place from 11 a.m. to Noon. Invitations will be mailed to all current members and industry friends.
Also of note in 2023, the NHLA Inspector Training School will celebrate its Diamond Jubilee. For 75 years, the school has created the world’s best Hardwood lumber inspectors and has been a pioneering force in developing the future leaders of the Hardwood industry, the NHLA said.
To learn more about the National Hardwood Lumber Association, visit www.nhla.com. For more information about the 125 Challenge and the 125th Anniversary Celebration, visit www.nhla.com/125years.
A Housing Downturn In 2023 Followed By A Recovery In 2024
The housing recession that began in 2022 will bleed into 2023 as elevated inflation and mortgage rates, coupled with stubbornly high building material construction costs, continue to take a toll on the housing industry and are expected to push the overall economy into a mild recession this year. However, the second half of 2023 could lead to a turning point for housing and the economy.
“With interest rates projected to normalize in the second half of 2023 as the Federal Reserve taps the brakes in its fight against inflation, the pace of single-family construction will bottom out in the first half of 2023 and begin to improve in the latter part of the year,” said Robert Dietz, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders, during a housing and economic outlook press briefing at the 2023 International Builders’ Show. “This forward momentum will lead to a calendar year gain for single-family starts in 2024.”
To learn more, go to www.nahb.org.
