In early 2020, as the nation was thrust into a global pandemic and sheltering in place became the new normal, home improvement plans were hatching across the U.S. For some, it was the deck they’ve been dreaming about for years, for others it was the privacy fence they didn’t know they needed until they were stuck at home all day (along with their neighbors, and their neighbor’s kids who always seem to be outside, and has their dog always barked at everything?). Not only did the pandemic give homeowners a reason to tackle their home improvement list, it gave them the time to do so.
As demand for high-quality treated wood products rose, so did demand for relevant information. The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) and Western Wood Preservers Institute (WWPI) have been providing consumers across the country with relevant technical information for years, and their abundant resources were at the ready to help people with their pandemic projects.
Southern Pine’s ease of treatability has made it the preferred species when pressure treatment with wood preservatives is required. The unique cellular structure of Southern Pine permits deep and uniform penetration of preservatives, rendering the wood useless as a food source for fungi, termites and microorganisms. Southern Pine can last for many decades, the trick is to make sure that the product being used is properly treated and installed for its intended use. Thankfully, SFPA’s main informational website, SouthernPine.com, is equipped with plenty of information to ensure consumers are getting the most out of their treated Southern Pine products.
From publications to span tables, SouthernPine.com has it all, and thousands have used the site to gain the knowledge they need to confidently complete their home improvement projects with pressure-treated Southern Pine. One of SFPA’s most popular publications, Pressure Treated Southern Pine, is packed with information to assist with the proper specification and use of pressure-treated Southern Pine products. Another popular resource on SouthernPine.com is the Southern Pine Use Guide which provides users with a broad range of tools and information needed for designing and building with Southern Pine including grade descriptions, seasoning requirements, specification guidelines, and more.
With over a dozen publications and tools, SouthernPine.com continues to serve as one of the most comprehensive reference sites for Southern Pine on the internet, and SFPA’s impact extends past U.S. borders. Between its international website, SouthernPineGlobal.com (available in 12 languages) and educational seminars in developing markets, SFPA is enabling consumers around the world to take advantage of all that pressure-treated Southern Pine has to offer.
