Finishing or Surfacing 



Finishing or surfacing is carried on by 38 percent of the regional 

 retail yards: however, of the total, 29 percent finish or surface less than 

 25 [)ercent of their total sales volume (Figure 20). This tyjx^ of product 

 transformation is fairly evenly disbursed throughout all dollar sales 

 volume classes and little difference is found between states. 



FIGURE 20. PERCENT OF ALL RETAIL YARDS SURFACING OR FINISHING LUMBER. 



Thus retail lumber yards, except where vertically integrated, pur- 

 chase a finished product "lumber" and depend upon the manufacturer 

 or wholesalers to supply it to them in a condition ready for final sales 

 to consumers or contractors. 



REASONS FOR SPECIES CHOICES 



The factors which influence a lumber yard owner or operator to 

 choose one species over another have been only estimated previously. 

 These factors were divided into two groups for this study: (a) the phys- 

 ical characteristics and ( b ) the economic factors. The answers received 

 were separated into these two groups. No pre-determined list was used, 

 nor were suggestions given to the interviewee. 



Physical Factors 



Quality of lumber is the leading physical factor affecting choice of 

 all soft wood lumber purchased for retail distribution (Figure 21) . Sizes 

 and lengths available are the second most important physical factor. 

 Other factors affecting purchase, listed in order of importance, are vol- 

 ume available in grade, conformance to grade, and moisture content. 



27 



