DHA® eNews - Is Shiplap's Heyday Over?
Chip and Joanna Gaines' rustic shiplap may be on the way out. According to Zillow's Home Trend Forecast, words that describe this year's interior design trend are modern, clean, and industrial. Designers say that the increased use of technology will be balanced by more quiet, meditative spaces.
Designers unveiled the top seven kitchen trends homeowners will look for this year. From matte black to concrete to terrazzo, click through to watch the video and see photos of what today's homeowners want to buy.
Experts project that southern U.S. sawtimber markets will stay flat, Canadian investment in U.S. forest products assets will slow, European investment will rise, and the use of cross-laminated timber and engineered wood products will continue to increase in 2019.
Among the seven most important trends to monitor this year are increased heights in modular construction, elimination of waste, and more frequent use of drones.
The Forest Stewardship Council is one of the world's most influential certifiers of sustainable forests, having certified 22.6% of all industrial roundwood harvested worldwide in 2016. Posing as European importers, investigative journalists from Sixth Tone traveled to nine Chinese manufacturers of wood products. Staff at seven of the companies spoke candidly about marking products with FSC logos and supplying FSC certification documents even though their products do not meet FSC standards.
The more assertive foreign policy led by Chinese President Xi Jinping may be changing. China's foreign reserves dropped from a high of $4 trillion in 2014 to $3 trillion today. Tighter U.S. monetary policy has pulled dollars out of the Chinese economy, lowering reserves and confidence.
A tough trade fight with the U.S. exacerbated weakness in China's economy, the second-largest economy in the world. The 6.6% growth rate for 2018 is the slowest annual rate China has recorded since 1990.
Hardwood plywood donated by Columbia Forest Products was used by The Joinery and the Bella Fund to build safe beds for children with special needs.
Roseburg Forest Products has hired Jake Elston as senior vice president of operations, responsible for the manufacturing of all industrial and structural operations. The company promoted Mike Reardon to director of industrial products manufacturing.
Source: Roseburg
The HPVA Laboratories® team awarded EPA TSCA Title VI certification for formaldehyde emissions to the Howell Hardwood Flooring manufacturing facility in Dothan, AL. Howell's flooring products may now carry the CARB TPC-8 certification label.
HPVA Laboratories® has certified the Panneaux Optimum hardwood plywood manufacturing facility in Saint-Léonard-d'Aston, Quebec as compliant with all EPA TSCA Title VI formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products.
A study conducted by The Ohio State University details the emerging beech leaf disease epidemic, found in eleven counties in Ohio, eight counties in Pennsylvania, and five counties in Ontario. First, dark green bands appear between the veins of the leaves; eventually, leaves darken and become leathery. Scientists do not yet know what causes the disease.
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL in Zurich shows that as the climate warms, tree growth is limited more by the availability of water than higher temperatures.
European countries have asked Canadian scientist Peter Silk to help stop the invasion of the emerald ash borer in Europe. The pest first appeared in North America as a result of infested wooden crates from China. Now, it is spreading from Russia into Belarus and eastern European countries.
As a result of the U.S. government shutdown, firefighting training courses have been canceled, piles of dead trees have been left untended, and controlled burns are on hold.
Higher government standards are critical to ending deforestation, say key players in timber and other global supply chains.
The European Commission has opened a public consultation and survey to help develop an integrated approach to fighting deforestation, protecting forests, and promoting sustainable supply chains. To participate, visit the website and complete the questionnaire before February 25.
Source: Green Building Advisor