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Authors: Ivan Eastin and Rose Braden ​Executive Summary The purpose of this project was to perform a comparative assessment of the US and Japanese 2×4 construction technologies, evaluate Japanese builders perceptions of US value-added wood building materials and identify opportunities to increase the use of US wood building materials within the Japanese 2×4 construction sector. In […]

Authors: ​Ivan L. Eastin, Tom C. Ossinger, Roger B. Williams, Steven R. Shook, Robert Hashizume and Joseph A. Roos Executive SummaryAnecdotal information from US architects and contractors with experience in residential construction projects in Japan indicates that Japanese construction professionals often do not fully understand the North American-style 2×4 construction system and often employ construction techniques […]

Authors: ​Steven R. Shook and Ivan L. Eastin Executive SummaryThe market for residential decking and siding products in North America has become increasingly competitive over the past two decades.  Given an increasing assortment of substitute materials, coupled with aggressive promotional and product-service campaigns of competitors, the market share for western red cedar residential decking and siding […]

Authors: ​Ivan Eastin, Kweku Bentil and Gerald Beltran ​Abstract Despite Japan’s relatively small size, residential housing starts have exceeded those in the US throughout the 1990s, totaling 1.57 million units in 1994.  However, the cost of residential housing in Japan is substantially higher than in other developed countries.  In an effort to address this problem, the […]

Author: ​John Perez-Garcia ​Executive SummaryThe reduction in timber supply in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region to protect the northern spotted owl is just one of a number of similar, ongoing adjustments in timber supply globally. The rapid rise in wood product prices experienced within the last 12 months — an increase of 100 percent–is suggestive of […]

Authors: ​Juha Niemela, Heikki Julin, Paul Smith, David Cohen ​Executive SummaryBackground and PurposeThis research is based on the following strategic issues facing the softwood lumber industry in Western North America: 1) the economic importance of the lumber industry for Western North America; 2) factors affecting the operating environment of the industry; 3) changes in customer needs; […]

Authors: David G. Briggs and Nathan Dickens. Executive Summary This study has developed information regarding the softwood construction lumber market in Japan and the major types of wood-based housing markets where this lumber is used.  Since a large fraction of Japan’s softwood supplies are imported from North America and as various factors influence Japan to […]

Authors: David G. Briggs and Nathan Dickens. Executive Summary ​This report presents the results of an investigation into softwood lumber grading systems used in Europe with an emphasis on systems used, or proposed, for international trade transactions.  The report also presents comparisons and approximate cross-references of these systems with North American grades.  This involves the […]