News Releases

Date: 04/01/05

Media Contact: Kim Drew, APR 770.985.8001

What is Southern Pine?
From Texas to Virginia, Southern Pine is the wood species of choice for many building, remodeling and do-it-yourself projects. It's a strong species, it's easy to use and once it's been pressure treated, it's able to withstand just about anything your home (and the elements around it) can dish out. It's beautiful, with its warm, golden color (green, if it's been pressure treated) truly setting it apart from other wood species.

Why is Southern Pine a better choice for your project? The strength of the wood makes it the best choice, whether you plan to build a deck, create a gorgeous entryway to your home, panel a wall or build a playset. The density of Southern Pine allows it to hold nails better, meaning you won't have to go back and redo parts of your project. The durability of the wood means bring on the dogs, children and high traffic, your Southern Pine porch, deck or floor will stand the test of time. Southern Pine is an environmentally friendly building material: it comes from abundant and renewable Southern forests, right here in your own backyard.

For outdoor projects, treated Southern Pine is not just the Southern choice, it's the nationwide winner. Upwards of 85 percent of all treated wood nationwide is Southern Pine. Why? The structure of the wood itself allows it to accept stain or preservative treatment better than any other species. Treated Southern Pine wood is one of the best choices to resist decay and termites.

How to Buy Southern Pine

No need to be afraid of the lumber aisle - we'll explain it to you. Southern Pine, before treatment, is a nice, clear yellow/gold color. The deep grain, swirls and knots you can see are what set Southern Pine apart from other species.

Much of what can be seen in the lumber aisle at lumber dealers and home improvement stores will be Southern Pine � but how to be sure? The fool-proof way is to look for the grade mark on the piece of wood: look for a black-ink imprint on the lumber itself. Every piece of Southern Pine must be graded and checked by an independent grading agency for strength and consistency before being sold. Once it's been checked, the wood will be stamped with a grade mark. This mark describes the piece of wood, the moisture content (important if you're building inside) and the quality of the wood. If you see the letters "SP" (Southern Pine), "SYP" (Southern Yellow Pine) or "MSP" (Mixed Southern Pine), you've chosen the right material. For more information on how to read a grade mark, visit www.spanpine.com.

Southern Pine lumber is available in a wide range of widths and lengths to suit any project you decide to tackle. Typically, wood lengths range from 8' to 18', with widths available from 1" to 12". If you are looking for Southern Pine flooring, the wood will be thinner, but can still range in width from 2" to 12".

If you want the look of real wood, choose real wood: Southern Pine.

The Southern Pine Awareness Network was founded in January of 2005 with the goal of raising the awareness of Southern Pine as a leading building material throughout the Southeast. Supported by funding from members of the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA), SPAN is designed to be an information clearing house for consumers throughout the Southeast region. Visit us online at www.spanpine.com

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