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Missoula company finds alternative wood sources to protect old growth
By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian

John Weaver wanted cedar siding shingles on his cabin near St. Ignatius.

But the biologist didn't want to contribute to the destruction of old-growth cedar forests.

As Loken Builders constructed the cabin, Weaver came up with an idea: Recycle the scrap wood, which is mostly pine and fir, from the construction site and make siding shingles out of it.

It worked, so well that Steve Loken took the idea to Home Resource, a building materials recycling center in Missoula.

And, in collaboration with Opportunity Resources, a nonprofit organization that provides care and job training for adults with disabilities, Cedar Saver Shingles were born.

Not to be confused with roofing shingles, Cedar Savers are exclusively for siding purposes. At $12 per 10 square feet, the price is about 10 percent lower than cedar shingles.

"They give you the same look," said Matt Hisel of Home Resource, "but they'll take stain and oil more easily."

The raw material is collected from construction sites by Home Resource. Scraps of fir or pine, 1 to 2 inches thick, 3 to 8 inches wide and down to 16 inches long, are acceptable. Builders should contact Home Resource at 541-8300 to donate scraps; pickup service is available.

The pilot phase of the project is supported by a $20,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Most of the cedar products in the United States come from British Columbia. Because they contain oils that prevent rot, cedars live for centuries and grow to enormous sizes. Pacific red cedars on Vancouver Island - where 88 percent of the original rainforest has already been logged - can grow to 60 feet in diameter and 182 feet tall.

The oldest are more than 2,400 years old.

"Today, 85 percent of all trees felled by the logging industry in British Columbia are considered old-growth trees," according to Richard Boyce, producer and director with Island Bound Media Works on Vancouver Island.

"That's trees older than 150 years old. A local mill processes 250 logs of old-growth cedar every hour. Soon, all the old-growth cedar will be gone," Boyce said.

Three Opportunity Resources clients are receiving job training in the production of Cedar Saver Shingles.

"We're cranking out a lot of shingles now," Hisel said. "My hope is that the sale of this product will help support more job training in the future - not to mention more conservation of cedar forests and landfill space."

 

Save the cedars



Cedar Saver Shingles are available at Home Resource, 825 W. Kent Ave. in Missoula. Call 541-8300 for more information or to donate material.
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Michael Allen wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:50 PM:

" I manufacture shingles from old growth cedar. Haven't cut a live tree in over 35 years. All the mills in Washington State that manufacture shingles and shakes use salvaged cedar that is dead and down, most been buried underground for 100 to 500 years. There is no cutting of old growth forest allowed anywhere. it's just standing there waiting for the wind and bugs to take it down. The term "old growth forest" come from trees that have reached their prime and are dying. Please rest assured that all the precious "old growth" will be saved until the wind blows it over. I really don't know where all you uniformed people get your information about mills raping the wilderness. We are actually helping the forest by clearing away the down trees so more trees can get rooted and grow. When a logger cuts one tree in the forest, three are planted in it's place. The trees are cared for, thinning the cull young trees so we will have a very healthy forest in the future. At least when we cut a tree we plant more, not like the urban sprawl that plants Condo's. "

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