In addition, the survey data suggest that large firms were more likely than small firms to try new substitute products, particularly finger jointed lumber, structural insulated panels, and LVL, as well as newer engineered wood products such as parallel strand lumber and laminated strand lumber. The data were analyzed to assess the extent to which various structural products were used in walls, floors, and roofs, the three end-use applications that consume the greatest volume of structural lumber. To assess builder satisfaction with softwood lumber, respondents were asked to rate the level of the importance, and their corresponding level of satisfaction, with 13 softwood lumber attributes. The importance ratings obtained in 1998 were identical to those reported in 1995. Softwood lumber straightness, strength, availability, and lack of defects were rated as the most important attributes.
Price appears to be much more important to large firms than small firms.
Builders reported that while they were somewhat more satisfied with the price and price stability of softwood lumber in 1998, they were still unhappy with softwood lumber quality, particularly straightness and the overall occurrence of defects. Use of substitute materials has increased since 1995. While builders appear to be less concerned with price and price stability than in 1995, they remain very concerned about the perceived decline in softwood lumber quality, expressing the least satisfaction with product attributes they rate as being most important. To provide a more concise interpretation of the importance and satisfaction of the different softwood lumber attributes, a factor analysis was performed to group together attributes that are highly correlated. The gap between the importance and satisfaction rankings of thirteen product attributes is greatest for quality and price-related attributes.