LUMBERYARDS

Wilmington, Ohio-based TimberTech unveiled an interactive online resource for homeowners and pros in search of deck answers. 

TimberTech is unveiling an interactive Q&A platform called “Straight Talk.” The new tool can be accessed at TimberTech.com/StraightTalk and answers deck questions from pros and consumers, the company said. 

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its rating on the unsecured notes of Building FirstSource to 'CC' from 'CCC-' and revised its recovery rating to '6' from '5' to reflect diminished recovery prospects, given a higher level of first-lien obligations, the credit rating company announced. The '6' recovery rating indicates an expectation for a negligible (0% to 10%) recovery in the event of a payment default.

Bulk alloy developer Liquidmetal Technologies has signed a Manufacturers' Represenation Agreement with Technical Marketing and Sales, a sales and marketing firm that specifically deals in specialty metals.

TM&S specializes in Powder Metal and MIM (Metal Injection Molding) parts. Bruce Bromage, Liquidmetal's EVP of business development and operations, said in a statement that TM&S customers often note the cost and performance advantages of using Liquidmetal products.

A former co-founder of Building Industry Partners has formed a new venture that targets privately owned “middle market” LBM companies. Anchor Peabody LLC, founded by Jason Fraler, offers private equity capital, mergers and acquisitions and debt advisory to the building and construction industry. 

Joining the firm’s advisory board is Tony DeCarlo, the former CEO of Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation (LMC).

P&F Industries, Inc. reported robust second quarter earnings, primarily due to a strong Tools segment and the recent entry of its Florida Pneumatic subsidiary into The Home Depot market.

Net revenue came in at $19.48 million for the quarter, a big jump up from year-ago figures of $15.24 million. Net income was $875,000, compared to last year's $796,000.

Tifton, Ga.-based Short & Paulk Supply announced the spinoff of its truss manufacturing operation as a separate business division catering exclusively to the wholesale trade. The new division will be known as Georgia Structural Components (GSC).

According to S&P CEO Jay Short, "The wholesale-only orientation of our new GSC Division provides an opportunity for substantial development as we continue to expand this distribution channel. It just makes sense for us to seek new markets for our growing manufacturing capabilities."

Credit ratings service Standard & Poor's (S&P) delivered a guarded but upbeat assessment of U.S. home builders, reporting that “operating conditions … have improved over the past six months, and the sector's overall credit quality has steadied as a result.” The new report cites a “cautiously stable” outlook for the sector overall, but warns that that trend could backpedal later this year if the baseline residential construction forecast doesn't materialize.

Two congressmen and a handful of "priority issues" kick-start a Legislative Conference.