Cypress Wood

Cypress Lumber

Cypress Shakes

Cypress

dennis proffer

   I am probably the most experienced and knowledgeable living person in the free world when it comes to Cypress. I can qualify that simply with a couple of facts. First I have been in this industry since oxen were used to retrieve logs. Second, there was no outside communication with the world for purposes of medical assistance. Should you be seriously injured, you were probably going to die. The latter probably was a major factor in making me the most qualified. I have seen forests of cypress the likes of which will not be seen again except in some rare or isolated situation. I have been in this industry long enough to find immense humor in the term old growth cypress. There is nothing else, but old growth. Anything else is premature growth cypress and has no value except for pulp or perhaps fence post. I suppose at this time I might feel saddened by the loss of one of our great resources except that it like hundreds of other things I have seen disappear. It just seems to be the way things go. I remember the first time I read of the mass slaughter of the buffalo. It seemed real bad, but then as I grew older I realized we would be in a world of scatology had they not been trimmed down.

   In closing should you need information about cypress feel free to contact me.

Dennis Proffer

cypressshakes@hotmail.com

WHY?

    Why cypress? This is probably the most remarkable wood on the market today, not because it is the most beautiful. Which it is very attractive. But, it is one of the strongest, as well as most durable that you can find. It out performs most woods in any environment. It has a proven track record against insects as well as being impervious to water.

    There are living cypress tress on this continent that are thousands of years old. Cypress logs are being recovered as this is being written,  having been submerged for hundreds of years. It is the oldest harvested lumber in America.
          
    Cypress lumber and cypress shakes and shingles while not familiar to folks every where, is a long time acquaintance of the southeastern United States. George Washington used cypress wood on his Mt. Vernon Estate, and it is still there, fully functional.

    Frank Lloyd Wright, while not a southerner. Was an avid user of cypress and cypress shakes and shingles in his architecture. Cypress wood is reflected in a lot of his work

    It is  ironic that one of the greatest architects of our government and one the greatest architects of this country found this common ground.

    The question is then begged, is this a competitive product? Simple answer. Yes. Cypress and cypress shakes and shingles is probably more competitive than almost any lumber out there . Primarily because you don't replace cypress wood. Replacement cost of water damage and insect damage are the greatest drain on the average home owner. A termite would rather chew through a can of Raid, than crawl across a cypress wood  2 x 4.

    Less one might suggest that this position is biased. I would suggest you check the websites out there. They will more than confirm what you have read here.

I.e.,
Preservation Brief 19, www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/pubtxt/cir1186.htm,
The French experience in Louisiana, www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/eng99/eng99183.htm

George Washington's Barn

662.614.2159

Rev. 7/29/04

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