Dear Editor,

The devastation which has taken place in Jamaica has proven we are all our brother’s keepers — or should be.

Financial and material support for victims is critical, and so is the sharing of knowledge. Indeed, money and wisdom are for protection, but the benefit of wisdom is that it keeps its users alive, says wise King Solomon.

We’ve rushed into repair mode, but are we making the same mistakes that led to devastation?

Two to three years ago a friend and I went into a hardware store to purchase lumber. To my surprise every piece of lumber had multiple splits along its length, in addition to other faults. To find a piece to purchase, we searched out pieces on which the splits occurred roughly where we planned to cut the board so we’d omit those bits. However, other people were purchasing the lumber we rejected, paying no attention to the faults, carelessly spending their unsuspecting clients’ hard-earned money on compromised and virtually, in my opinion, worthless lumber.

This lumber was not discounted. I believe the hardware store had been given rejected lumber gratis and was making a killing selling it full price knowing full well builders were likely ignorant or indifferent.

When lumber has splits it’s not properly seasoned. When you drive nails in or near the splits they widen; meaning, the lumber splits apart under any stress. An example of this stress is the wind force hitting the roof, extending/widening the splits, loosening nails, and causing roofs to crumble into the board fragments/splinters you see littering the ground.

There are many reasons some houses stand and others don’t. Having a lumber house or roof that withstands hurricane-force winds begins with selecting mature, fault-free lumber and using the inner section of the board, near to the heart, for joints. This section is strongest and able to withstand stress. Of course, there are other factors: the quality, construction and type of joints, whether they are reinforced, type of hardware, spacing, and angle — all of these matter.

It’s imperative that we rebuild structures that last. The first step begins with the hardware stores and lumberyards providing quality lumber followed by trained workmen who understand and are committed to the science of building to last.

And I’m calling on the media to investigate and inform. You may call out the ones that are bad, but, by all means, write about the ones that are good! We will know where to spend our money and make it count.

Please note also that some of the timber from the older houses are still in excellent condition. These need to be salvaged for reuse.

N Myers

ldynov25@gmail.com