Washington County professional building supply company 84 Lumber Co. posted a profit for May, the first monthly profit of this year.

The private company, like many in the home building industry, has been hurt by the nation's subprime mortgage crisis and slow housing market.

84 Lumber said in an official statement that its concentration of locations in the Northeast has protected it somewhat from drops in housing starts in the Southeast and Southwest.

Officials also credited efforts to reduce payroll and bad debt, along with closing unprofitable locations, for assisting the return to profitability.