EXHIBIT 32(a)

                               CERTIFICATE OF THE
                           CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
                         UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

      Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C.
      1350):

      I, William G. Currie, Chief Executive Officer of Universal Forest
Products, Inc., certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) that:

      (1) The report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2004, which
this statement accompanies, fully complies with requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      (2) The information contained in this report on Form 10-K for the period
ended December 25, 2004 fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of Universal Forest Products, Inc.

                                    UNIVERSAL FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.

Date: March 10, 2005                By: /s/ William G. Currie
                                        ---------------------------
                                        William G. Currie
                                    Its:Chief Executive Officer