For many individuals who suffer from arthritis, pain is a way of life. The joints that are affected by arthritis feel stiff in the morning, sore by the afternoon, and downright painful in the evening. Arthritis is most common among the elderly, but young people may also be susceptible to it, depending on their habits […]
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Are Righties Really Better Off?
If you’re like 90% of the population, you’re right-hand dominant. Unlike “lefties,” the majority of us don’t have to give a second thought when we perform simple tasks such as zipping a coat, taking a picture, using scissors, or switching the gears of a bicycle. Since the equipment used for those activities has been designed […]
Inland & Coastal Cedar – Appreciating the Differences
As the popularity of Cedar continues to grow, many customers ask us about the benefits of Inland vs. Coastal varieties. Both are the same species, Thuja plicata; as such, they boast many of the same prize characteristics: insect and rot resistance, relatively low cost, and open availability in a variety of sizes. Common applications include […]
Jatoba & Brazilian Cherry for Blended Flooring Design
As an extension of an open floor plan, a recent design trend incorporates seamlessly blending interior design with outdoor living spaces. Of course, execution of such a concept can become a bit difficult when you consider lumber for flooring. After all, the kind of durability needed for your outside space is certainly not something you […]
Building a Deck? Read This First!
With summer just around the corner, are you dreaming of a brand new deck in time for BBQ season? If so, all you’ll need is a few supplies, and you can get to work right away, right? Well, maybe not. If your lumber has not yet had time to acclimatize, prematurely installing your deck could […]
Understanding Organic Materials: Focus on Teak
Once upon a time, I went on date with a guy I didn’t know very well. Somehow, it came up in conversation that his taste in décor did not include organic materials. What?! Like wood? I was incredulous. Needless to say, the relationship did not go far. Even we organic materials enthusiasts, though, can forget […]
Western Red Cedar Characteristics & Supplier Information
Fairly new to the softwoods market (compared to our 200+ years of experience with hardwoods), J. Gibson McIlvain has learned a lot about the specific needs of softwoods over the past decade. Because we now realize the distinct needs of softwoods, we’ve established a distribution yard dedicated to softwoods. One of our most requested species […]
Why Do Girls Struggle with Body Image?
Feminism may have improved gender equality in the workplace, but it doesn’t seem to have done much for school-aged young women: According to a national study, girls are far more likely to have negative body images than their male counterparts—to the tune of 3-to-1. Media (Over)exposure How much daily media exposure does the average teen […]
Improving Gluteus Maximus Health
Called all kinds of things, from the bum, bottom, fanny, tush, seat, or derrière, the gluteus maximus is actually the largest individual muscle in the human body. A significant supporter of the lower back and legs, problems with this integral muscle can lead to back or leg trouble — and vice versa. Whenever you walk, […]
Full Service Moulding & Millwork Operation
One of the many quality offerings of J. Gibson McIlvain (www.mcilvain.com) is hardwood mouldings and millwork. We handle all the operations in-house and have a full line of capabilities available to you. With moulders, straight line and gang rip saws, custom knife grinders, band resaws, and trimming saws on hand, we can basically manufacture any […]
Top 3 Tropical Hardwood Decking Species
Both commercial and residential decking projects require beautiful, low-maintenance, long-lasting materials. Composite and synthetic products fall short of achieving that careful balance, as do many low-grade lumber species. At J. Gibson McIlvain, we provide our decking customers with only the best high-end decking materials: tropical hardwood decking. Boasting a highly sought-after durable beauty, high-quality tropical […]
Save a Rainforest, Buy Some Lumber
As a direct importer of many exotic lumber species, J. Gibson McIlvain would be foolish to contribute to deforestation: If all the trees are gone, we’ll have nothing to sell. Species such as Genuine Mahogany, Teak, and Ipe are considered by some to be “endangered,” and yet we still sell them. Why? Contrary to popular […]
Our Favorites: Mouth Watering Holiday Desserts
Preparing special dishes during the holidays are a tradition for many of us. The smells filling our homes are warming and nostalgic, and add to the memories we make every year. Whether it’s grandma’s oatmeal cookies or the banana bread you found on the internet last year, everyone enjoys a homemade dessert. We asked the […]
Exotic Hardwood Flooring Options
Hardwood flooring has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, as homeowners have begun to realize the durable and beautiful backdrops they can provide for their homes. No order is too big to be handled by the experts at J. Gibson McIlvain (www.mcilvain.com), where we provide only hand-selected high-quality lumber for our flooring customers. From major […]
Maple Trees: Characteristics, Contributions & Applications
Maple trees are some of the most famous and easily recognizable trees in all of North America. Maple trees grow plentifully throughout much of the United States, as well as throughout Canada. In fact, Canada’s very flag pays homage to the maple leaf; specifically, it depicts the leaf of the sugar maple tree. This multi-pointed […]