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 […]
Construction
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 […]
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 […]
Does Responsible Harvesting of Wood Lead to Compromise?
At J. Gibson McIlvain lumber company, we know that the last thing our customers want to do is compromise quality in favor of sustainability. At the same time, many are seeing the necessity of responsible harvesting practices. As lumber industry specialists, we have a vested interest in sustainability, and yet if customers don’t want the […]
Wide-Plank Flooring 102
The high-end customer who desires the distinctive look of wide-plank flooring certainly won’t settle for second-best. They want the job done, and they want it done right the first time. In Wide-Plank Flooring 101, we discussed two concerns related to sourcing wide-plank hardwood flooring: limited options and movement-minded milling. Careful sawing, drying, and milling will […]
Wide-Plank Flooring 101
In the world of high-end construction and remodeling, wide-plank flooring jobs are on the rise. Planks with widths of twelve inches or more make sense for bigger rooms, where narrow planks can make them look too much like bowling alleys — which is probably not the ambiance you’re after. As the trend toward hardwood flooring […]
Money-Saving New Home Design Tips
You know all those annoying things about a house that make you shake your head? Well, that’s the last thing you want for your own custom build. Many thoughtful considerations on the front end can save you thousands of dollars (never mind the headaches and inconveniences!) that come with later retrofitting. Enough Insulation Making sure […]
Should We Be Protecting Our Forests From Loggers… Or From Tree Huggers?
Who presents the bigger problem to sustainability- loggers or tree huggers? If you want to keep the rain forests from disappearing, protect the global ecosystem, and continue the availability of quality lumber, then contrary to what you might think, you shouldn’t hug the trees: You should actually let them go. Although many people labor under […]
Space Saving Kitchen Design Tips
Maximize your small kitchen space with these unique design ideas: Most Americans don’t have as much space in their kitchen as they would like. But if expanding your kitchen isn’t an option or if you have a limited design budget, then you need to do what you can to maximize the usability of the space […]
Composite Decking Materials vs. Tropical Hardwood Decking
If you’ve been looking at the various decking products on the market today, then you’ve likely noticed an explosion of non-organic decking materials that have become popular in recent years. These options can be attractive because of their uniformity and supposed durability. In fact, when I walked into my local big-orange-box retailer recently, I saw […]
4 Common Tropical Decking Problems- And Their Solutions
Tropical decking materials are often unbeatable when it comes to durability, density, beauty, and other desirable characteristics. Yet despite experiencing steady and increasing popularity, tropical decking lumber species such as Ipe and Cumaru have some unique characteristics of which builders need to be aware. 1. Compensating for Quartersawn Issues Most tropical decking lumber is quartersawn. […]
Why Is Cherry Wood So Popular?
Even with so many other lumber options available, cherry retains its popularity. Some of the reasons for this continuing trend include its domestic source, comparatively low price, attractive appearance, and excellent durability and workability. Domestic Source One of the many reasons to seek out cherry wood lumber is the fact that it’s made right here […]
Three Trees in a Successful Forest
In the wholesale lumber industry, it’s easy to see the forest, but not the trees. By “forest,” here, I’m referring to the overall success and respectability of a company. Factors contributing to the success of McIlvain lumber include its family-centered roots, breadth of products and services, and national and global expansion. Those “trees” may not […]
Choosing a Lumber Supplier
If you’re looking for a hardwood lumber supplier, there are several areas you need to consider. While price and quality may be at the forefront of your priority list, environmental and legal concerns should also play a part in the supplier selection process. A responsible hardwood lumber supplier will be able to ensure 2 important […]