If you plan on using lumber for construction, you probably understand the importance of making sure the lumber is properly dried before starting your project. Lumber that isn’t dried correctly can lead to a whole host of problems, such as the appearance of large gaps between … [Read more...]

Perhaps even more foreboding than lumber pricing and grading in general, are those key issues as they relate to plywood. While it’s completely possible to save money on high-quality solid lumber by carefully choosing unpopular sizes, there’s really no shortcut when it comes to … [Read more...]

Even though we gladly carry and sell several other tropical hardwood decking species, Ipe is by far our #1 choice. With a lifespan topping 4 decades, this Brazilian species will outlast your mortgage — and then some — providing the backdrop of family barbecues and more! Whether … [Read more...]

A long-time supplier of premium hardwood and softwood lumber, J. Gibson McIlvain is a still relatively new player in the hardwood plywood market. Our previous hesitancy to enter the market was the fact that the only plywood we could find failed to meet our high standards of … [Read more...]

Whether you are a home owner building your dream deck or a contractor collecting materials to build someone’s dream home, ultimately, the question always comes down to “what is this going to cost me?” A customer wants to know immediately, up front, how much an order will cost at … [Read more...]

J. Gibson McIlvain takes pride in providing its customers with high-quality hardwood lumber from both domestic and international sources. To understand the degree of service and quality you can anticipate from McIlvain, you must first understand that we are not your typical … [Read more...]

Thursday, August 16, 2013, President Correa of Ecuador announced a landmark decision to promote oil drilling in the Yasuni National Park, an area carrying the designation of being a ‘strict protected area’ — a rare category, setting it apart from the rest of the Western Amazon … [Read more...]

Grade, size, species, season, origination — all these characteristics of lumber contribute to the number you’re quoted when you request a price. Hopefully after the first and second posts in this series, you’re starting to understand why we can’t just come up with a simple price … [Read more...]

We don’t want lumber pricing to seem like a complete mystery to our customers. Nor can we make it simpler than it is. But we can help you understand the factors that contribute to it. And anytime you want to ask us about specific pricing variations, we welcome your questions and … [Read more...]

Tropical decking materials are a premium choice if you’re interested in constructing an eye-catching, durable, high-end decking project (see Part 1). If you’re thinking about installing a tropical hardwood deck, but you’re not sure you’re able to afford Ipe, the most popular of … [Read more...]

If you’re considering replacing or adding a new deck, boardwalk, or boat dock to your residential or commercial property, you have a variety of different options to choose from. Some of the most long-lasting, attractive choices available on the market fall under the category of … [Read more...]