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...]
Economic Forces Causing Shortages with Mahogany & Its Alternatives
Genuine Mahogany logsIn addition to understanding the distinctions between so-called “Genuine Mahogany” and African Mahogany, being a knowledgeable lumber customer means being aware of the availability and other issues relating to each of those species.As we raise … [Read more...]
The Secret to Finding Premium African Mahogany
When it comes to African Mahogany, there’s a reason many consider it inferior to its South American cousin. African Mahogany is actually just as much part of the Mahogany family as so-called Genuine Mahogany. Despite the misnomer, the clarifying name "Genuine Mahogany" originated … [Read more...]
Ecology, Economy & Tropical Forestry
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...]
Top Exotic Hardwoods Imported from South America
At J. Gibson McIlvain, we’re direct importers of exotic hardwoods from across the globe. Many of our most popular species hail from South America, where our specially trained experts visit each lumber mill in person before we begin relationships with them. During their on-site … [Read more...]
Lumber Pricing: Factors To Consider, Part 3
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...]
Lumber Pricing: Factors To Consider, Part 2
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...]
Introduction to Tropical Decking Materials, Part 2
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...]
Introduction to Tropical Decking Materials, Part 1
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...]
How to Decide Between Inland or Coastal Cedar, Part 2
In our first article in this two-part series, we discussed the overall benefits of Western Cedar. It’s an extremely popular domestic softwood that can be used in a number of different applications, from flooring to siding, to decking and more. Its abundance, versatility, beauty, … [Read more...]
