Both the commercial and the residential markets for tropical hardwood decking are exploding in today’s economy! Why? Tropical decking lasts, requires very little maintenance, and provides an attractive addition to any property. J. Gibson McIlvain maintains an inventory of decking … [Read more...]
How Long to Wait Before Installing Decking Boards? It Depends. Part 2
In our first article in this series, we looked at how the board fastening method can influence the amount of time you need to wait before you install it. We also discussed that whether or not the wood was finished and when the finish was applied can make a difference in your wait … [Read more...]
How Long to Wait Before Installing Decking Boards? It Depends. Part 1
If you’ve ever embarked on a project involving flooring or decking boards, you’ve probably heard that you’re supposed to wait for a while before installing them. After all, the boards need to acclimate to their new surroundings in order to prevent complications such as warping … [Read more...]
Unraveling the Mystery of Ipe Decking Prices, Part 3
In this series of articles (see Parts 1 & 2), we’ve been explaining some of the reasons why Ipe decking materials can vary so widely in price. We looked at a hypothetical scenario involving a contractor who made a purchase of Ipe decking early in the deck-building season. … [Read more...]
Unraveling the Mystery of Ipe Decking Prices, Part 2
Lumber wholesalers sometimes get an unfair reputation for charging prices their customers consider to be too high. As we mentioned in our previous article, that’s because many customers don’t realize how complex a process pricing lumber can be, especially when it comes to … [Read more...]
Unraveling the Mystery of Ipe Decking Prices, Part 1
Lumber pricing can seem a bit puzzling to those who aren’t extremely familiar with the ins and outs of the lumber business. Different suppliers can quote customers vastly different prices, leading to the conclusion that certain dealers may be trying to price gouge their … [Read more...]
What Your Ipe Decking Needs from You, Part 3
You might be thinking that you’ve given your Ipe decking lumber a lot of extra TLC. You’ve allowed it to rest prior to installation, giving it time to come into an equilibrium with the environment (see Part 1). You’ve carefully installed it using the right size gaps given the … [Read more...]
What Your Ipe Decking Needs from You, Part 2
We’re very careful around here with the words we use. Here’s an example: you won’t catch us referring to even the most amazing, above-grade Ipe decking lumber we sell to be "maintenance free." Why? It may be amazing, but it won’t come close to living up to its potential and … [Read more...]
What Your Ipe Decking Needs from You, Part 1
Tropical hardwoods have a unique back story that contributes to some specific needs for care both prior to and after installation. Sometimes people refer to premium hardwood tropical decking species such as Ipe as “maintenance free,” but that’s really a misnomer. When your … [Read more...]
Lumber Pricing Explained, Part 3
What images do you have in mind when you consider the cost of lumber? Is it perplexity, or perhaps even annoyance? Through some education, we'd like to contribute to fostering a little more understanding. Lumber Pricing Explained, Part 1 was the beginning, and Part 2 was the … [Read more...]
