J. Gibson McIlvain, as a lumber importer, is very conscious of its social and environmental responsibilities. Buying imported lumber, according to the International Wood Products Association, is actually the best way to save the rainforests. That is far from ludicrous, despite … [Read more...]
Meranti Is the New & Improved Philippine Mahogany
In the early to mid decades of the 20th century, Philippine Mahogany gained a reputation as a top-notch boat building material. This was the era of the Chris Craft boats made from this durable and eye-catching wood. If a species can be used for building boats, that’s a clear sign … [Read more...]
The Lumber Industry & Its Environmental Impact
Is the legitimate logging industry really putting rainforests in jeopardy? It’s ironic that during a time when green building and sustainability are increasingly popular concepts, composite decking is still considered an option. Among its many downfalls, these manufactured … [Read more...]
The J. Gibson McIlvain Difference, Part 2
What McIlvain Lumber Quality Really Means, Part 2. At J. Gibson McIlvain, we realize that quality isn’t something to take for granted. We go to great lengths to ensure that our lumber products maintain the high standards for which the McIlvain name has become well known for … [Read more...]
The J. Gibson McIlvain Difference, Part 1
What McIlvain Lumber Quality Really Means, Part 1. “Quality” is one of those words that gets thrown around so often, that its meaning becomes blurred. At J. Gibson McIlvain, we pride ourselves on supplying high-quality lumber, but you may be wondering exactly what we mean by … [Read more...]
Thinking Green: Wood vs. Bamboo
Like the myths about tropical lumber, many myths surround the sustainability of Bamboo, as opposed to Hardwoods. When you look at the cold, hard facts, there are actually plenty of reasons to choose lumber of any kind over Bamboo. We’ll take a look at a few of … [Read more...]
Why We Love Ipe Decking
Ipe decking is a wonderful choice if you're creating a wood deck and want something that will look good and last a long time. Ipe (pronounced "ee-pay") is a dense hardwood native to South American rainforests that makes for a long-lasting decking alternative. Because of the … [Read more...]
Is Composite Decking Earth-Friendly?
3 Big, Green Reasons To Re-Think Composite Decking. One of the major arguments touted by composite decking manufacturers to support their products has to do with the environment. The logic goes something like this: We’re preserving the rain forests by not killing trees, and … [Read more...]
Meeting the Lumber Needs of Luxury Boat Builders
Here at J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber, we have plenty of Teak in our lumber yard. Even if you’ve seen how much we have, you may not realize that we’re actually one of the largest importers of FEQ Teak in the entire United States! Luxury boat builders are, undoubtedly, our primary … [Read more...]
Is Composite Decking a Viable Option?
4 Considerations in Using Composite Decking Products. While many high-end decks and boardwalks use premium tropical hardwood decking species such as Cumaru or Ipe, composite decking products are certainly on the rise. With issues such as durability and sustainability … [Read more...]
Large Timbers, Cracks, and Why You Shouldn’t Worry, Part 2
In Part 1 we looked at what causes checking in large timbers and how it varies based on species. Regardless of whether checking appears as multiple, smaller surface-deep checks or a single large crack, the important part is that they do not decrease the structural integrity of … [Read more...]
Large Timbers, Cracks, and Why You Shouldn’t Worry, Part 1
As described in the August 2014 issue of STRUCTURE magazine, many factors have come together to “reposition wood on the world stage.” This “renewed interest in timber as an architectural medium, combined with strong trends in sustainability, is promoting the expanded use of wood … [Read more...]
Finishing Your New Ipe Deck, Part 3
There’s certainly more to installing your new tropical hardwood deck than simply giving your boards time to come to an equilibrium with their new environment, planning for proper spacing, and accommodating the species-specific issues that can arise. But those things are … [Read more...]
Finishing Your New Ipe Deck, Part 2
Perhaps you were disappointed to learn that your Ipe decking boards — for which you paid a pretty penny, no doubt — are not finished products. Sorry about that. But since it’s the case, it really is better that you know. In our first post in this series, we traced the journey of … [Read more...]
Finishing Your New Ipe Deck, Part 1
Did you know that once you install an Ipe deck, it’s still not a finished product? Tropical hardwood decking boards — whether they’re made of Ipe or another premium species — are already planed and have sharp corners eased (S4S, E4E). They may also have been milled to accommodate … [Read more...]
