Ipe decking is amazing. So are other species of tropical hardwood decking. But that doesn’t mean they don’t come with a few challenges. Some of those are related to moisture content, as we discussed in a previous post. But that’s not the only area in which they can cause … [Read more...]

It’s no wonder that Ipe and other tropical hardwood species are growing in popularity for both residential decks and public boardwalks: not only are they extremely resilient, but they’re also gorgeous! At the same time though, these uniquely fabulous species come with some … [Read more...]

It’s springtime, and if you’re like us, that means decking is on your mind. Our top decking species, by far, is Ipe. While the premium characteristics of that prime decking species are well known, it also comes with its share of challenges, regarding both availability and … [Read more...]

As you explore the differences in wood species, you’ll notice two main ways the wood tends to move (for more on wood movement see Part 1). These two ways are called tangential shrinkage and radial shrinkage. It’s helpful to check out a reference chart so you can see the … [Read more...]

One of the main characteristics of wood which you have to learn to accept if you’re going to work with this material is that it always moves. It doesn’t matter what kinds of measures you take to try to prevent it from moving, wood will still always find a way to expand and … [Read more...]

Perhaps in your world, spring means planting a garden or finishing classes. Here at J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber, it means getting ready for deck-building season (which some people refer to as “summer”). During this preparation period, our millwork experts spend the majority of each … [Read more...]

In Part 1 we looked at two of the four benefits our customers often cite as to what sets J. Gibson McIlvain apart from other lumber suppliers: our expertise and our status as an Importer of Record. While those issues are certainly significant, the next two are immensely … [Read more...]

There are many places you can get your lumber. We get that. But the fact is that our customers can get their lumber other places, too. But they don’t. So we’ve asked them why they buy from us. We think the four basic reasons we heard over and over offer a pretty compelling … [Read more...]

Many have seen African Mahogany as the answer to the issues facing Genuine Mahogany. Due to the downgrading of the South American species, interest in its African cousin have increased, at least from North American buyers. But, as we discussed in a previous post, the fact that … [Read more...]