As an organic material, wood is hygroscopic by nature. Imagine a bundle of straws, and you’ll have an understanding of the structure of lumber. The capillary action allows the wood to take in moisture, causing fibers to swell. The outcome is grain movement in the wood. … [Read more...]

Wide plank flooring. It’s definitely in vogue for high-end construction and remodeling. And it’s gorgeous. But as attractive as wide plank flooring is, it’s equally difficult to achieve: sourcing, milling, and accounting for movement issues all combine to make installing … [Read more...]

If you haven't already read about the lumber lore regarding the beginnings of fraction-based lumber thickness descriptions, you’ll want to first do that.  Now regardless of how plausible you think that story is, at least you’re starting to understand what a fractional designation … [Read more...]

We at J. Gibson McIlvain, as a renowned wholesale lumber distributor, do our best to maintain enough of popular products like Ipe decking on hand. The traditional notions of supply and demand, on the other hand, have a significant impact on our price. We'd like to give you a … [Read more...]

J. Gibson McIlvain continues to live up to its industry-wide reputation, but it owes its current prominence to its pre-Revolutionary War antecedents. The McIlvain family has owned and controlled one of America's finest lumber suppliers since before the country's States were even … [Read more...]

There’s no doubt about it: lumber is really of the greenest building materials on the market. But don’t expect to get LEED points for just any lumber. In order for the Green Building Council’s program to award points for lumber though, it has to be FSC-certified lumber. Despite … [Read more...]

Remember learning all about fractions in elementary school? You always had to reduce them to mixed numbers and all of that. Mrs. McGuffy was a stickler about it. You can still remember her deep red pen markings all over your math page, reminding you. Well, forget it. All of it. … [Read more...]

Are you starting to understand why lumber suppliers have no choice but to seem like wishy-washy politicians, when asked about lumber pricing? When we say “it depends,” there’s a lot behind our words. From grade and board size to seasonal and geographic issues, Part 1 and Part … [Read more...]

Lumber drying is one of the most important factors in achieving high-quality lumber that will perform well during and after installation. In many ways, it’s even more important than species or grade. Air drying is one drying method which we looked at in a previous article. Many … [Read more...]

Do you know what aspect of your lumber is perhaps more important than its species, its origin, and even its grade? The answer is the way the lumber has been dried. No matter how wonderful your lumber was for starters, if it’s dried too quickly, it can become worthless. But the … [Read more...]

Hopefully after reading Part 1, you’re starting to realize why lumber suppliers are hesitant to list pricing in a straightforward format. So much goes into determining exactly what your lumber order will cost. In addition to grade and board size, the origin of your lumber plays a … [Read more...]

I get it, I really do. You ask a simple question like, “How much will my lumber cost,” and you don’t get a simple answer. You grow frustrated, untrusting. After all, most industries indulge your desire for straightforward pricing. Why does the lumber industry take exception to … [Read more...]

Both consumers and producers are at the mercy of trends. Consumers often feel the need to upgrade or update everything from their technology to their wardrobes, based on current trends. Producers often redesign or rebrand products in order to gain alignment with trends. The … [Read more...]

Today’s homeowners and business owners care about their carbon footprint and are increasingly concerned with green building and LEEDS ratings. This trend makes environmentally responsible practices increasingly important to builders. As a result, new products are constantly … [Read more...]

The drying process is fairly straightforward, yet many lumber suppliers are willing to cut corners in order to respond to customer demands for less expensive lumber. Improperly dried lumber usually isn’t easy to identify until after installation — and that’s never a good thing. … [Read more...]