J. Gibson McIlvain has a long, rich history of selling lumber to furniture makers. In fact, our relationship with them marks the start of the McIlvain lumber legacy, dating back over 200 years. While we’ve expanded into other markets, some aspects of our business, like our … [Read more...]

As we discussed in a previous post, issues relating to the ideal number of layers in plywood hail back to the glue. Glue issues, in turn, typically hinge more on the application than the glue itself, making consistency and quality control in the manufacturing process incredibly … [Read more...]

Wide plank flooring can definitely provide a striking look for high-end residential and commercial projects! In Part 1, we discussed how wide-plank flooring (especially the kind that’s made from extra-wide planks in widths over 8 inches) presents some unique challenges. From … [Read more...]

Wide plank flooring can certainly offer a striking addition to your next build! Particularly suited to large rooms in today’s high-end residential and commercial construction and remodeling industry, planks topping 12 inches in width are becoming increasingly popular. However, … [Read more...]

Hopefully, you’re convinced that buying imported lumber is actually beneficial for the environment and that thanks to CITES regulations, it’s become very difficult to illegally harvest and export lumber. But how can you be absolutely certain that the imported lumber that you … [Read more...]

As we discussed in a previous post, the lumber industry is not the culprit many people assume it to be when it comes to deforestation. While the lumber industry does contribute to 2-3% of deforestation along the Amazon, logging bans essentially contribute to at least 85% of it! … [Read more...]

In a recent post, we mentioned the idea that contrary to popular belief, composite decking is not actually more environmentally friendly than tropical hardwood decking. A key factor in understanding this issue is to realize that buying exotic lumber actually benefits the … [Read more...]

There’s no question about it: Plywood pricing and grading can be confusing. The core matters, when it comes to finding quality plywood. It’s not just the materials that comprise the core, but the number of plies and quality of glue that makes a difference. Let’s read between the … [Read more...]

For both environmental reasons and plenty of practical ones, we generally steer away from composite materials. We realize that composite products are gaining popularity, but we just haven’t been comfortable entering that market — until a few years ago. Problems with Most … [Read more...]

If you’re installing a new deck and you’d like it to have a state-of-the-art appearance, you may want to consider hidden deck fasteners. This relatively new method is often used in deck construction for high-end properties. Hidden deck fasteners are normally made from materials … [Read more...]

So you’ve decided to install a new deck. Design plans and measurements are already completed. You’ve done your homework and chosen high-quality, tempered wood. You know which top-notch stain you’re going to use to make the deck aesthetically pleasing. Now, in order for your … [Read more...]

While hardwoods certainly have their place, don’t neglect to use softwoods for appropriate projects! After supplying only hardwoods for centuries, J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber began sourcing quality softwoods just over a decade ago. While the process did require a bit of a learning … [Read more...]

We’ve already looked at Red and White Oak and two types of Maple. Rounding out 5 of the most significant North American hardwood species, we’ll take a look at Poplar and Cherry. Really, these species don’t have much in common besides the fact that they’re both North American … [Read more...]

In continuation of Part 3, we’ll look at the remaining 4 standards that resulted from the U.S. Department of Justice working with Gibson Guitars to create lumber usage policies to reflect “due diligence.” We’re delighted to share, alongside those policies, J. Gibson McIlvain’s … [Read more...]