What is Vulcan? Vulcan is Abodo’s method for taking flatsawn Radiata pine boards and modifying them to replicate the look and performance of clear vertical-grain (CVG) boards. Today CVG Fir, Spruce, and Cedar are harvested for that tight growth ring look. 100+ year old "Old growth" or "1st Growth" trees may have upwards of 30-50 growth rings per inch. 2nd and 3rd growth trees might yield 10-15 … [Read more...] about Abodo Vulcan The next thing in lumber or just snake wood?
J Gibson McIlvain News Blog
Welcome to our blog where we aim to inform about all things hardwood, plywood, and millwork. As importers of record we will throw in some import and regulation information as well and give you a peek behind the curtain of the lumber industry. Much of the content here is inspired by questions from our customers so feel free to drop us a line and ask a question. If we don't already have an article about it on our site, we may just write one in the future to address it.
Abodo New Growth Timbers
I'm pleased to announce we are now partnering with Abodo to provide their New Growth, CVG thermally modified Pine. Their Vulcan line of products creates a clean CVG look through a glue lamination process that allows for better usage of the plantation forest while also making a very sleek cladding and decking product. Super excited to have this material on the yard and look for some new looks … [Read more...] about Abodo New Growth Timbers
Shou Sugi Ban Siding – What to Know Before You Buy
Charred Wood Siding - A Brief History Yakisugi, which translates to “burnt Japanese cedar,” is a traditional Japanese wood-burning technique that has become popular over the last 20 years. This charred wood technique involves burning the face of traditionally Japanese cypress lumber. This process gives the wood a dark finish but also boosts its durability when it comes to rot and pest … [Read more...] about Shou Sugi Ban Siding – What to Know Before You Buy
Deck Refinishing with Cutek Stain
The key to deck refinishing is choosing a product that is super easy to renew. No sanding, no power washing, just mop on new finish and you are done. We factory finish decking materials using Cutek Extreme and it is for this exact reason. Cutek Deck stain allows us to add color that enhances the natural hue of the wood and even add a fair bit of UV protection to the deck. But the biggest … [Read more...] about Deck Refinishing with Cutek Stain
How Thermory Saunas can meet all your sauna needs
Why Material Choice matters in a sauna When it comes to saunas—especially outdoor installations—the environment can be demanding on materials. Thermory saunas offer a lot of material options to combat these demands. Temperatures and humidity levels fluctuate significantly, often dramatically, during the winter months. On top of that, interior surfaces can become extremely hot to the touch, … [Read more...] about How Thermory Saunas can meet all your sauna needs
Meranti vs Western Red Cedar Cladding Installation
I'd call this less of a versus comparison and more of a best practice guide. Both Meranti and Western Red Cedar are exceptional cladding and soffit materials. But there are some differences that I find make Meranti a bit easier to work with. This doesn't mean Cedar is necessarily hard to install. In fact the nailing test we did in our video shows how forgiving Cedar can actually be. But the … [Read more...] about Meranti vs Western Red Cedar Cladding Installation
Don’t Trust the Sample Alone
The Sample May Not fully represent the species You have received a wood sample to consider for your upcoming project. Whether you are evaluating a species alone or a finish to go with it, it’s important to consider that the sample can only provide so much information about the final product. It acts as a puzzle piece, showing only a small portion of the final look on a larger … [Read more...] about Don’t Trust the Sample Alone
Brazil limits trade in CITES Exports: Ipe alternatives
IBAMA (the Brazilian Forestry Dept) has announced the reductions of CITES exports on some concessions. This directly impacts the availability of Ipe and Cumaru, both popular decking materials known for durability and resistance to the elements. You may remember that both Ipe and Cumaru were added to CITES appendix II late in 2024. This recent announcement has created additional roadblocks to … [Read more...] about Brazil limits trade in CITES Exports: Ipe alternatives
You must sand before finishing
Proper wood preparation is crucial for achieving a beautiful and durable finish in outdoor wood applications such as decking and cladding. A fundamental part of this process is sanding, which improves the wood surface's capacity to absorb stains and paints uniformly. This is especially important for ultra dense tropical decking woods, but it is also just as important for the super low density … [Read more...] about You must sand before finishing
Wood Cladding appearance Variability
When you specify a solid wood cladding, you accept that there will be variation in the appearance. Unless you want to paint it fully opaque but then what is the point of specifying wood? It is this natural variation that makes wood so popular and exciting as a material. But this also means that sampling is paramount in the design stages so you have some idea of what you can expect. So say you … [Read more...] about Wood Cladding appearance Variability
Buying Lumber is more than the grade
"I need some Teak for an upcoming project." "Great, how much do you need and what kind of specs?" "800 board feet of at least 6" width, and I want it to be A grade stuff." "Okay, we have FEQ, that's First European Quality, Teak and the width isn't a problem; any length spec?" "At least 12 foot lengths." "Okay, great, let me work up a quote, and I'll get you some numbers..." Buying lumber is a … [Read more...] about Buying Lumber is more than the grade
Tali: A Sustainable & Versatile Alternative to Cumaru
In the quest for sustainable and versatile deck alternatives, Tali wood has emerged as a prime candidate. Cumaru, a popular choice for decking, has recently been listed on Appendix II of CITES, indicating increased regulatory scrutiny that may affect its availability and cost. This development highlights the need for reliable alternatives. Tali, scientifically known as Erythrophleum spp., offers a … [Read more...] about Tali: A Sustainable & Versatile Alternative to Cumaru
Cladding Profiles can change finish appearance
The cornerstones of the Alpha brand all work together. Grain and texture affect opacity, species determines grain pattern and texture. Finally opacity can make or break the entire look if “grain through the stain” isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. But there is one last principle that showcases all the other elements and puts them into the proper context to be appreciated. Profile. The … [Read more...] about Cladding Profiles can change finish appearance
Wood Texture is the secret sauce of finishing
Wood Texture adds interest On a large-scale project, especially when viewing the final product from afar, texture may not seem to be so important. It’s natural to think that texturing isn’t necessary because it’s not like you’re frequently going up to the cladding on your home to appreciate how the textured surface feels. What we’ve learned through the Alpha development process when designing … [Read more...] about Wood Texture is the secret sauce of finishing
Wood Grain can Make Your siding Unique
Wood grain. Most people have an image that comes to mind immediately when they hear that. But wood grain can actually be a very specific term that refers to how a board has been cut from a log. Flat sawn, rift sawn, and quarter sawn are all wood grains. Without getting too deep into the technical details of how those grains are created at the sawmill, it is important to know that each grain or … [Read more...] about Wood Grain can Make Your siding Unique
Wood Finish Opacity Changes Everything
Grain through the STain If you’re going out of your way to specify solid wood cladding when planning your next project, you really want it to look like wood. Otherwise, what’s the difference between solid wood, vinyl or a composite product? The opacity of the finish makes the most difference in how your wood cladding looks when viewed from afar over a large area. We ran focus groups with … [Read more...] about Wood Finish Opacity Changes Everything
Wood Cladding Choice Starts with Species
It seems obvious that choosing a great exterior species is the first and most important step in an exterior project. You’re either setting yourself up for success or immediate failure depending on the species you choose, as certain species will simply not hold up in harsh weather conditions. Wood cladding is no exception as you want a strong performing envelope for your house. While we’re happy to … [Read more...] about Wood Cladding Choice Starts with Species
Water vs Oil Based Exterior Finishes
Even for an experienced woodworker or finisher, oil-based and water-based finishes can easily feel like two different worlds. Whether you're a homeowner planning to spruce up your new deck or a contractor looking for the best finish for your project, understanding the differences between these two types of finishes is essential. In the following sections, we will explore the characteristics and … [Read more...] about Water vs Oil Based Exterior Finishes
Best Species for Wood Cladding
On the hunt for the perfect species of wood for exterior cladding? When taking on a large construction project as the architect, builder, or even homeowner, the selection of wood cladding can greatly influence both aesthetic charm and longevity. It also can be a seriously confusing subject! Get this wood selection wrong and it will all fall apart...literally. After centuries of selling wood for … [Read more...] about Best Species for Wood Cladding
The advantages of factory finished wood
Why choose factory finish? Because it makes for a better looking and better performing finish. Having your cladding or decking pre finished or factory applied provides so many benefits. Pre finished wood cladding just looks better, but it also saves loads of time and money. When talking about exterior products this goes ten fold. Here are 7 reasons why you should get all of your decking, trim, and … [Read more...] about The advantages of factory finished wood
