Jatoba Cladding in Luxurious Color Pacific Collection Pasadena highlights the beauty of Jatoba with the inclusion of an oil-based finish. The smooth texture of the wood itself acts as a canvas for the finish, allowing it to glide on and absorb leaving behind a darker richer color that accentuates the red hues of the natural wood. Standard Alpha Cladding profiles We have chosen 4 … [Read more...] about Pasadena Wood Cladding
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Questions about Genuine Mahogany’s Future
As a woodworker and furniture maker I am a big fan of Genuine Mahogany. It carves, saws, and planes so easily and you can't beat the color and depth once finish is applied. However, it has been disconcerting to see how grade and availability have fallen off dramatically in the last year. South American Mahogany definitely isn't what it used to be. What is most upsetting is that much of this is not … [Read more...] about Questions about Genuine Mahogany’s Future
Walnut Lumber Grade Explained
I have written briefly about how Walnut lumber is graded differently from other North American hardwoods, but it seems that customers are still surprised by the apparent lack of quality in Walnut lumber. Usually these inquiries are met with surprise on the part of our grading team, as our graders were quite proud of the quality of Walnut that left our yard. What it really comes down to are two … [Read more...] about Walnut Lumber Grade Explained
Wide Plank Flooring is Beautiful but Tricky
Lately we have been running into a lot of wide plank flooring jobs. In high end remodeling and construction, these 12" and wider planks are a popular choice. But really anything larger than about 4" wide could be considered wide plank in comparison to the typical "strip" flooring products. In other words, "wide plank" is kind of a relative term. Proportionally speaking, the bigger the room the … [Read more...] about Wide Plank Flooring is Beautiful but Tricky
Just Because It Is Certified Doesn’t Mean It’s Legal Lumber
Much ink has been spilled in the last week on the raids at the Gibson Guitar factory over "illegal" Indian wood. The most startling element is that the wood in question was FSC® certified and had all of it's CITES documentation. This begs the question, "Do I need alternate or additional certification to protect myself?" This is something that J. Gibson McIlvain has been looking in to … [Read more...] about Just Because It Is Certified Doesn’t Mean It’s Legal Lumber
Tru-Dry Radio Frequency Dried Timbers
It has long been established that the only way to dry lumber is slowly with long heat up and cool down times. The maximum temperature and the rate of heating and cooling will vary from species to species. In fact, specific schedules have been published to guide kiln operators, but many kilns have their own practices which they follow, hard won through years of experience. Mixing species is a … [Read more...] about Tru-Dry Radio Frequency Dried Timbers
Plywood Thicknesses Depend on Number of Plies
Plywood is confusing. There, I said it. Plywood pricing is even more confusing. Plywood thicknesses are a major factor in quality and pricing. But the thickness isn't always consistent. This is especially true when it comes to how the sheet of plywood is constructed. You can have 2 panels of identical species and thickness, but is one sheet the same as the other? Is a 3/4 sheet with 12 … [Read more...] about Plywood Thicknesses Depend on Number of Plies
Organic Modern Should be Renamed Wood Design
Organic Modern style is all about clean lines and natural tones. But warmth is necessary. So is light. Actually the interplay of light on warm surfaces might be the better way to define Organic Modern design. Without these you get sterile, museum like spaces with white walls and white floors and surly looking docents making sure you don't touch anything. Wood is the key element, the critical … [Read more...] about Organic Modern Should be Renamed Wood Design
The advantages of factory finished wood
Why 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 saves loads of time and money. When talking about exterior products this goes ten fold. Here are 7 reasons why you should get all your decking, trim, and siding … [Read more...] about The advantages of factory finished wood
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
Softwood Tariff Announced, Price to Climb 20%
I feel like there is a theme developing on our blog lately. Tariffs, tariffs, and more tariffs! Today we saw the official announcement from the US Department of Commerce about the tariff on Canadian Softwood. To our customers this won't be a surprise since we have been talking about this for more than a month. It certainly is no secret and not news considering the long standing debates over … [Read more...] about Softwood Tariff Announced, Price to Climb 20%
Lumber Sustainability and Stewardship
Whenever someone learns that I work for a lumber company I am often greeted with questions about where our lumber comes from or how we are coping with waning supply. The general perception is that loggers clear cut every tree in the last 200 years and there are so few trees left that how could an industry such as ours continue to operate. Whether this is because of an exhausted supply or in good … [Read more...] about Lumber Sustainability and Stewardship
Things to Look For When Buying Teak Lumber
With the trade embargo lifted on Myanmar, Teak lumber buying is set to get very confusing very quickly with many new suppliers entering the market. It is still unclear whether this will lower the barrier to entry for those looking to get into the Teak game, but it is a safe bet that with the Myanmar government already talking about banning exports, many players will try to get into the … [Read more...] about Things to Look For When Buying Teak Lumber
Lumber is the Ultimate Green Building Material
Green building and sustainability are some of the most popular concepts in the design and construction business these days. It is rare to find any new construction without some specification for LEEDS rating or at least a concern about building a green structure. New products enter the market every day claiming to be the next best thing for environmentally aware construction. In reality the … [Read more...] about Lumber is the Ultimate Green Building Material
Ipe Shortage isn’t Looming, It’s Already Here
I'm normally not a fan of headlines like this one as they are sensationalist, but in this case it is a reality we must grasp quickly. Frankly, I have been worried about the Ipe market for many years, as global demand rises and saw mills churn out material faster and faster. When you look closely at the Ipe supply chain, you see a house of cards that won't take much to be knocked over. Now don't … [Read more...] about Ipe Shortage isn’t Looming, It’s Already Here
Want Better Quality Lumber, Reconsider Your Sizes
There is a pandemic in the lumber business where everyone wants to find wood as wide and as long as possible. Many times the specified lumber is much bigger than the eventual parts it is to be made into. The argument for this is higher waste per board, better color match, and those who want to rip and glue back together for better stability (don't get me started on that wives tale). I'm here to … [Read more...] about Want Better Quality Lumber, Reconsider Your Sizes
Decking Gap: The Heat is On
Winter Is Coming. We stand looking out over the lumber yard and shivering, knowing that the coldest months are still ahead of us. Winter is here, I don't care what Ned Stark says. Just talk to any of our customers currently buried under snow. Life goes on and we turn up the heaters in our shops and get back to work. It is this time of year and those heaters that can cause some issues with the … [Read more...] about Decking Gap: The Heat is On
Ipe Decking Problems During Installation
Over the past several months we have written about tropical decking choices, Ipe importing seasons, and Ipe pricing fluctuations. This week we want to talk about some of the issues to be aware of while installing and working with tropical decking lumber like Ipe and Cumaru. Ipe Decks Can Be Rough When First Installed To maximize the stability of exterior lumber and to showcase consistent … [Read more...] about Ipe Decking Problems During Installation
Vision Tally System
In the past year we have upgraded our inventory software and hardware, added new lumber storage, and added new trucks to our fleet. This week we are taking another exciting step forward that will not only make us more efficient but it will ensure greater line of sight into our inventory and be able to increase the accuracy of our shipments outbound to you, our customers. This week with a new … [Read more...] about Vision Tally System
Tips for Buying Spanish Cedar
In my Spanish Cedar Regulation article the case was made that the Spanish Cedar market has permanently changed and lower availability is the new normal. Spanish Cedar is still trickling out of South America but it is also now being grown on plantations in Africa. While still technically the same genus and couple of species, Cedrela odorata, fissilis, huberi, the quality and properties are not … [Read more...] about Tips for Buying Spanish Cedar