The McIlvain family first established itself in the U.S. lumber industry during our nation’s colonial period. That’s right, dating all the way back to 1740, the McIlvains have been furnishing various industries with premium hardwood lumber. Among the many industries we serve, furniture makers have a special place in our hearts. Not only do we […]
Construction
Answering Questions about Walnut Downgrading, Part 3
As you begin to understand why downgrading makes sense for Walnut lumber, hopefully you’ll agree with us that it’s a good idea. But even if you don’t, it’s not likely to change anytime soon, so you’ll do well to understand precisely what the differences are between how Walnut is graded and how other North American […]
Answering Questions about Walnut Downgrading, Part 2
Even if you’re generally skeptical about downgrading, hopefully you’re starting to understand why it makes sense to treat Walnut different than other lumber species. For those who desire top-grade Walnut, you need to know that it will require careful consideration and, quite possibly, more money than you’d really like to spend. Let us explain. Why […]
Answering Questions about Walnut Downgrading, Part 1
We get it, we really do. Downgrading lumber seems like a conspiracy — or at least a marketing ploy — designed to generate more revenue for the lumber industry. Especially in an industry when pricing structures are already so nuanced, this kind of special treatment seems suspicious. But it really does make sense. And we’re […]
Matching Lumber Color Is Trickier Than It Seems – Part 4
Throughout the course of reading this series of articles (see Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3), you may have gained some new appreciation for how truly difficult of a job matching lumber color really is for lumber dealers. Yet, if you’ve seen jaw-dropping magazine photos of homogeneous wood floors and decks, you know that […]
Matching Lumber Color Is Trickier Than It Seems – Part 3
One of the factors people don’t always take into account when it comes to understanding color variations in lumber is the amount of time and distance the boards spend on their way to the lumber yard and to the job site. In this next article in our series about matching lumber color (see Part 1 […]
Matching Lumber Color Is Trickier Than It Seems – Part 2
In this second installment of our series on color matching lumber (see Part 1), we’re going to take a closer look at the role the elements and several other external factors have to play in lumber’s color variation. Hopefully, this article will give you greater insight into the reasons behind this natural phenomenon in order […]
Matching Lumber Color Is Trickier Than It Seems – Part 1
If you’ve watched any home improvement shows on television or skimmed through house decorating and design magazines, chances are you’ve seen some amazing hardwood floors and decks. These glamorous showplaces seem to boast flooring made from lumber that is not only expertly installed but perfectly color matched for a completely flawless look. However, achieving that […]
Good News for Forests & the Future: Why We Should Start Considering B Grade Lumber
Did you know that there are benefits to buying B grade lumber? No, we’re not just talking about saving money here. Buying lower grade lumber is actually related to sustainability and forestry health, and it’s something that’s important to consider. Don’t worry: we won’t force the issue. If you really want or need A grade […]
Best of the Best Tropical Hardwood Decking Species: Our Top 3 Picks
The in-house millworks at J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber is certainly capable of all kinds of custom work, including creating knives for historic restoration projects, but this time of year, all hands (and tools!) are on deck for — you guessed it — grooving decking boards for hidden fastening systems. (Yes, we are in the groove.) […]
