Implement Deck Finishing Solutions In the first two articles of this three-part series (see Part 1 and 2), we highlighted the reasons why decking boards are going to need some finishing once they reach their final destination. This article below will give some helpful tips on how to finish your decking boards so they’ll look […]
Construction
The Why & How of Finishing Your New Deck – Part 2
Decking Needs to Be Finished Because It Has Plenty of Opportunities to Get Dirty Before Installation As detailed in the first article in this three-part series, decking ends up getting extremely dirty on its journey from the sawmill, across the ocean, to the lumber yard, and finally, to the job site. Each time it’s stacked […]
The Why & How of Finishing Your New Deck- Part 1
When decking boards reach the job site, they aren’t a finished product. In this three-part article series, we’ll take a closer look at reasons why decking boards require finishing and explore the appropriate steps you can take to make sure your decking boards are properly finished. Decking Has to Be Finished Because It Has to […]
Planning for Decking Gaps
When you have a basic understanding of wood movement, you won’t be surprised at the idea that whatever size gap you put between decking boards, that gap will change throughout the year. As moisture levels shift, the boards will absorb and shed moisture, making the time of year you’re installing the deck a major factor […]
What Furniture Makers Need in a Lumber Supplier
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 […]
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 […]
