Like many other aspects of American life, the length of lumber is unique. The US market for lumber runs contrary to popular belief that bigger is better. The demand for thin even lumber is unusually high, thus an American buyer will end up paying more money for a uniform order. Purchasing odd lengths of woods and inquiring about such lengths will help produce less waste and drive down the cost of the lumber. Being stuck in an even lumber American rut will cost more than breaking out with an odd length deck or two.
More Waste, Higher Price
When it comes to exceptional decking lumber, Ipe and Cumaru are high on the list. These wood types are bought in odd lengths all around the world. Regardless of an order for all even lengths, the odd lengths are produced as well. Requesting an extra foot cut from the wood in order to achieve the shorter uniform look will add the cost of extra labor to any order. Not to mention, those unworthy feet will be cast aside as waste, and the price is still in the order. Thus, all even length lumber is just as or more expensive than odd lengths.
Mills Will Not Sell It
The quality of odd length decking is no less than that of even, so while an American buyer purchases all even length lumber from a mill the odd lengths may go to Switzerland. Many mills will not do business with an importer or buyer who only wants even length lumber. The extra labor is not worth it, while the fussy buyer limits the amount of business the mill can thereafter conduct. When and if a mill sells only even lengths, strict limits are set on the amount of lumber bought. All of this adds up to expensive wood in ambiguous quantities.
McIlvain Can Help
Absorbing the cost of a fussy market into a customer’s bottom line is inevitable in the American lumber market. Not only are the even lengths so highly sought after, but also certain thicknesses are not used elsewhere in the world. All of these variations are customer based and have no overall cause. J. Gibson McIlvain is aware of this predicament and is able to help their customers absorb that cost in effective areas. Close working relationships allow J. Gibson McIlvain to ensure efficient pricing and quality wood no matter the desired length and width.
Overall, purchasing odd length Ipe lumber or Cumaru lumber for the next decking project makes sense because of saved money and reduced waste. Not to mention a unique final project – not many Americans can boast a 19 or 23-foot deck. No need to worry about finding this odd lumber either, because J. Gibson McIlvain is a wholesale hardwood lumber supplier with odd length wood to spare. Located in White Marsh, Maryland and Danielson, Connecticut, they are able to help with all types of lumber needs.
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