J Gibson McIlvain Co
Fine Imported & Domestic Wood Products
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# 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  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.
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Published: December 10, 2024 | Author: Shannon Rogers
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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 … 
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Published: August 27, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
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Published: July 31, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
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Published: July 18, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: July 16, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: June 28, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: March 6, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: February 23, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: February 14, 2024 | Author: Shannon Rogers
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 … 
Published: February 7, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
What is Alpha?
J. Gibson McIlvain Co. proudly presents our line of branded products called Alpha. Specifically, we are starting with a wood cladding line that highlights superior woods and finishes. After substantial market research, testing, and product development, we are excited to launch these lines of pre-finished exterior cladding, which are perfect for any structure and style. We wanted … 
Published: October 5, 2023 | Author: Megan Szaraz
When I was younger, I asked my parents if I could paint my room. They urged me to pick a light and unassuming color that I wouldn't end up hating in a few years. I didn't like that advice. As an adult, I still don't like it. I have always thought that painting my walls seems to be a simple way to drastically change up the look of my space and make it my own. Painting a wall an on-trend color … 
Published: September 8, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
"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 … 
Published: August 10, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
How Much Will My Lumber Cost?
This question is asked several thousand times a second in the lumber business. Lumber prices cause a great deal of confusion and even anger. No matter whether the customer is buying hardwood, softwood, plywood, or even a milled wood product, it all comes down to, "How much will it cost?" The reality is that the price of any wood product is highly dependent on … 
Published: June 29, 2023 | Author: Megan Szaraz
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 … 
Published: May 28, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
You just bought some decking or flooring (or really any lumber) and one of the first things you hear is that it needs time to acclimate to its new surroundings before installing deck boards. The maddening thing is you will rarely get the same answer twice when it comes to how long that particular lumber should sit around getting in touch with its feelings. If pressed for an answer to "how long … 
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Published: March 15, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
As an importer of record in many exotic species like Genuine Mahogany, Teak, and Ipe; J. Gibson McIlvain is acutely aware of the stigma attached to rainforest wood species and the spectre of global warming that looms over our industry.  The facts are that deforestation is not a result of the lumber import trade, but in many cases caused by the disruption of it.  Additionally, regulation … 
Published: January 27, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
At the end of 2022, the 19th Convention of Parties (CoP19) for CITES was held. Both Ipe and Cumaru were successfully uplisted to Appendix II. Many of us in the lumber biz saw this one coming. We have certainly written about Ipe and regulation in the past. There is a 24 month implementation period for both Ipe and Cumaru. However things are moving much faster in Brazil and changes to the … 
Published: November 28, 2022 | Author: Shannon Rogers
What is Thermally Modified Wood
As the name states, this is wood. All natural wood. Nothing added, just dried differently. Think of it as typical kiln dried lumber but kicked up a notch to very high temperatures that modifies the structure making it impervious to water, rot and bugs. Moreover it is dimensionally stable and won't create issues during seasonal changes. Thermally modified wood … 
Published: October 19, 2022 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Western Red Cedar is one of the most popular exterior species in use in North America these days.  The lower cost, rot and insect resistant, and easy availability in all sizes, including large timbers, makes it an obvious choice for projects from decks to pergolas, siding, flooring, ceilings, and paneling.
Like all softwoods, there is a standard grading system in place to designate how clear a … 
Published: October 12, 2022 | Author: Shannon Rogers
For more than a century, hardwood lumber grading has been an industry standard established by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). Thanks to the foresight of the early founders of the NHLA in 1898, some order has been added to the chaos that had become the lumber trade. Finally there was a standardized system of grading to determine quality of lumber. Today we take this lumber grading … 
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