If you read the first post in this series, you realize that 4/4 lumber is essentially a U.S. product. As a result, most mills around the world saw 8/4 and thicker boards. Adding an extra bump in the road, U.S. window and door manufacturers don’t like using 4/4 or 8/4 lumber. Like … [Read more...]

Like short lumber and odd-length decking, 4/4 lumber is kind of a U.S. thing. It’s definitely the most popular thickness we sell. Other markets are willing to accept a greater variety of widths, so mills outside the U.S. are used to turning out a variety of widths. Because … [Read more...]

First, let’s define exactly what we mean when we use the term “short lumber.” Here in the U.S. lumber industry, “short” is used to describe the entire category of boards that fall below the 8-foot length. Most of them are actually longer than 7 feet, and the rest are typically 6 … [Read more...]

Like short lumber is for all imported lumber, odd-length decking is a by-product of exotic decking lumber: It’s here, it’s perfectly good lumber, and most builders are afraid to touch it. Will you dare to be different? Keep reading to find out what’s in it for you, if you … [Read more...]

Unlike hardwood grading, plywood grading falls short of indicating the actual quality of a sheet of plywood. In an attempt to find a simple way to help determine the quality of a sheet of plywood, many would like to reduce the entire issue to the number of plies. While we can … [Read more...]

The McIlvain lumber legacy certainly enhances our relatively recent dive into the unique branch of the lumber industry that is plywood. We made that leap in response to our customers’ frustration with the plywood market in general: the quest for quality plywood can be difficult. … [Read more...]

As Teak becomes more easily available, many new suppliers are entering the Teak market. While that scenario may seem like it can only be a positive thing, you need to exercise caution when choosing a supplier. At one point, Burmese Teak was available only from a select number of … [Read more...]

The rising prices, longer lead times, and decreasing availability of Spanish Cedar leave some builders no choice but to search out viable alternatives to this fabulous lumber species. If your application requires South American Spanish Cedar, you can expect to pay a premium for … [Read more...]

In previous articles (Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3), we’ve examined the benefits and potential problems associated with sourcing Spanish Cedar. Now we’ll get really practical and consider how you can determine whether Spanish Cedar is the right choice for your current job — and, … [Read more...]

More customers for high-quality Spanish Cedar could help create a stronger market for it, generating greater demand and leading to lower prices. In the meantime, though, there are difficulties involved in importing Spanish Cedar. Lower availability and rising prices combine with … [Read more...]