At AdvantageLumber.com we have specialized in Brazilian hardwood for over 20 years, but we do more than just decking. At our North Carolina, Buffalo, and Florida locations we carry multitudes of species of exotic hardwood for turning, wood working, and many more uses.
Exotic Hardwood
Contractor Corner – Decon Group
Southern California is a hot spot for development and modern architecture. Trends have been changing since the recovery from the 2008 recession; housing and industrial construction has been on the rise. Decon Group has been at the forefront of many projects within the Los Angeles county area. They have incorporated modern designs into many remodels and new structures that fit the aesthetics of the neighborhoods they are situated in.
The Eco-friendly Art Deco Decking
Art Deco is one of the classic styles of building that was made famous during the 1920’s – 1940’s. This style is characterized by narrow, bold geometrical shapes that are usually lavishly ornamented. In many areas across the United States like South Beach, the eclectic Art Deco style has begun a renaissance but not in traditional buildings rather in other structures like decks, porches, and siding of houses.
Wood of the Month: Ambrosia Maple (Wormy Maple)
Ambrosia Maple is a highly coveted wood for many projects because of its very unique and colored patterns. A lot of people often wonder if Ambrosia Maple is a specific species of wood, or if some sort of chemicals were added to give it the interesting patterns. The truth is that Ambrosia maple isn’t a different species, its regular soft maple that has had small beetles called ambrosia beetles nesting in it which carry a certain type of fungus for food.
Wood of the Month: Cumaru (Brazilian Teak)
Cumaru, also known as Brazilian Teak, is an excellent hardwood that many have never heard of. Its botanical name is Dipteryx Odorata, and is primarily found in the Northern regions of South America. The Cumaru tree’s seeds have been used to create a vanilla extract substitute and are highly sought after. The heartwood of Cumaru is very dense and filled with silica particles making it denser and stronger than softwoods and most hardwoods . The most common use for Cumaru is in decking and outdoor furniture because of its strength, density, and lifespan.
Can Composite Decking be Recycled?
For years the decking industry has gone back and forth as to what is a “green” decking option and what isn’t. In an industry where everyone boasts their product is the best, how are we supposed to make an educated decision when buying a new deck?
Some composite decking does use recycled materials, but does that mean the boards themselves can be recycled? The majority of the time the answer will be no. Our findings suggest that the composite deck boards that can’t be recycled are made from wood and plastic fibers which are combined using bonding agents that deter any machine from separating them.
Demand for Tropical Hardwood is Projected to Rise
According to industry analysts, the residential market for tropical hardwood decking will account for the vast majority of a 7.0 percent growth in imported hardwoods. More homeowners are selecting tropical hardwoods such as such as Ipe, Tigerwood, Cumaru, Garapa and Massaranduba because of their long term durability, fungal and insect resistance, and imperviousness to damage caused by moisture. They also value the fact that decks made from tropical lumber require much less maintenance than other wood types.