AdvantageLumber Blog - Page 97 of 153 - Deck building tips and tricks. Discussion about wood and much more!

Wood of the Month: Cumaru (Brazilian Teak)

June 7, 2023June 30, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

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?

July 3, 2023June 30, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

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.

Buyer Beware! You Get What You Pay For!

July 12, 2017June 13, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

When companies use terms like “buyer beware” and “you get what you pay for,” you begin to tune it out because you hear it so much. Unfortunately, every once in a while these clichés are the only way to describe a situation. We recently had a homeowner reach out to us after he purchased some ipe decking, and the saying holds true. You get what you pay for.

Wood of the Month: Aromatic Cedar

December 16, 2014June 13, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

Cedar wood is perhaps one of the most storied woods in history. Cedar’s amazing properties are the reason why it’s prevailed for centuries. During a recent renovation in Newport, RI the contractor needed aromatic cedar to maintain the historical accuracy of the structure. AdvantageLumber.com supplied him with high-quality aromatic cedar to provide the structural support needed.

New CNC Molder for Florida and North Carolina Factories

December 16, 2014June 13, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

We are proud to announce our North Carolina and Florida factories are receiving new CNC molders to reduce production times! The CNC molder in our North Carolina factory will improve production by adding a secondary source of pregrooved, tongue and groove, and siding profiles. In our brand-new Florida facility it will allow us to start custom-milling profiles and reduce the time it takes our customers to receive their materials.

The End of Another Brazilian Rainy Season

June 7, 2023May 15, 2014 by MR Exotic

The rainy season in Brazil, which runs from approximately mid-December to mid-May, is finally coming to an end. This year’s unusually long rainy season has made transporting rough sawn logs to and from our lumber mills in South America very difficult. This in turn has slowed down the entire process of converting logs into finished decking boards. With the rainy season just about over, rough sawn logs are starting to roll into our mills on a more consistent basis.

Wood of the Month: American Black Walnut

June 7, 2023May 6, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

American black walnut is one of our finest and most cherished native hardwoods. It is prized by woodworkers, craftsmen and carpenters for its rich dark color, stability and workability. The black walnut can be found growing from the Mississippi Valley to the Carolinas and from upstate NY to Florida. It rarely dominates a woodland. At one time, American black walnut was considered for our national tree.