Ipe is, by far, the most prestigious decking lumber species on the market — and we sell plenty of it around here. But for those looking for an alternative to Ipe, Jatoba is an oft-overlooked possibility. So as we began to do in Part 1, we’re going to continue comparing the two … [Read more...]

There’s no doubt about it — Ipe is an amazing decking lumber species. But it can also be quite pricey, and sometimes availability can be a problem. If you’d love to build your next deck out of Ipe but find it cost prohibitive or have trouble sourcing it this season, we have great … [Read more...]

Whatever you’re building — from furniture to windows to guitars and all kinds of things in between — if you need wood, then you need a strategic partnership with a lumber supplier that understands your business’s needs. In all likelihood, your industry requires specific cuts and … [Read more...]

We’ve already sung the praises of Jatoba for you, but maybe in the back of your head you’re wondering, “Can it really be that great? I mean, if it were, wouldn’t it be out-selling Ipe?” We can certainly understand such a sentiment, so this time around, we’ll look a little more … [Read more...]

While tropical decking of all species is definitely continuing to trend, Ipe and Cumaru are favorites, by far. In addition to Red Balau, Jatoba is another lesser-known species of tropical decking that we think deserves a little more attention. Commonly known within the North … [Read more...]

While it may seem like something only grumpy old men say when looking at the past through rose-colored glasses, wood isn’t really what it used to be. Well, some species, anyway. If you’re looking back at the Chris Craft boats from the mid-1900s, the Philippine Mahogany used today … [Read more...]

What’s wrong with short boards? The answer may surprise you: Usually even B grade “shorts” actually have fewer flaws than A grade longer boards! So there’s definitely nothing wrong with them! We could make an argument for the fact that there’s something wrong about a grading … [Read more...]

When it comes to the U.S. lumber market, 4/4 is the most popular thickness by far; however, that same preference is not the case across the global market. As African species such as African Mahogany, Sapele, and Utile have become more popular in the U.S., they’ve run into … [Read more...]

In the wonderful world of decking two standard thicknesses are sold: 4/4 and 5/4, which end up being close to ¾” and 1” respectively once they’re finished.  These thicker boards provide stability, whether the climate is wet or dry, even amid extreme swings in temperature and … [Read more...]