prefinished decking boards stabilized to last
Decking boards and especially some of the hard tropical species have been a major product for J. Gibson McIlvain for the better part of the last 60 years. When we created our Horizons line we sought to continue to best of breed approach with all our Alpha products and choose the best species and the best finishes to ensure durability and aesthetics. Decks are the toughest thing you can ask a wooden board to do. Uneven heating and cooling and moisture is torture to a board. Starting with the right species that can withstand that is key, but we go one step further and use a wood stabilizer to lessen the moisture difference from top to bottom in the board and keep it from drying and weathering prematurely as well as prevent end checking and warping. Best of all our factory finish coats all 6 faces on the boards and they are ready to install as soon as they hit the project site.
preFinished to Enhance the natural beauty
The happy by product of our stabilizing finish is the way it enhances the natural beauty of these robust decking woods. We add a little pigment to create some UV protection but also to help even out the natural color variance from one board to another. The sustainable sourcing methods for these tropical species means they are purchased across wide geographic areas that can product variations in color. Our finishing process creates a beautiful factory finish that lets the natural wood grain and color show through while just upping the saturation a bit and blending those regional color variations to create a beautiful deck whether it is 100 square feet or 1000 square feet.
Naturally beautiful Real wood Decking
No imitators, real decking, sustainably sourced
For generations J. Gibson McIlvain Co. has been sourcing decking species from around the world. We have been sustainably sourcing these species since the beginning and take great care in vetting our suppliers not just for environmental sustainability but manufacturing sustainability. The McIlvain family has been working with our suppliers around the world to identify and foster new alternative species to service the ever growing decking market. We have visited various concessions and worked closely with sawmills all across the globe to understand the unique nature of each species and their geographic eccentricities.
Embracing alternative species and sources not only takes pressure off some of the big players in the tropical decking market but also provides a level of consistent supply where sustainable harvesting has been considered from day one. Lesser species like Red Balau and Tali are produced in heavily managed (often FSC) concessions with a deep line of sight to harvesting practices built on 40 year concession management plans. THIS more than anything is how we classify sustainability. A focus on the best practices for the environmental health of a species will yield the most consistent lumber quality from year to year and decade to decade. Being able to continue to supply these products is how we ensure that the forestry is cared for properly. Significant resources have been brought to bear to build a supply chain that we can proudly stand behind.
