Our booth in 2009 was good, but the new one for 2012 will be GREAT! Stop By!

We have some great news to announce! Advantage Trim & Lumber will be at this year’s International Builders Show! Visitors to the AdvantageLumber.com booth (W971) will be able to meet with our team to discuss how our exotic decking products create You’ll not only get a chance to meet us, but you’ll also get a chance to see our most popular products first hand. We’ve also set aside appointments for anyone who would like a one-on-one meeting with one of our dedicated sales team.

2011 has been a great year for us, and we hope for you, too!

From everyone here at Advantage Trim & Lumber, HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope your 2012 gets off to a fantastic start! We can’t wait to get started!

When you work with a deck builder who cares about the end result and your satisfaction, you end up with a deck that is a true showpiece. Case in point, we recently visited one Florida deck builder who took great pride in creating a second story balcony deck. As you’ll see in the video below, the result is truly sensational. The custom inlay made of Ipe wood, Tigerwood, and Garapa is truly something to behold.

Call AdvantageLumber.com today to order 1×6 Plus® Cumaru and other exotic decking materials: 1-877-232-3915.

GREAT NEWS! Our mills are now shipping premium grade Massaranduba decking to homes and job sites around the world. Here are the benefits you receive from choosing this hardwood over softer redwoods:

• Great savings (up to 25%) over other decking materials
  
• Excellent mold, rot & decay resistance
• Less maintenance than softer wood decking
  
• Responsibly harvested from managed forests
• Lush colors from red to reddish brown
• Great for the backyard deck, front porch, or sunroom
• 100% natural, chemical free material

Contact AdvantageLumber.com today to find out more about Massaranduba. We have 5/4×6 Massaranduba decking in stock.

What makes 1×6 Plus Cumaru Decking the right choice for your home? Well, if you value durability and longevity, you will want to watch the video below. We made this informative video to show you the benefits you receive from this specially made decking option from AdvantageLumber.com. You’ll learn what makes our Cumaru stand out and why it’s such a great value.

Ever wonder how flat/plain sawn, quarter sawn, and rift sawn lumber are made? Check out this brief video describing the types of sawn lumber.

Learn more about sawn lumber at AdvantageLumber.com.

Check out this informative video about our 1×6 Cumaru Decking.

In just over one minute, you’ll see why our Cumaru decking is a much better value than both teak and composite decking.

Get your Cumaru decking quote when you call: 1-877-232-3915. Or, you can easily order online here: 1×6 Cumaru Decking.

Are you looking to make something really cool, or artistic? We have produced a large quantity of 7′ Ipe, Cumaru, and Garapa decking in two of the most in-demand sizes (1×6 & 5/4×6). Now is the time to save up to 40% off retail pricing. These wholesale decking prices are for a limited time only! When they’re gone, they’re gone!

What can you build with 7 foot decking? Pretty much anything. Check out this video showing what’s possible:

In addition to hardwood doors, you can use 7′ decking for many projects including:

• Docks
• Arbors
• Paneling
• Cabinets
• Decorative planter boxes
• Outdoor furniture
• Benches

To take advantage of these low decking prices, call AdvantageLumber.com today at 1-877-232-3915, or visit the Lucky 7′s Decking Sale page.

Exotic hardwood decking such as Ipe, Cumaru and Tigerwood are the most durable, natural wood decking available. Because of this strength, you can’t saw these hard woods as easily as you would cedar, redwood, or teak. Here are some tips in how to cut hardwood decking:

For cutting hardwood decking we recommend:

• A circular saw with a high quality carbide tipped blade.
• Make sure you set up your miter saw properly, a good saw stand with plenty of material support decreases the chance of binding and burning a finish cut.
• Hardwood dust is a respiratory irritant, so always wear safety glasses and a dust mask or respirator.
• Always cut with the good face up to minimize end-cut splintering.
• Finally apply a wax based emulsion such Hardwood End Grain Sealer on all fresh cut ends to minimize checking and other defects cause by moisture insertion.

We asked one of our co-workers to show us the proper way (and the incorrect way) to cut hardwood decking.

Don’t worry nobody was hurt in the production of the video, everything was well planned;-)
Check it out and subscribe to the AdvantageLumber.com YouTube channel.

Newsletter Subscribers Win Stuff....Really Cool Stuff from AdvantageLumber.com

It’s true. We just gave away one iPad2 to one lucky AdvantageLumber.com newsletter subscriber! It was our biggest and most well received contest to date. You can see all the entries here: http://www.advantagelumber.com/ipad

If you’re not a fan of technology, that’s ok, too. Just this year, we’ve given away exotic lumber, decking products….and oh yeah $500 cash to subscribers.

Getting a chance to win prizes from AdvantageLumber.com is easy. Simply sign up to our newsletter using the form below:

Ipe deck tiles from AdvantageLumber.com give you have an affordable way to renovate your outdoor living space. In fact, our deck tiles can be used just about anywhere.

As you’ll see in this video below, it only takes one person to transform boring old concrete into an attractive and beautiful living space. If these deck tiles look good outside of a warehouse, imagine just how beautiful they will look outside your balcony, lanai, or porch.

If you like what you see, give us a call. We can help you figure out just how many deck tiles and deck tile connectors you need to get started. Call 1-877-232-3915 to get your free Ipe deck tile quote.

AdvantageLumber.com is expanding our North Carolina manufacturing facility.

We have so many orders of decking, that, in order to properly store our inventory of Cumaru, Ipe deck tiles, Ipe, Tigerwood, and Garapa, we had to actually build a whole new wing to our manufacturing facility in North Carolina!

Once completed, our new 7,500 square foot AdvantageLumber.com storage building will have the capacity to store between 30-40 containers of hardwood decking material.

Construction started in August and many wonderful people had a hand in making the entire construction process go very smoothly. Even with the threat of Hurricane Irene, all hands were on deck.

What does this all mean for you? Not much. And, that’s a good thing! Throughout the process, no orders were disturbed and we continue to process orders just as smoothly as we always do.

At AdvantageLumber.com you can rely on us to always provide you with premium grade decking at the right price, always.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy end-of-summer DIY woodworking project to work on, check out our instructions on how-to build a wood planter. In the span of one afternoon, you can build a solid and classy looking wood planter made of Ipe decking. What’s the benefit to using Ipe? One, the look. The dark brown material just have a clean look without all the splits you get with softer woods. Two, durability and mold resistance. Those two benefits alone mean your hand-made ipe planter boxes will be solid and strong for many years.

At AdvantageLumber.com, we have everything you need to make this project happen. To order a complete wood planter kit, give us a call today: 1-877-232-3915 and ask for Wes. He’ll get together everything you need. When your order arrives, you will be able to get started right away.

Watch this video and you’ll see why architects and contractors are recommending our Cumaru decking more than even Ipe! With a Cumaru deck, you get all the durability and longevity minus the high initial cost.

What size is the best bargain? Our Cumaru 1×6 PLUS® gives you an extra 2mm which adds years onto the life of your deck. By giving you an extra 2mm of material, you get a more solid board, greater cupping resistance, and the assurance your deck will outperform teak and even composite deck materials. You’ll be getting close to 5/4×6 performance at a MUCH lower price point.

Call Advantage Trim & Lumber today to order 1-877-232-3915. We also sell by the container for large municipal, commercial, or international projects. Call 941-388-9299 to reach our Wholesale Division.

Beautiful Cumaru deck in Sarasota, FL.

UPDATE 8-18-11: We’re proud to announce that all standard Cumaru & tongue & groove Cumaru decking is also now on sale! Save 5% per lineal foot and save hundreds on your  Cumaru decking order today!

For the very first time ever, Advantage Trim & Lumber is running TWO special, limited sales simultaneously on our most popular decking materials (Ipe & Cumaru).

So, if you plan on building a Cumaru deck in California, Illinois, or even Washington, you can save hundreds when you get FREE shipping on pre-grooved Cumaru decking. If you want all the strength and longevity of Cumaru, and want a darker colored deck, then you will certainly enjoy the across the board slashing of our Ipe decking prices.

The best way to take advantage of these sales? Call us today. We’ll make sure your deck gets built using only the finest materials. Real wood. Real value. Let Advantage Trim & Lumber help you build the deck you always deserved.

As part of our Super Decking Sale, we are lowering the price across the board for every size of Ipe siding. How to take advantage of this limited time offer? Call 1-877-232-3915 today. We’ll help you figure out just how much material you’ll need based on the specs you provide. Additionally, we will also provide you with the best cost on shipping. Because we ship so much material from our facilities, our freight forwarders give us substantial discounts which we pass onto you.

Want another reason to clad your home with Ipe? How about value? Ipe isn’t just a kick-butt material for decks. It’s robust enough and attractive enough to be the focus of your home’s exterior. Or, as in the case above, a beautiful accent to enhance your home’s overall look and appeal.

Check out our other affordable wood siding options. You will discover why they are proven to be a better alternative to cedar and wood shingles.

Take a look at the picture above to see exactly what’s possible with decking tiles from Advantage Trim & Lumber. A rooftop terrace, or porch covered in premium grade ipe deck tiles offer the following advantages:

• The perfect, year round outdoor escape
• A contemporary, blemish free surface
• Rain, sleet, or snow, these tiles are durable & resilient
  
• Easy to install & affordable way to renovate an old concrete surface
• Ultra-low maintenance for decades of easy use & enjoyment

How much can you save with the Deck Tile System from Advantage Trim & Lumber? Check out our free to use Decking Tile Price Calculator.

So, if you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to renovate your deck, balcony, or covered patio, order deck tiles from Advantage Trim & Lumber today.

Yeah....that looks good!

Yesterday afternoon, I was struck by a sudden and overwhelming craving. “Steak. Must grill steak!” So, I went to my wife (who was already stressing out about the lack of dinner choices) and told her, “I’m grilling tonight.” Her response, “GREAT! I’ll take the kids into the pool. You have fun!”

So, the mission began. I put some olive oil, salt and pepper on a nice 1 1/2″ thick steak (the cut escapes me at the moment…all I remember was that it was beef!). I grilled it along with some sliced mangoes and zucchini. (There were other vegetables, too…but that’s beside the point!). Oh, and french fries. For me, my dinner nirvana is grilled steak with seasoned french fries. However, during the entire time I was cooking my steak, I was worried. “Am I cooking it too long?” “When and how many times should I flip it over?” These things made me realize I really had no clue what I was doing.

So, when I was done, so was my steak. I accidentally let it cook on one side a bit too long, so it didn’t cook evenly. My kids enjoyed the food (they’re 2 1/2 and 1, so their standards are pretty low at this point). But, I knew. I ruined a perfectly fine piece of bovine perfection. So, after I chewed the last piece of overcooked meat, I swore I would never let another steak go to waste. So, I did what any good 21st Century American would do, I Googled “steak grilling tips.” I looked over a few articles and compiled what I, a complete novice when it comes to cooking, made the most sense to me. So, for all the amateur cooks who want to be like Bobby Flay and without further adieu….

7 Easy Tips on Grilling a Steak aka Steak Nirvana!

1. Preparation is Key – Don’t defrost your steak in the microwave. I’ve made this mistake before. You end up with a rubbery piece of meat that has already been cooked to a certain degree. A good piece of advice I’ll be sure to follow is, prior to grilling let the meat reach a temperature between 68 – 77° (aka room temperature) prior to grilling.
2. Cut the Fat – Cutting off the excess fat around a steak to at most 1/4″ thick. Not only is this a healthier way to enjoy a steak, it means a better, tastier piece of meat. Excess fat cooks faster than the meat itself, leading to flare ups which in turn can lead to an unevenly cooked steak. I’ve made the mistake of grilling what I call “crater steaks”…basically, the steak curled so much it looked like a crater on the moon. Funny? Sure. Frustrating for the “cook.” Absolutely.
3. Don’t Be Heavy Handed When Seasoning – I was glad to see the general consensus on seasoning a steak was pretty much what I do normally. I brush on some olive oil and put salt and black pepper to taste. Not too much, not too little. Just enough to create a nice crust. I’ve tried Montreal Steak seasoning and, personally think it’s a bit too heavy on the salt. That’s just me, of course.
4. Grill Temperature? Hell!!! – Well, not really THAT hot. For a propane gas grill, set your burners on high. If you’re using charcoal briquettes, let the top layer get ashy white and you’ll be good to go. To prevent your steak from sticking to your grate, oil it. A great tip I read was to take some of that fat you cut off previously and rub it on before you start grilling.
5. Ready? Set? GRILL! – Set your steak onto the grill. Let it sit for one full minute. Then, using tongs, gently turn it over and grill on for another minute. If you’re like me, this is the part that always stumps you…rotation. I never knew rotating a steak helped cook it evenly…DUH! Anyways, rotate the steak 45 degrees and grill for half the remaining cooking time. Repeat this step to get a nice “diamond” grill pattern.
6. Medium, Baby! For most of us meat eaters, the perfect steak is medium-rare or medium. You get the most flavor and the most satisfaction when you cook a steak just right. But, when to remove it? The pros will tell you to press your fingers into your steak to see if its done. However, since my kids like to watch daddy cook, this is a no-no for me. So, I use a meat thermometer. I used to cut my steaks in the middle but would cry when all the juices starting escaping. Once your steak reaches an internal temperature of  130 to 135° F. (55 to 57 degrees Celsius) it’s medium rare and you can remove it promptly.
7. Let it Rest, then Dive in! – Instead of ripping into your steak the second it leaves the grill, let it sit for around 5 minutes. The internal juices will flow out and get redistributed around the entire piece of meat.  If that isn’t steak nirvana, I don’t know what is!

Do you have any grilling tips of your own to share? What about any funny grilling stories about what NOT to do when grilling a steak? Share them with us by leaving a comment below!

Happy grilling everyone!