Advantage Trim & Lumber promotes the Lacey Act through responsible forestry.

What is the Lacey Act?

Signed into law in the year 1900, the Lacey Act is a century old United States law that makes it a federal crime to buy, sell, or trade any wildlife or plants that were procured and transported by illegal means. This includes the import and exporting of both domestic and exotic lumber. For the lumber industry during that time, The Lacey Act was a wake up call. Conduct business in a responsible manner that doesn’t destroy the very resource you depend on, or face a federal court. While the battle still rages on against illegal logging across the world, it is companies like Advantage Trim & Lumber that are leading the way when it comes to sustainable forestry.

What does the Lacey Act mean for you?

You can rest assured that the decking, lumber, or flooring you purchase has been thoroughly sourced. By doing our due diligence, we can guarantee that the lumber you buy complies with all international and national trade laws. As a FSC wood and lumber supplier, we continually perform our due diligence and have a crystal clear record of compliance.

Why the Lacey Act is a good thing for all of us?

When previously discussing what makes our inventory of eco-friendly hardwood dependable, the topic of “worth” came up. Again, it bears repeating here as well. It makes ZERO economic sense for lumber companies to destroy the forests. Even the most reputable environmental organizations from Greenpeace to the Sierra Club have said time and again that there is a place for responsible and sustainable forestry practices. These organizations realize a critical fact that has proven true in all cases. If you remove responsible forestry and logging from a forest, the local population must and will use that forest for other means. Whether they become soy, coconut, banana, coffee, or palm oil farmers, or cattle ranchers, the result is the same. The deforestation of natural forest for the production of some other agricultural good. Check out this report from Monagabay. Notice how, when you break down the sources of deforestation in the Amazon Cattle ranches account for 65-70%, and cumulative small and large scale agriculture account for approximately 25%. Logging (legal and illegal)? Just 2-3% (and declining!).

Pardon the cliche. But the proof is in the pudding. Those statistics clearly show that when you have a healthy and vibrant lumber industry that embraces these kinds of regulations, the overall effect is a positive one that gives you peace of mind, and the ability to use lumber that has been responsible cultivated, harvested, and shipped. I think we can all agree, the alternative is something that should be avoided at all costs.

Want more info? Check out the links below. Have a comment? Drop us a line in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you.

This Tigerwood deck will be an attractive place for patrons to sit, eat, and relax.

Why is Tigerwood a great decking option for California homes and businesses?

For starters, Tigerwood is instantly attractive. Many of our customers in California have told us that they enjoy working with such an easy material because it cuts labor costs and install time. We’ve even had customers call us to say that the second their commercial project was completed they saw an immediate increase in business thanks to more walk in traffic and customer interest.

It’s not hard to imagine people walking by this pizza parlor in San Francisco and staring at it.  With those rich colors of rusty oranges, brown, and dark black streaks you would only need one attempt to guess this wood’s name. From California to New York, you can find more and more outside commercial projects using exotic  and eco-friendly decking materials like Tigerwood.

Looks aside, there are some very practical reasons why Tigerwood is a great choice for commercial applications.

• Durability – Tigerwood is an all-weather wood decking material that is ideal for any climate
• Reliable & Safe – Naturally slip and scratch resistant
• Genuine Wood – Incomparable beauty plastic decking can only aspire to
• Affordable – High class without the high price tag
• Worry free – There’s no need to fuss over maintenance issues
• Easy Installation – Tigerwood is very easy to cut and install

Are you interested in Tigerwood for your California home? Visit our Tigerwood Decking to order direct from the importer for increased savings.

Commercial inquiries: Please visit our Wholesale Decking page to get a quote on any of the decking materials Advantage Trim & Lumber carries.

Tigerwood creates an outdoor space you'll want to show off.

Let’s be honest. That is one awesome looking deck. We get pictures like the one above from satisfied homeowners every day. The people who send us these pics tell us that after they installed the Tigerwood decking they bought from Advantage that neighbors who never even said so much as a “Hello” all of a sudden say things like, “Wow. What kind of wood is that!?” and “That is one nice looking deck. Great job on the build!” The rusty browns and black mottled streaks of Tigerwood create a space you won’t want to step away from. It’s density also gives it properties that make it last well over 25 years. Mold and decay resistance give you exceptional structural integrity. For kids, the fact that Tigerwood is really hard to scratch or splinter means that bare feet will be safe. Oh, and when it rains? Tigerwood dries fast and thanks to reliable slip resistance. Oh, and those looks!

Why settle for the decking that advertises that says it “looks just like” something when you can have the real thing? Since when did picking material more expensive that didn’t even look as good become acceptable? Our Tigerwood is an eco-friendly choice because it has been cultivated and harvested through sustainable forestry practices. Also, thanks to its long-life, a Tigerwood deck will not need to be replaced in 3-5 years like many plastic options.

Ultimately, hardwoods like Tigerwood and Cumaru offer something that composites just can’t compete with – the genuine.

These reliable hardwoods offer you genuine benefits and looks that will make your home an attractive place to spend the day or evening.

Want to learn more? Want to buy Tigerwood right now? Get a free quote when you call us below, or head over to the Advantage Trim & Lumber hardwood decking store.

It’s not enough to say that you’re product is eco-friendly. People want, and deserve, proof. However, it is getting harder for all of us to cut through the marketing hype to see products for what they really are, not what you are told they are. So….with that said, what does that have to do with decking?

We received a phone call the other day from someone who was fed lies. They were told by someone trying to sell them thousands of dollars in composite decking that “anyone who buys hardwood decking from countries like Brazil are helping kill off the rain forest. ” This person was shopping around and asked us point blank, “How can I be sure that the hardwood you sell is really eco-friendly?”

At Advantage, we LOVE getting questions like this. Here’s our response:

Dear Ms. Concerned Customer,

Thank you for your question. At Advantage Trim & Lumber Co., Inc. we appreciate questions like yours because it gives us the opportunity to shed some light on some surprising truths as well as share with you what makes the products we sell compliant with all international trade laws.

The first thing you need to know is that, in countries like Brazil, the forests are heavily regulated. The land, as you might imagine is extremely valuable. We would argue that the land in those countries might be worth more long term than any oil-field. How? Well, for starters, the trees that grow in places like the rain forest give us something an oil-field cannot, oxygen. Trees have been mankind’s go-to resource for thousands of years. You name it, whether it’s for shelter, food, protection, or the air we breathe, trees are a treasured resource that must always be protected.

This is why, when you told us that you were told that buying hardwood decking from contributes to the destruction of the rainforest, we had to respond.

The lumber we buy and mill in countries like Brazil are controlled by the regulatory body known as IBAMA. This is agency is run by the Brazilian government. They pretty much control the lumber industry in that country. I say “pretty much” because each state in Brazil also has their own state-run agencies. For instance in the Brazilian state of Para, the agency that monitors and regulates lumber mills is known as SEMA. You can find many states that actually create and enforce more stringent laws to control the production of lumber in their respective states.

Proper forest management ensures the health of the forest, not its destruction.

The attached picture is from a recent trip to a managed forest in South America. The person holding the clipboard is instructing the mill not just which trees can be felled, but the actual direction that they have to fall. The meticulous nature of these plans ensure that the growth around those trees get to prosper and new trees get to grow in its place. A great number of those trees on that management plan are what’s known as “wolf trees” or “mother trees”. Basically, those trees have hollowed out from the inside, and don’t produce seeds. Their presence in the rainforest actually depletes resources from surrounding plants and foliage. We have a post on our website that details more information about how felling these wolf trees is a great sustainable forestry practice.

Also, contrary to popular belief, most exotic hardwoods don’t originate from the rainforest; they are grown and produced in specially designated and monitored non-rainforest areas. The great majority of the wood we purchase comes from those protected areas.

Lumber companies are not oil companies. Our company doesn’t pillage the land and leave a husk of the earth in our wake. It makes sound economic sense for us to see the forest survive and thrive. In addition, it also makes good economic sense for trees to be harvested for lumber. Remember, land is a valuable asset. If the demand for trees is steady, landowners have every reason to keep the land as it is. What’s the alternative?

Buying eco-friendly wood prevents clear cutting and burning of the rain forest by cattle ranchers.

This picture shows what happens when a landowner decides to make more money raising cattle for leather goods and hamburgers instead of cultivating trees. If no value is placed on the forest, landowners have no economic incentive. Likewise, you might also be shocked to learn (as were we), that in Brazil it’s easier to burn a forest down for cattle of soy farming than it is to get a permit to cut down a tree. That’s right. You don’t need a permit to burn a forest, but you do to cut down a tree. The money that comes from the agriculture industry is flooding countries in South America at a furious pace. So much so that people still falsely assume that harvesting lumber for decking and flooring is the primary cause of deforestation in Brazil and other South American nations.

In conclusion, know that the wood decking we sell here at Advantage only comes from forests that are sustainably managed and heavily regulated. One final note, another reason you benefit from buying hardwood decking instead of composite decking materials is that you’re also choosing quality over hype. Hardwoods like Tigerwood, Cumaru, and Ipe are proven materials that, thanks to sustainable forestry, also produce a higher grade material that has enduring qualities.

We hope that this information helps shed light on a very important topic for all of us. At the very least, we also hope that it cuts through the misinformation you previously received.

Thank you again for your inquiry.

Best regards,

Advantage Trim & Lumber

This wood patio made of ipe decking will last well over 100 years.

When you spend money to renovate and improve your home’s exterior by building a patio, what is on your short list of needs?

1. A dependable patio building material?
2. An eco-friendly wood?
3. Wood that you won’t have to replace every few years?
4. How about something that looks really, really good?
5. Choosing the best wood patio material at the best price?

Those are pretty reasonable requests. There are many wood and composite patio materials in the market which say that they answer all those questions. However, since you’ve done your research, you already know that composite materials have way too many issues (let alone recalls) to even be a viable choice. This leaves solid hard wood decking. As a patio material a patio made of hardwood is going to provide you with:

1. Wood that is so dense it resists scratches and is hard to splinter
2. Material that has been grown in heavily regulated managed forests
3. A wood patio you don’t have to treat for mold, decay, or insects
4. An attractive reddish-brown color that can be prolonged with deck finish
5. Compared to composite materials, a patio made of wood decking is more affordable

These days, it makes no sense to settle for unreliable (and costly) materials. If you’re ready to elevate your surroundings and build a space you want to enjoy, choosing wood decking for your patio is a safe, and sound decision.

Ready to get started?

Buy your wood patio material online or call Advantage Trim & Lumber today:

Removing a Wolf Tree from a Forest is eco-friendly and promotes growth. The removal of these trees helps define Sustainable Forestry.

There are a lot of bad actors in the lumber industry. However, to lump in every lumber company as a villain of the Earth is both unsubstantiated and very misinformed.

Case in point, we recently received a letter from someone who insisted that we were not an eco-friendly lumber company. This person was concerned about a picture they saw of a felled tree on one of our marketing pieces. Our response was not to ignore this person.  Below is the response that our CEO sent that dealt directly with this person’s concerns.

“Our industry, like any other, does have some bad players. But let me explain why my company is taking the lead in being a part of the solution, not the problem.   I understand your concerns but let me assure you that the tree in question was selected by a Forest Engineer because it no longer produced seed, such a tree is known as a wolf tree. A wolf tree is a tree that literally dominates its immediate surroundings and, because of its advanced age, can no longer reproduce seeds.  Contrary to ill-informed and, sadly, popular assumptions, a tree of this status is, in fact, not healthy to a forest. These excessively large trees starves smaller trees of light.  You will see in future publications of our newsletters how these trees decay from the inside out and become hollow.  This is a perfect tree to cut as it is dying from the inside out but is caught at the right time to still yield a lot of usable lumber.

Moreover, a full 30 year management plan was instituted for the patch of land and certified by the Brazilian government agency IBAMA. This agency ensures only trees that are removed are a benefit to the forest. They allow only a few trees per acre to be cut. They also develop plans to allow the improvement of less abundant struggling species which are sun starved under the canopy of wolf trees.  It is one of the best sustainable forest plans that I have seen. They are so meticulous in their planning that they even plan the direction the tree will fall when cut so as to minimize damage to smaller trees and to minimize extraction damage.  Replanting of various species in other areas in a 5 to 1 ratio is also implemented.

Proper forest management improves the life and value of a forest when done correctly.   I would be happy to speak to you about any doubts you have on our forest management practices, as it is something we take great pride in.   Many steps are taken to ensure a positive effect on the forest; for instance unlike any other operation only 10 trees are skidded on any path out of the forest.  This ensures quick regrowth on the logging path of new trees and undergrowth. Unlike other operations do not take these measures, our skidding paths are nearly impossible to see after 3 to 6 months.   The methods that we employ cost a substantial amount to implement and are anything but profit driven.   The felling of these wolf trees improves the future of the forest, improves the diversity of the forest by allowing younger trees of various species to grow that where struggling around it, and provides the native people in a struggling area with food, as well as many other benefits.

These kinds of sustainable forestry projects is being used by the Brazilian government as a example to other forest management sites and to implement new standards.”

Recently the Brazilian government has highlighted that these methods have led to a significant drop in deforestation. In fact, sustainable forestry has led to the Biggest Drop in Deforestation in 20 years.

With these facts in mind, it’s important that people realize that companies like Advantage Trim & Lumber and organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council are working closely to ensure the health and long term sustainability of the rain forest.

With a full inventory of FSC wood available, Advantage Trim & Lumber will continue to lead the way as one of the world’s leading suppliers of eco-friendly wood.

Who says the US Government can’t do anything right?

Recently, the United States Postal Service unveiled its new Green Roof for one of its major mail processing facilities. As a New York City native, I can tell you that the building in question is H-U-G-E. This building is so big, that when they decided to promote eco-friendly products as well as promoting energy efficiency, they were creating the largest green roof in all of New York City.

What makes this green building project even worth mentioning? Well, if you haven’t guessed by now, they used ipe wood as part of the green roof project! What’s even better is that they chose FSC ipe!

Once again, this proves that ipe wood is fast becoming a standard hardwood when it comes to green building projects and eco-friendly construction. I’m happy about this because in a tough city like New York, it’s great that they chose the toughest wood possible for such a wonderful project.

Recently, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recently unveiled the highly anticipated new addition to their botanical garden area called the Gardens. Inspired by Asian pagodas, “The Lantern” is a truly beautiful structure. It was designed to offer a tranquil place to view the water as well as a peaceful place to get away from the hustle of university life (even for a few minutes). Read more about SIUE Gardens and the Lantern.

Why is this worth mentioning? The architect and planners specifically chose ipe decking due to the fact that it is environmentally responsible. I am sure they also realized that, in order for this structure to maintain its look for decades to come, they needed to choose ipe hardwood because it can withstand the elements unlike any other hardwood decking material.

Once again, this proves why ipe decking is the best decking material today.

The reasons why they would choose ipe Brazilian hardwood is simple.

Ipe decking has the following features that pine decking, composite decking, and other decking materials just don’t have:

• A beautiful color that can be left untreated or treated to create rich colors
• Extreme density that keeps ipe looking beautiful for years
• Natural resilience to mold, mildew, insects, rot and decay
• Ipe wood is eco-friendly

Ipe decking has been featured in many wonderful commercial structures. From the Brooklyn Bridge, to the Boardwalk in Miami, to Treasure Island in Las Vegas and beyond, ipe wood continues to be the hardwood of choice for architects and exterior designers. As always, Advantage Trim & Lumber is your number one source for all things ipe.

There are so many great resources out there to help you build a green deck, or install eco-friendly flooring. Thanks to increased demand and the efforts of governments throughout the world, eco-friendly products are not going to become a fad, but hopefully an industry standard. Obviously, this is important because if the construction industry and the lumber industry fail to recognize that there are only so many resources in the world, they are basically leading to their own demise. After all, there is a point where the damage caused by the old ways of forestry lead to irreparable damage that causes great harm to both our environment and our civilized society. If you think this is just some typical tree-hugger propaganda, think again…

With the world population soaring and nations like China and India continuing to experience sustained growth, the demand for lumber and other products is not going away. There needs to be a sustained effort to ensure that there are enough trees for now and into the future. This is an economic issue that must be dealt with. Thankfully, there are organizations that have been created which are dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of forestry and eco-friendly forestry practices.

Organizations such as the United States Green Building Council and the Forest Stewardship Council are leading the way when it comes to promoting green building and eco-friendly products such as:

• Eco-friendly lumber
• Eco-friendly decking
• Eco-friendly flooring

You don’t have to be an environmentalist to purchase FSC wood from Advantage Trim & Lumber Company. If you want to increase the value of your home, purchasing eco-friendly wood is a practical decision that will lead to long-term gains.  We have a wide-ranging selection of ipe decking that has been grown and cultivated with sustainable forestry practices.

Imagine the world in 10, 15, or even 20 years from now.

What will be the standard lumber sold?

What kind of deck would you want to build?

Follow the trends.

Look at the big picture.

Buying ipe decking that is eco-friendly is a choice that makes sense now and into the future.

The LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide the construction and building industries with a verifiable system to define exactly what a green building is. Using a point system, an eco-friendly building can achieve LEED certification. The more points a green building accumulates, the more prestigious the LEED Certification. If you think all it takes to get LEED Certified is screwing in a couple of compact fluorescent light bulbs, think again.  The USGBC has put in place a set of strict policies and procedures that must be followed. The good news is that there are various ways that a building project can earn LEED certified.

Here are the various LEED Certification levels:

• LEED Certified – 40-49 points
• LEED Silver – 50-59 points
• LEED Gold – 60-79 points
• LEED Platinum – 80 points & over

The Materials Resource Credit 7 (MRc7) is a great LEED credit to plan for. The Materials Resource Credit 7 (MRc7) mandates the use of eco-friendly wood. However, not just any eco-friendly lumber will do. The Forest Stewardship Council designates FSC certified wood and the USGBC and LEED has been specifically chosen to work with them to fulfill this crucial LEED credit. Since the FSC has strict guidelines as to how hardwoods like ipe, tigerwood, garapa, and camaru are to be managed and cultivated, FSC certified wood has become a key component for inclusion in LEED projects. In order to qualify for the LEED MRc7 credit, your green building needs to install a certain percentage of FSC certified ipe or other wood The percentage will change depending on the type of building or project. In order to even qualify for the credit, the required minimum of installed FSC wood  must be 50%. You can also earn an exemplary performance Innovation in Design credit if your project contains at least 95% FSC certified wood.

Because every LEED Credit counts, the use of FSC certified wood can be a great help. As an international direct importer of eco-friendly hardwoods, Advantage Trim and Lumber Company offers a full selection of quality FSC Certified wood like ipe decking. They can ship anywhere in the United States, or the world.

Advantage Trim & Lumber Company is proud to offer customers worldwide a full selection of FSC wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Unfortunately, there are a lot of other companies who would rather say that they are eco-friendly without actually backing it up. Not every direct importer of exotic hardwoods has this highly coveted designation. At Advantage Trim & Lumber, we believe that in order to have a sustainable business, we must promote sustainable forestry practices. The best way to do that is to sell eco-friendly decking materials that are FSC certified. As the industry leader in exotic hardwood and ipe decking, we made the investment of both time and resources to receive this highly-coveted FSC Certification.

At Advantage Lumber we are proud to offer the following FSC Certified wood:

• FSC Ipe
• FSC Cumaru
• FSC Garapa
• FSC Tigerwood

A green deck made out of FSC decking comes from managed forests where additional care is taken to ensure the cultivation and harvesting processes meets FSC rules. The Forest Stewardship Council personally oversees the process and strictly enforces their rules and procedures. At Advantage Trim & Lumber Company, we work with the FSC to maintain sustainable forests for years to come.

If you or your customers are concerned about the environment and want to build a green deck or patio, then direct the selection of FSC Certified decking at Advantage Trim & Lumber Company is the solution.

Few things in life are as refreshing as stepping out onto your ipe deck to enjoy the company of friends, loved ones, or just to have a moment of solitude. Homeowners who are looking to upgrade or replace their existing patio and outdoor entertainment area are turning to ipe in droves for many reasons.

The reasons why people are choosing ipe decking include:

• Low maintenance
• Better return on investment
• A fresh and beautiful look that lasts
• Increased resistance to mold, mildew, & fungi
• Natural repellent to termite & other insect infestation
• Ipe is eco-friendly

Also known as Brazilian walnut, ipe is a dark brown wood that comes from surprisingly versatile trees. The Tabebuia Serratifolia tree can measure a maximum height of around 150 feet and often has a trunk diameter of around 6 feet. Contrary to what you may have heard, ipe is not an endangered species and grows in a variety of places throughout Central and South America. In fact, ipe is as abundant in Brazil as yellow pine is in the United States.

The wood for ipe decking can be responsibly cultivated in managed forests that have been certified by the respected Forest Stewardship Council. The process to get FSC certified is laborious, time-consuming, and ultimately worth every second. When we, as a leading eco-friendly ipe wood importer, promote responsible forestry practices, consumers, retailers, contractors, and manufacturers start to see the value in using FPC certified woods. At Advantage Trim & Lumber we hope that when you step out on your new ipe deck, you will breathe easier knowing that you have an eco-friendly deck that is still the envy of the neighborhood.

Furniture makers across the world are starting to use ipe wood to make high-quality outdoor furniture. Because ipe is a unique hardwood, it has features and benefits that make it the perfect choice for your next Adirondack chair, outdoor dining table, outdoor chest, or bench. While most people know ipe to be a very dense hardwood, it has some unique advantages over most other woods, including the more expensive ones such as teak.

The Tabebuia Serratifolia also known as ipe (pronounced EE-pay) is found throughout Central and South America. Anyone who tells you that ipe is found in Asia is probably confusing ipe with the more expensive and well-known teak. While both are worthwhile and durable woods, ipe is less expensive, stronger, and will last a lot longer. This begs the question, what makes ipe so unique?

To put it simply, the cell structure of the ipe tree is packed so densely, that the tree is extremely resistant to insect infestation and other common problems. To prove that Ipe is a superior wood, just look at the Janka Hardness Test results. While teak has a respectable result of 1050, ipe can boast a result of 3670. These tests prove that ipe is over 3 times harder than teak. Moreover, Ipe also boasts superior resistance to decay, fungi, and mold. Even after the tree has been processed into lumber, its toughness remains uncompromised.

Even the US Forest Products Laboratory has given ipe lumber its highest rating. In addition, the US Naval Research Laboratory tested this exotic hardwood and found that, if left in the ground, an untreated piece of ipe lumber will withstand attack from termites for over 15 years. A single piece of ipe can be left untreated and exposed to the elements for over 40 years before it starts wearing down. If a plank of ipe has been given the right oil treatment, the results are mind-boggling. A treated piece of ipe wood could last an estimated 100 years or more. Is it any wonder why ipe is starting to see increased popularity when it comes to outdoor furniture?

Besides ipe outdoor furniture, this hardwood is used most often for decks and patios. In fact, homeowners who have recently completed construction of their beautiful new ipe deck soon come to realize that the area around their pool is also much safer. Cheaper wood decks are notoriously known to be slippery when wet. However, as opposed to other woods that require the use of slip resistant padding, ipe provides superior slip resistance. Indeed, many people who recently installed an ipe deck are surprised to find out that their deck surpasses even the most stringent safety standards. Ipe decks even surpass the Americans with Disabilities Act’s Static Coefficient of Friction requirement. Not only will having an ipe deck bring peace of mind when it comes to having children running around your pool, the fact that ipe lumber does not easily splinter adds another level of safety.

Purchasing ipe over other exotic hardwoods also encourages eco-friendly forestry practices. Most hardwood is imported into the U.S. from managed forests that have been endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council. Unlike our competitors, Advantage Lumber believes that these eco-friendly cultivation practices are the only way to offer customers high-quality lumber without causing irreparable damage to the environment. Utilizing wood from managed forests is a big step in promoting forestry practices that lead to sustainable forests. When excessive deforestation and slash and burn tactics are reduced, we all win.

When considering return on investment, ipe is surprisingly affordable due to its durability and longevity. In addition, when you compare other woods that have shorter a lifespan due to rotting and warping, ipe also saves you money in replacement and maintenance costs. The fact of the matter is this, when you consider its lifespan and cost, ipe is a more cost-effective purchase than even teak.

As sound financial investments and home additions go, having both ipe outdoor furniture and an ipe deck or patio is an easy decision. Even hotels in Las Vegas and the boardwalk of the Brooklyn Bridge have chosen ipe as their exotic hardwood of choice. If you need any further proof, then consider the fact that contractors, architects, and designers across the world have been choosing ipe over teak and other exotic hardwoods.