FSC Certified Wood is available.

One of the nice things about being the leading importer of exotic hardwoods is that we are able to adequately provide wood that is FSC certified to the marketplace.

Our high standing with the most reputable mills in Brazil means that we provide the best FSC wood at very competitive prices.

With our Chain of Custody FSC Certification, Advantage is in a unique position to monitor and track the process. From start to finish, when you order FSC Cumaru, Garapa, Tigerwood, or any other exotic hardwood, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the best quality FSC material.

If you’re looking to accumulate MRc7 and MRc5 LEED points, we’ll also provide our FSC certificate for faster processing through the USGBC.

Contact us today to get a custom quote on certified FSC lumber:

The following is a SPECIAL REPORT

How Clear Cutting Suppliers of Ipe & Other Hardwoods Set Back The Lumber Industry & What You Can Do To Stop Them

PART 1 – PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE

Over the past few years, thanks to efforts from trade organizations, governments, and organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council, the lumber industry has come a long way when it comes to how trees are cultivated and harvested. These efforts continue to produce many new innovations and greatly reduce the overall impact that forestry has on our environment. Make no mistake, with the rise of managed forests and the high-quality yields that they produce, many lumber companies, including Advantage Trim & Lumber, are taking great pride in being able to provide premium grade materials to the public while also preserving our environment.

After all, even though lumber is a renewable resource, what sense does it make to literally pillage the land without taking care of it? Unlike the cattle industry, or even the energy industry, lumber companies, if they want the industry to survive have a vested interest and clear incentive to practice and promote sustainable forestry practices.

The foundation for managed forestry arose out of a simple dilemma that most common sense based lumber companies and consumers clearly understand. Basically, the dilemma is this: To seek out and clear cut a hardwood like ipe in the wild was to basically erase over 100 years of growth. It is estimated that an ipe tree that grows in the wild will take over 100 years to fully mature. This is the case only because of other factors in the wild that affect growth. For instance, a single ipe tree in the wild has to contend with surrounding trees for light and water. Other factors that slow down an ipe trees maturity include weeds, vines, and other plants that are all vying for the same resources.

With the creation of managed forestry, the theory is that, by allowing these trees to grow with little impediments, you can speed up their growth and also greatly reduce deforestation. One such managed forestry method is to replace what you harvest. Simply put, this practice entails that for every single tree that is cut down, a lumber company and/or mill must plant a number of trees. This way, the forest remains vibrant and healthy. To say that managed forestry has been an overriding success would be an understatement. It now takes between 15-30 years for an ipe tree to be safely harvested. And, as the industry continues to perfect the system, there are sure to be greater innovations that further increase the overall health of our eco-system.

HOWEVER, although it’s clear to us and many of our customers that taking care of the forest is in the best interest for all involved, there are still some lumber companies who’s only goal is to sell hardwood flooring and decking at the lowest cost using the lowest and most damaging methods.

PART 2 – SOME LUMBER SUPPLIERS PREFER TO SEND US BACK TO THE DARK AGES

These lumber companies want nothing more than to keep profits at the forefront of their agenda. By adopting “By Any Means Necessary” attitude towards business, they also set back the entire industry. The worst offense these corrupt lumber suppliers commit is clear-cutting. After years of trying to make progress and lead people away from plastic products and chemically treated materials that really harm both the environment and humans, we are now forced to once again, separate ourselves from their unscrupulous and selfish business practices. By clear-cutting acres of forests, these companies leave behind tons of waste, not to mention, a wake of devastation with no plan to replace or cultivate the newly pillaged land. They simply take what they want and leave.

The defense these companies claim is that they have the “cheapest decking” and that there are plenty of other good companies out there who will pick up the slack. The problem with that “reasoning” is that we all end up paying more when these methods are used. In addition, these destructive companies are also making a huge assumption that all you care about is price. They don’t take into consideration the shifting mindset that the general public is starting to have when it comes to the environment. After all, whoever thought that Whole Foods would be such a success and that Walmart would now be the leading supplier of organic products? Let’s also not underestimate the feeling we get when we purchase something. These companies also like to fool people by giving themselves a name that makes it sound like they are in the “eco-friendly wood” business. Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter what label they put on their company website. The more educated the consumer, the more discriminating they become when it comes to the products they buy.

When you consider the methods through which these deceitful suppliers procure their lumber, can you really feel confident using them? This may be me personally, but I would rather pay a premium to work with a reputable company that has responsible policies and procedures than work with a company that kind of sales mentality.

PART 3 – WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The best thing we can all do is to continue to educate yourself. It’s not enough to simply shop online for the best price. Ask the right questions to the lumber suppliers themselves should help you make a clear decision. Here are some questions to consider:

1. How was your inventory of ipe decking cultivated?
2. Do you have an environmental policy?
3. Are you members of the Forest Stewardship Council?
4. Do they offer certified FSC wood materials?

Another thing you can do is bookmark this blog. From here on out, it will start to feature more in depth coverage of what managed forestry is all about and why, consumers, businesses, and even other lumber companies must continue to adopt, sell, and buy products that are produced using sustainable methods.

PART 4 – Conclusion

Ultimately, there’s a reason why Advantage Trim & Lumber Co., Inc. is dedicated to this issue. We take great responsibility for the land that our products come from. We believe that as more and more companies continue to drown out those other shameless companies, the market demand for truly responsible forestry will become the definitive standard and the only way to do business. Once that happens, we will all be better for it.

If you would like to learn more, contact Advantage Trim & Lumber Co., Inc. today.

Deck Design of the Week

Ipe Wood used by Terry & Terry Architecture

By now, you should know that I am a sucker for great home designs. Unfortunately, where I live, practically every house looks the same (ugh!). So whenever I come across a unique home, or architects that are stretching the boundaries of what an American home can be, I just have to stand up and applaud.

All the more reason why this week’s Deck Design of the Week feature focuses on a pair of brothers who, in my opinion have taken ipe and embraced it as the sustainable, elegant, and functional wood that it really is.

Terry & Terry Architecture is a firm out of San Francisco and they have created some wonderful homes that feature ipe wood. Recently, the San Francisco Chronicle interviewed Terry & Terry Architecture and it’s not hard to see their passion for great home designs.  While the article has some great photos, their personal website has an even greater variety of the work that they’ve done. Check out how they use ipe wood to its fullest potential. You may even be inspired yourself!

As you can see, it’s hard to single out just ONE of their many great designs. The cool thing I like about them is how many different ways they’ve used ipe. Looking through their site, you’ll see how they used ipe for siding, decking, and even walls.

As always, Advantage Trim & Lumber is your one-stop source for all things ipe. Whether you need Brazilian Walnut flooring (ipe flooring), or ipe decking, we provide homeowners, deck builders, and architects premium grade ipe wood at prices that simply cannot be matched. Don’t forget, not all companies offer ipe that has been sustainably cultivated and harvested. Be careful before you throw money at lumber companies that say they sell eco-friendly products without backing it up. We have our FSC certification and can sell eco-friendly wood.

In the world of home design and architecture, there are certainly some wonderful uses for ipe that even I haven’t thought of! I’ve been doing a lot of research online to see what exactly savvy homeowners and architects are doing with this versatile, dependable, and luxurious exotic hardwood. To say that I was inspired would be a complete understatement!

With that in mind, I am proud to introduce the Ipe Decking Blog’s new feature…

The Ipe Design of the Week

To start things off right, let’s take a trip to the Pacific Coast where a truly spectacular display of modern architecture is currently facing the setting sun.

Sebastian Mariscal has designed some truly awe-inspiring modern homes and has received many awards and recognition for his work. One of his home’s even features a second story that is covered in ipe hardwood!

You can see pictures of how Mariscal used ipe siding for this truly unique beachfront home.

Ipe Siding

Where can you buy ipe siding?

In addition to our extensive selection of ipe decking, Advantage Trim & Lumber Company offers homeowners, deck builders, and architects ipe siding that is second-to-none!

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.