The Official Nova USA Wood Products Blog

Nova Top 5 Exotic Hardwoods

2012-02-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

At Nova, we're proud of all of our hardwood flooring products. From the classic beauty of White Oak to the eye-catching striping of TigerWood, we stand behind each variety of domestic and exotic hardwood flooring we carry. However, there are a few species that are the most popular with our clients and staff alike. The following are five of our most beloved exotic hardwood flooring products we carry. Enjoy!

Acacia:

Acacia hardwood flooring is popular with retail sellers and customers looking for a sophisticated, classy flooring material. It has a beautiful assortment of browns, red-oranges, and light yellows, and is one of the most durable and dimensionally-stable we offer. Whether you're looking for a versatile material to match multiple decor schemes or a sophisticated look to fit in only one room, acacia hardwood flooring is a great choice.

Brazilian Cherry:

Also known as Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry is a tough, attractive hardwood that features a reddish-brown heartwood, dark black streaks, and hints of white and yellow. The color contrast and striping gives the wood an eye-catching depth that is hard to match. It is also very durable, with a Janka hardness rating of 2,350 pounds and great dimensional stability.

Cumaru:

Cumaru hardwood flooring is imported from Brazil and features a medium brown color, an irregular, interlocked grain pattern, and wavy, coarse texture. Cumaru is a very dense hardwood species, making it naturally resistant to boring insects, wood rot, and other common forms of decay. It is stylistically versatile, too, perfect for dining rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms and kitchens.

Ipe:

Because of its dense cell structure, ipe hardwood flooring is unparalleled in its ability to stand up to foot traffic, moisture, insect infestations, and other types of decay. It is also a beautiful flooring material. Its heartwood is a pleasing olive-brown with yellow-grey tones and it has a fine, tight grain pattern. And did we mention it has a Class A fire rating? That's the same class of fire-retardant material as steel.

Patagonian Rosewood:

We love Patagonian Rosewood mainly because it is such a fun hardwood species. Also known as Curupau, it is a versatile flooring material with a dark brown heartwood, pale pink and yellow tones, and dark, crossed grain pattern. Like most of our exotic hardwoods, it is naturally durable and resistant to scratches, scrapes, and impacts.

Now that you know some of our favorite exotic hardwood flooring varieties, we want to hear from you! What are your favorite exotic wood species? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

Hardwood Floor Repairs: 5 Tips for Successful Site-Finish Repair

2012-01-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Repairing and refinishing hardwood flooring isn't easy, but it certainly isn't impossible. Time, patience, and the proper tools are all required for successful hardwood flooring repair. The following are five great tips for ensuring a successful, safe, and timely repair project. Enjoy!

Disclaimer:It's very easy to damage surrounding boards, so make sure to get expert advice if you attempt DIY hardwood floor repair, especially if you've never attempted it before. If you aren't familiar or comfortable with the tools or techniques described below, call a professional.

1. Cut carefully.
Removing the damaged board is the first step in any hardwood flooring repair process. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most difficult. If you improperly cut the damaged boards you run the risk of splitting or damaging the surrounding boards, which can be a time-consuming and costly mistake. Here's how to make sure you are removing the damaged board and nothing more:

Use a circular saw to make two cuts approximately 1/2" from each side of the board, making sure to not cut past the end joints. Different boards will require a different saw depth, but many use a basic 3/4".
Make a third cut at an angle between the first two cuts, again remembering to not cut through the side match.
Use a sharp chisel to pop out the cut pieces, being careful to not force any piece that isn't fully cut as this could splinter the surrounding boards.

2. Clean thoroughly.
After the piece is removed, thoroughly clean the area of any dirt and debris. Sweep, vacuum - whatever it takes. If there is any debris in the area the replacement board will be more difficult to fit back in and could cause a tripping hazard once the board is set.

3. Make it a match.
The best way to ensure a uniform appearance after repairing a section of hardwood flooring is to pick a replacement board that has a similar grain pattern as the surrounding boards. If you can, use a board leftover from the installation process. If that's not available, contact the company that handled your installation and see if they have any spare boards they can give you to match your floor.

4. Be quick about it!
Epoxy - the glue you use to attach replacement boards to the floor - can dry quickly. Very quickly. Some epoxies can dry in as little as ten minutes. This leaves you a very short window of opportunity in which you can correctly fit the new board in place. If you've measured and cut correctly, this shouldn't be a problem. However, if you apply the epoxy and find out your board doesn't fit, you have a whole new problem on your hands.

5. Sand and finish.
Once the epoxy is dry and the board is set you can sand and finish the area. Don't overdo it, though - the board should only be sanded so that it is level with the surrounding boards. As far as finishes go, try to use the same type that was used during the original installation process, otherwise your floor will have a visible discoloration. If you don't know the exact finish that was used, contact the installation company that handled the project. They should have the information on record.

Yes, site-finish hardwood floor repair is something an experienced DIYer can handle, assuming they have the right tools and know-how. If you have any questions about the repair process, or you are uncomfortable with any of the tools required, call a professional.

Engineered Flooring - 5 Questions Your Customers Will Ask You

2012-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

We're a big fan of Hardwood Floors Magazine. It's informative, entertaining, and timely. Take their latest in-depth article, for instance: Engineered Enigmas: Know These Answers to Avoid Problems. It features five great answers to common questions you'll be asked by customers interested in engineered flooring. It's a bit long - over 1,600 words, in fact, - so we've condensed the article a bit to bring you the most important parts in a scaled-down version. Enjoy!

1. Do I need to acclimate the flooring?
Unlike solid wood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring doesn't require an acclimation process. It does, however, often require you to acclimate the environment in which it is being installed to the manufacturer specifications. These guidelines will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, with appropriate relative humidity ranging anywhere from 35% to 60%. It's up to the installer to know what the manufacturer recommends. As Hardwood Floors Mag says, "Just because the product is engineered doesn’t mean that installers should skip taking moisture readings on the flooring or subfloor. Knowing the recommended RH range and keeping the flooring within that range for the life of the product ensures the best performance of the product."

2. Can I use it where I live?
This is one of the most common (and frustrating) problems people face when researching engineered flooring. The simple answer is - maybe not. Engineered flooring needs to be kept in an area with an appropriate relative humidity, and some places have an RH that is either too high or too low to support engineered flooring.

"If you live in Las Vegas," the article explains, "where the average RH hovers around 30%, and the flooring manufacturer’s low range is 40%, it becomes more difficult to maintain acceptable living conditions, especially without strict humidity control."

One answer to this problem is to find a manufacturer that produces engineered flooring that fits the RH of the area in which you live. However, this can limit the style of flooring you can choose.

3. Can I install it in more areas than solid products?
In a word, yes: "Engineered flooring is more dimensionally stable than solid wood flooring, allowing for more installation options. The plywood core under the wear layer is less susceptible to expansion and contraction than solid wood flooring, which makes it possible to install it on a variety of surfaces and choose from several installation methods and systems."

There are still limitations, of course. It is not meant to be installed in extreme conditions, such as places with big shifts in humidity or excessive moisture.

4. Will different wear layer cuts, finishes, and species perform differently?
Yes. Different cuts, species, and finishes react differently to different environments. Certain finishes, like oil, show fewer imperfections than others, while certain closed-grain species like beech tend to show more imperfections.

"If the floor is going in a high-rise in a drier climate like Denver," the article explains, "where you can expect the floor to experience more shrinkage, a tropical species with a hard finish may not be the best option."

5. Is a thicker wear layer always better?
The old axiom of "The thicker the wear layer, the better" isn't always true. Yes, thicker wear layers allow for more sanding and refinishing, but thicker wear layers also tend to react more to moisture, causing some engineered flooring varieties to act more like a solid: "A thicker wear layer may have a tendency to react to moisture like a solid product, with greater expansion and contraction than a thinner wear layer."

To learn more about engineered hardwood flooring, visit the engineered flooring page on the Nova USA website.

5 Common Customer Complaints about Hardwood Flooring

2011-10-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Many professionals working in the hardwood flooring industryare so knowledgeable of their product that they forget that most consumers arenot. This can cause a lot of tensions between manufacturer, installer, andcustomer. Knowing the most common questions and complaints customers have aboutnew hardwood flooring can help you disarm even the most irate customers.Knowing what complaints people are likely to have before they have them allowsyou to educate your customers and provide excellent pre-emptive customerservice. Here are five of the most common customer complaints we see in thehardwood flooring industry, the best way to address them, and things thecustomer should have been told before purchasing the flooring.

1. My rustic flooring dents too easily!
This is a common complaint from people that have purchased cabin grade or other“rustic” style flooring. Many interior designers choose cabin grade flooringbecause of its color and rustic appearance. Little do they know that cabin gradeis actually a very inexpensive builder-grade hardwood that has a lot of naturalimperfections, such as knots, knot holes, color variances, splits, and cracks,and is much more susceptible to dents and scratches. You’d think that the namewould give this away – cabin grade sounds like it belongs in a cabin, right?Unfortunately, many consumers can’t see past the wood’s “character” and, ofcourse, the low price tag. If your customer is interested in cabin gradeflooring, make sure you find out the needs and expectations of the customer. Ifthey want something that is scratch- and dent-resistant, help them pick a moreresilient style.

2. My floor loses shine every time I wet mop it!
For some reason unbeknownst to most hardwood flooring professionals, manypeople think that wet mopping a wood floor is a good idea. As you well know,they couldn’t be more wrong! Wet mopping hardwood will damage the finish aswell as the floor itself. The best way to avoid hearing this complaint often isto give your customers proper care and maintenance instructions at the point ofsale. Don’t trust installers to do this – it’s not really their job. And don’texpect customers to seek this information out themselves. Giving customersprinted maintenance instructions will help prevent future complaints.

3. My floor shows a lot of smudges!
This complaint usually comes from customers that have purchased high-gloss,tight-grained flooring. Like any high-gloss purchase – a Cadillac, a piano,etc. – the beautiful, shiny new floor is going to show every smudge and dent.Let your customers know before they buy that highly-finished floors are morelikely to show smudges.

4. There are gaps between boards in my floor!
Solid nailed-down, wide-plank floors will gap. That is a fact. It isirresponsible to sell flooring to a customer without explaining this first.Once gapping is explained as a natural expansion and shrinking of the wood,most customers are not concerned by it. Failing to do so can lead to a lot ofpanicked and unhappy customers.

5. My floor is changing color!
Again, this is a common customer complaint that could be easily avoided if itwas explained to the customer at the point of sale. Oxidation is quite commonwith hardwood flooring, especially with exotic hardwood flooring. The morelight the floor is exposed to, the darker it will get. By educating customerson this matter before they purchase the flooring you can help them avoidmassive discoloration.

Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring from Nova USA Wood.

Many common customer flooring complaints stem from lack ofknowledge about the product and proper maintenance techniques. Explainingeverything you can about the flooring – the good and the bad – will make yourcustomers happy and save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

Bamboo Flooring – 5 Things You Should Tell Your Customers

2011-10-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Environmental responsibility is quickly becoming one of themost important features consumers look for when searching for new woodflooring, and the industry has done pretty well keeping up with the trend.One of the most popular products in the green flooring trend is bamboo. It’seasy to see why – bamboo is technically a grass, and it can be quickly andefficiently grown and harvested. Bamboo flooring is also available in differentforms, from solid bamboo flooring to engineered flooring to strand-woven. Yes,bamboo is certainly gaining in popularity, and for good reason. But there arestill a few things about bamboo flooring that most consumers don’t know andshould. Here are five of the most important points to stress to customers whenthey are considering bamboo flooring.

1. Bamboo flooring will expand along its length.
Hardwood flooring installers often leave space along the sides of boards toallow for expansion of the wood. Bamboo flooring, however, can sometimes expandalong its length as well. If this type of expansion is not accounted for yourcustomer may end of with warped or buckled floors.

2. It’s not as hard as you think.
Janka hardness is one of the most traditional forms of determining howdurable a hardwood floor will be. But because bamboo floors are made of manydifferent bamboo fibers bound together by adhesive, this rating isn’t alwaysaccurate. True, the individual strands of bamboo may be quite hard, but theadhesive used to bond them together may be weak. This makes some bambooflooring more vulnerable to scratches, dents, and scrapes.

3. Humidity affects bamboo differently than solid woodflooring.
When bamboo flooring experiences changes in moisture, the fibers naturally wantto expand or shrink away from each other. With engineered flooring, however,the fibers are held together by the cross-ply structure and can’t move. Thiscan cause the bonding agent to break and cause cracks in the wear layer of thefloor.

FSC-certified White Oak engineered flooring is a great
alternative to bamboo flooring.

4. Different bamboo flooring types qualify for differentLEED points.
Many builders choose bamboo flooring because they believe by doing so they willearn multiple points with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) certification system. This isn’t always true. The type of bambooflooring you use determines what kind and how many points or credits you can earn. Visit the US Green Building Council website to learn more about LEED rating systems.

5. Bamboo still requires acclimation.
Many customers assume that because bamboo flooring is made of many joinedfibers it doesn’t need to be acclimated. This is not true. Different types ofbamboo flooring require different acclimation times – solid bamboo flooringtend to be finished in 4 or 5 days, while strand-woven bamboo flooring can takeas long as a month.

Suggesting or selling bamboo flooring to your customerswithout informing them of the many ways it varies from traditional hardwoodflooring is irresponsible. Visit Nova USA Wood for information on otherenvironmentally-friendly hardwood flooring options.

Dispelling the Myths - Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

2011-10-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Timber harvesting practices in the tropical rainforest aregenerally misunderstood. Many people think that exotic hardwood decking or flooring is sourced illegally or unethically and destroys the Amazon rainforests. While certain logging operations are certainly illegal, the majority of hardwood flooring and decking distributed in the US is sourced from sustainable timber practices. The goal of this post is to dispel some of the morecommon myths about rainforest deforestation, sustainable timber harvestingpractices, and the real threats to the environment.

Myth #1: The timber industry is the culprit.
This is the biggest misconception about deforestation in the Amazon. Countlessgovernment and conservation groups agree: both legal and illegal loggingoperations combined account for less than 3% of deforestation in the Amazon,with legal, selective harvesting coming in closer to 1% . The other 97% ofdeforestation comes from cattle ranching, commercial agriculture, andinfrastructure improvements.

Many sustainable timber harvesting
companies plant Teak or Mahogany
plantations in areas that have been
irresponsibly clear-cut in the past.

Myth #2: Clear-cutting is done by the timber industry.
While clear-cutting is certainly the cause of rainforest deforestation, thevast majority of clear-cutting is done by cattle ranchers and agriculturedevelopers. Timber being sold from clear cutting operations is not part of thesustainable timber industry and is often obtained through illegal loggingpractices known as slash-and-burn agriculture.

Myth #3: Selective harvesting and clear cutting are the samething.
There are over 11,000 different tree species in the entire Amazon rainforest.The average harvest area is approximately 3,000 – 4,000 hectares. Within thisharvest area there are typically more than 100 different species of trees. Thevast majority of these species are not of interest to the commercial woodproducts industry – they’re either too young or the nature of the wood makes itunsuitable for commercial uses. In fact, there are generally only a few treesper hectare that are of interest for logwood, meaning a harvest area can retainthe vast majority of its trees while providing a renewable product to thetimber industry.

Clear cutting, on the other hand, occurs when cattle ranchers or agricultural developersneed huge areas of forest for pastureland. The understory shrubbery is clearedand burned and the forest trees are cut down and sold. The area is then used toplant crops like bananas, palms, maize, or rice, or raise cattle. After a fewyears, the soil quality drops to an unusable level and the farmers are forcedto abandon their land and move even deeper into the forest.

Myth #4: All rainforest logging operations are corrupt.
This myth has grown from confusion and misunderstanding about the manydifferent types of rainforest logging operations. Yes, there are a number ofillegal logging operations going on in the Amazon, but as previously mentioned,the majority of these crimes are being committed by local cattle andagricultural interests. The sale of illegally sourced timber can hardly even becalled logging – it is reckless, unsustainable, and gives no thought to localeconomies or the environment at large.
Sadly, much of the clear cutting happening today isn’t even illegal. Undercurrent Brazil squatting laws, cattle ranchers and small-scale subsistencefarmers can legally clear and use unclaimed public land that they have beenoccupying for at least one year and a day. After five years the land becomestheirs and they are free to sell it to the highest bidder. These practices,while legal, encourage poor land management and the disregard of environmentalconcerns.

Myth #5: It’s better to grow food than trees.
This issue is complicated and quite counter-intuitive. At first glance, itseems to make sense to encourage local peoples to use their native land to growfood for themselves and surrounding communities. However, the slash-and-burnclearing of the rainforest combined with the overuse of the remaining soil doesnot produce a sustainable agriculture industry. In addition, many of the cropsand cattle being raised on cleared rainforest lands are not being distributedlocally. Instead, land owners sell their product to overseas buyers, oftenpocketing the money and giving very little to the workers that produced thecrop.
Selective timber harvesting, however, is a proven way to utilize rainforestgrounds for commercial use while still preserving the area for futuregenerations. Legal, sustainable logging operations prevent areas from beingcleared for agricultural use as well as provide steady jobs to local citizens.

Read Our Green Commitment to learn more about Nova’scommitment to the environment.

Product Feature: Cumaru Decking

2011-10-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a beautiful, durable, hassle-free decking material, look no further than Nova Cumaru hardwood decking.

Also know as Brazilian Teak, Cumaru decking has a rich honey-brown color, intricate grain characteristics, and structural integrity that lasts a lifetime. It is an increasingly common choice for both commercial and residential decking projects. Its density makes it naturally resistant to decay, rot, and infestations by termites and other wood boring insects.

Cumaru hardwood decking is also incredibly fire resistant. It has a Class A fire rating, making it as fire resistant as concrete and steel. Pair that with the Nova 25 Year Cumaru Decking Warranty and you have a decking material that will last a lifetime.

In addition to being attractive and durable, Nova Cumaru decking is also environmentally sustainable. Our Cumaru decking line is certified under IBAMA or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) green environmental guidelines for sustainability. The FSC represents the highest internationally-recognized social and environmental standards. We make sure our Cumaru decking products are not only harvested in an environmentally-friendly way, but that the harvest process boosts local economies.

For more information on Cumaru decking visit the Nova - Cumaru Hardwood Decking page on our website.

Nova Decking Products: The Highest Quality, the Best Price

2011-08-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Nova's hardwood decking line is world renowned for being one of the highest quality in the industry. Sustainably harvested, exotically beautiful, and incomparably durable, the Nova decking line has a real wood product to serve your every need. Here are five of our most popular decking options:

Ipe Decking
Ipe hardwood decking is the very best decking material available. We stock a full line of deck boards as well as accessories, such as posts. We also specialize in direct shipments of deck boards from South America.
Read more about Ipe hardwood decking >>

Batu Decking
Meranti Batu hardwood decking is ideal for customers who want the classic look of Mahogany and long-lasting durability with minimal maintenance efforts. Batu is known for its hardness, beauty, and natural durability. Nova carefully selects its Batu to achieve a nearly blemish-free decking with excellent color consistency.
Read more about Meranti Batu hardwood decking >>

Cumaru Decking
An excellent alternative to the more-expensive Ipe, Cumaru hardwood decking is a golden brown wood with strength and durability similar to Ipe. Also known as Brazilian Teak, Cumaru has a Class A fire rating and comes with a 25 year warranty.
Read more about Cumaru hardwood decking >>

Tiger Wood Decking
Tiger Wood hardwood decking makes a visually striking decking option and features excellent stability and weathering properties. With a regularly applied oil finish, you can retain the original color and grain characteristics, or you can let the material age gracefully to a natural silver patina.
Read more about Tiger Wood Decking >>

Jatoba Decking
Also called Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba is normally used for flooring and furniture. Nova carries a impressive line of Jatoba hardwood decking. A naturally durable, stable wood, Jatoba makes an excellent choice for exterior use.
Read more about Jatoba hardwood decking >>

Cumaru hardwood decking is a beautiful and durable hardwood decking choice.

Nova: Experts In South American Supply

2011-08-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

We often get asked about our Brazilian forestry operations: what kind of partnerships we are engaged in, what type of quality control measures we have in place, etc. We are proud of our South American operations and the transparency therein, and have compiled answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Q: Who owns the company, and where does it operate?
A: Nova Forest Products is owned by David Zugman and John McGlocklin. Both have extensive experience in the procurement of Brazilian lumber, as well as the day-to-day operations of local mills. The company is based in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, and has satellite procurement offices in Ji-Parana, Rondia, Manaus, and Belem, Para state.

Q: Who owns the facilities your company uses?
A: We have our own concentration yard, warehouses, dry kilns, and some re-manufacturing capabilities.

Q: Is Nova an importer, exporter, or both?
A: We operate both as specialized and small-scale producer-exporters and as commissioned purchasing agents for importers around the world.

Q: What quality control measures does Nova have in place to ensure high-end products and hassle-free procurement?
A: We act as your eyes and ears in Brazil, finding and establishing direct relationships between you and the appropriate producing mills. As part of this process, we take responsibility for setting up production, overseeing grading/QC, shipping and vessel reservations, getting the material to the port and on a vessel, supervision of emission of original export documentation, and confirmation of payment. Nova also oversees the resolution of problems and complications in a way that attempts to satisfy both parties.

Q: Why should I choose Nova to handle my South American hardwood needs?
A: Nova has a proven track record of developing successful relationships with many supply mills and hardwood procurement agencies. We offer you an efficient, controlled way to develop strong business relations directly with Brazilian suppliers.

From procurement to shipping, Nova Forest Products is dedicated to connecting you with the highest quality South American hardwood products in the most efficient, safest manner.

Wood Floor Repairs: A Step-by-Step Guide

2011-07-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Repairing a hardwood floor requires a lot of time, patience, tools, and technique. When done incorrectly, wood floor repair can damage pieces next to the ones being repaired. If continued to be done incorrectly, what started as one or two damaged boards can turn into an entire room of ruined wood.
By carefully following proper repair instructions, however, hardwood flooring repairs can be done successfully and with few problems. The following is a step-by-step guide for repairing site-finished hardwood flooring.

Factory-finished, prefinished, and engineered wood floor repairs require special considerations. Visit www.novausawood.com/Wood-Floor-Repair to learn more about the differences.

Site-Finished Hardwood Flooring Repairs

1. For a 3/4" by 2 1/4" board, use a circular saw set at the proper depth (3/4 inch), making two passes approximately 1/2" inch from each side of the board. Do not cut past the end joints. The third cut goes on an angle between the first two cuts, again not cutting through the side match.

2. Once the cuts are made, use a sharp chisel to remove the cut pieces. Clean and vacuum the groove and area around the repair, making sure all debris is removed.

3. After these steps are complete, select a straight piece of flooring that has a similar grain pattern as the one removed. Cut the piece of flooring to the exact length to ensure a tight fit. Do not leave cracks at the end joints. This repair can also be done with a router and template.

4. Once the piece is cut to length, the bottom of the groove will need to be removed. This can be done by scribing the back of the board with a razor knife, then tapping the piece off with a hammer. Each end of the board can be beveled with a miter saw or by using a block plane to bevel the groove-side of the board. Always dry fit the piece before installing.

5. With a gun and nozzle, apply a two-part epoxy glue in the groove and on the tongue of the boards adjoining the repair. Also, apply glue to the tongue and groove on the repair piece. The epoxy will set up very quickly, so time is limited. The reason for using epoxy is that you can sand the repair within 10 to 15 minutes after it is properly installed. Other glues will take longer to set and will require drying overnight before the repair can be sanded.

Of course, if you have little to no experience with hardwood flooring repairs, or if you don't feel comfortable using the tools and equipment needed to perform the repairs, call a professional.

Ipe VS Cumaru: Comparing Hardwood Decking Materials

2011-06-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

NovaUSAWood.com isn't just a platform for promoting and selling Nova's high-quality hardwood flooring and hardwood decking materials. The site also provides a wealth of information about many hardwood-related topics, from hardwood mechanical properties to installation techniques to rainforest deforestation. The following are excerpts from one such article, Ipe Decking vs. Cumaru Decking. The article takes a look at the pros and cons of both types of decking material and will hopefully help you make a decision if you're torn between the two. Enjoy!

Ipe
Ipe is regarded as the best material possible for use as exterior decking. Ipe has earned its reputation because it is naturally durable, stable, resists checking, and is absolutely gorgeous. With a deep and rich red brown color, Ipe is considered by most lumber experts to be the ultimate choice for high quality decking.
Ipe grows throughout the tropical regions of South America and Central America. Like so many other exotic tropical hardwoods, Ipe is found in the rainforests regions of the Americas. The Brazilian rainforest which extends into Bolivia, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Equador and the Guyanas, is the most heterogeneous forest in the world; with more diversity of species, it is critical that we do not put too much pressure on any single species of timber. Ideally, we will find acceptable commerial uses for most of the species which flourish in the Amazon. By carefully harvesting our tropical forests, we can sustain this exceptional resource forever. The key is to use selective logging and not to clear cut the forest for agricultural uses.

Cumaru
Cumaru hardwood was one of the first exotic wood alternatives to Ipe for use as decking. Imported from the same regions as Ipe, Cumaru is somewhat similar in appearance and was originally just mixed in with Ipe. Cumaru is often separated into two color separations: light, also known as standard Cumaru, Brazilian Teak; and dark, also known as Red Cumaru, Brazilian Chestnut, or Southern Chestnut.
Cumaru is readily available from many countries in South America. Long term supplies are plentiful and sustainable forestry practices apply just as they do with harvesting Ipe. There is less pressure on Cumaru trees and we certainly expect that Cumaru will have a long future as one of the primary tropical hardwood species used for residential and commercial decking.

Indonesia Officials Reopen Illegal Logging Case

2011-06-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Good news in the international fight against illegal logging operations! According to an article in the Jakarta Globe, officials from Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are moving forward with an investigation into provincial and local government officials allegedly involved in illegal logging and environmental destruction.

Driven in part by a special report in the Jakarta Globe detailing a $115 billion illegal logging operation in Riau, the KPK recently announced it will pursue investigations into two former heads of the Riau forestry agency suspected of issuing illegal permits to 14 different pulp and paper companies between 2001 and 2003. The case has been active for years, with two prominent Riau government officials - former head of the forestry agency Asral Rachman and former district chief of Pelalawan Tengku Azmun - already convicted and carrying out prison sentences.

Indonesia's illegal logging problem was put on the back burner in 2008, when police investigations were closed due to "lack of evidence". In April 2010, however, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force to investigate. Joining forces with civil activist groups such as Indonesia Corruption Watch and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, the coalition developed a report that suggested judicial corruption was to blame for halting the police investigations and named 12 public officials, including a governor and two senior police officials, as being directly involved.

Like many parts of the world, Indonesia has had its fair share of struggles with illegal logging operations. By continuing to pursue this horrible operation and massive cover-up, however, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the KPK have shown their dedication to fighting illegal, unsustainable logging operations and government corruption. Only by squashing these illegal operations and promoting sustainable timber harvesting will Indonesia be able to create jobs, boost local economies, and maintain a renewable resource for generations to come.

Hardwood Decking Safety Tip: Non-Slip Pads

2011-06-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

As a leading importer of high-quality hardwood decking material, we here at Nova encourage anyone who purchases our fine products to use them wisely. This means exercising precaution before, during, and after the installation process. When it comes to decking, one of the best post-installation safety precautions you can take is to use anti-slip padding.

Now don’t get us wrong – anti-slip padding isn’t usually necessary. It is used mainly for areas near water or that have a tendency to freeze. If your deck is located in a warm, dry place with no pool or lake nearby, you probably can disregard this post.

Anti-slip pads are one of the best ways to reduce fall and injury on new Cumaru or Ipe hardwood decking. They offer excellent traction enhancement and protection against slippery surfaces. They’re perfect for poolside decking, lakeside decking, and decks in rainy or freezing parts of the country. The following are a few of the different types of anti-slip pads you can purchase and where it is best to use them.

Self-Adhesive Pads
These are easy to use and are versatile enough to go just about anywhere. Most come with rounded corners in a variety of colors. They’re great for high-wear areas like steps or pathways.

Non-Slip Tape
With the protection of a pad and the versatility of a roll of duct tape, this product is perfect for awkwardly-shaped decks or patios. You can cut pieces into any length you need, as well as layer the tape for added traction. Relatively inexpensive and easy to use, non-slip tape is often used for commercial purposes as well as residential.

Non-slip tape can make your poolside decking much safer.

Non-Slip Mats
Mats are great for poolside decking or grill areas. Usually made of mold-resistant plastic or rubber, no-slip mats can be easily removed, cleaned, and put back in place. Many public pools, marinas, and water parks use mats where slippery surfaces could be a liability.

Rainforest Nations Agree to Take On Deforestation

2011-06-06T10:39:00.000-07:00

On Friday, 32 rainforest basin nations made an unprecedented environmental policy agreement by pledging to cooperate in battling rainforest deforestation in their areas.

According to a report by the AFP, the agreement took place at a meeting in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, and included various experts from the Congo Basin in Central Africa, South America's Amazon Basin and the Borneo-Mekong Basin in South East Asia. These three areas represent approximately 80 percent of the world's rainforests and are home to about two-thirds of the world's biodiversity.

The 2%-3% of deforestation logging is responsible for occurs mainly as clear-cutting for agricultural and cattle farming purposes. Source: Mongabay.com

The participating nations agreed that connections existed "between deforestation and forest degradation as well as socio-economic issues such as sustainability and poverty reduction." The nations also called on the rest of the world to "support their efforts" and assist with "long-term and transparent financing for a durable forest management."

This agreement is great news for the sustainable timber industry. Contrary to popular opinion, the main cause of deforestation and degradation isn't logging - it's cattle ranching. Legal, selective harvesting of timber from government-approved areas not only helps protect the land but also provides a much-needed boost to local economies. By working with the local governments and supporting their decision to protect the rainforests, responsible hardwood flooring and decking manufacturers such as Nova can guarantee these precious renewable resources are around for many generations to come.

NWFA Announces Winners of 2011 Floor of the Year Awards

2011-05-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

For the past eight years, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has recognized innovative craftsmanship and design styles in the world of hardwood flooring installation. This year, the NWFA Wood Floor of the Year Awards recognized eleven entries in categories ranging from Best Reclaimed Floors to Member's Choice.

While there were many great entries, there could only be one winner in each category. Here are this year's best of the best:

Member's Choice
Precision Floorcrafters - Summerfield, FL
This glue-down, solid plank floor was made from reclaimed Heart Pine, Blad Cypress, and End-Grain Pine. The 120 square-foot floor features a mosaic-style end-grain pattern and a perfectly symmetrical circle in the center of the pattern.
Click here to see this entry.

Best CNC/Laser Cut
Yantarnaya Pryad/Parguet - Khimki, Russian Federation
This solid, glue-down floor was made from many different species of hardwood: Jatoba, Beech, Wenge, Amaranth, Jarrah, Walnut, Merbau, Maple, and Karelian Birch. At 967 square feet, this floor features an elaborate, detailed design reminiscent of a beautiful Persian rug.
Click here to see this entry.

Best Commerical
Archetypal Imaginary Remodeling Corp - Little Neck, NY
Archetypal created this hand-scraped and fumed-end grain floor for the Arizona tea company. The 550 square foot plank floor is made from White Oak and Wenge and features a beautifully designed interpretation of the Arizona logo.
Click here to see this entry.

Best Residential
Fine Cut Wood Flooring - Derry, NH
This small, funky White Oak flooring features a curved parquet pattern and an acid-cured finish.
Click here to see this entry.

To view more winning floors or for more information about the contest, visit the NWFA Wood Floor of the Year information page.

Did You Buy a New Home in April? You're Not Alone.

2011-05-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

Will a boost in the housing market mean a boost to the hardwood industry?

According to the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, April saw a rise in sales of single-family homes in all four regions of the country. The average national rise was 7.3 percent, while areas in the West saw increases in sales as high as 15.1 percent. This is the second month in a row in which new home sales rose more than previously estimated.

According to an article on Reuters.com, many prominent economists and housing market players are viewing the increase in sales as a positive sign, albeit hesitantly:

RICHARD DEKASER, ECONOMIST, THE PARTHENON GROUP, BOSTON:
"It's a positive surprise. Sales activity continues to bounce along the bottom."

DAVID ADER, SENIOR GOVERNMENT BOND STRATEGIST, CRT CAPITAL GROUP, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT:
"A bigger than anticipated gain to new home sales and a price gain (against three prior months of negative figures) so a firmer, if volatile, report."

GARY THAYER, CHIEF MACRO STRATEGIST, WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI:
"It's a good number, better than expected. It suggests maybe we're beginning to see some signs of stabilization in housing, but it's too early to say we've bottomed out."

Will this increase be a bump for the hardwood flooring and decking industries? On one hand, new house sales usually go hand-in-hand with flooring or decking renovation projects, so it's not far fetched to think this may increase sales in hardwood building materials. On the other hand, many people choose to remodel or renovate their existing homes when they can't afford to buy a new one, so these numbers may indicate consumers' return to buying new instead of fixing up what they already own.

Economists seem hesitant to get too excited about these numbers. What do you think? Do you expect these sales to continue to increase? If so, what does that mean for the decking and flooring industries?

Nova USA Website Gets a Face Lift

2011-05-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, the Nova USA website was recently redesigned by the talented crew at Rain Agency in Portland, Ore. The following is an excerpt from the press release announcing the new site launch. Enjoy!

The new site design represents an entire overhaul of the Nova online identity. The site navigation was streamlined in such a way to make both finding a specific product and browsing entire product catalogs quick and easy. The new Floor Finder element allows site visitors to search for flooring or decking products by color, species, texture, or any combination of the three. The online catalog gives visitors another way to explore the many products Nova offers by separating items by product type, finish, species, and more.

Site navigation wasn’t the only aspect of the Nova website to be redesigned – the entire look of the site was changed. The photo-heavy layout proudly displays the Nova Elemental floor brand in a way that showcases the many ways people can interact with it. The resulting design has been described as whimsical, comfortable, and professional by designers, consumers, and industry insiders.

The new Nova website includes many helpful features not offered by competitors, including wood strength and density charts, flooring and decking repair and installation guides, a decking calculator, and over 20 downloadable general information guides.

To view the new site design, or for more information on exotic hardwood flooring and decking products, visit www.novausawood.com.

Where to Buy Nova Flooring Products

2011-05-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Where to Buy Nova Decking Products

2011-05-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day with Nova

2011-04-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is just around the corner – April 22, to be exact – and in celebration of this important day, Nova invites you to take a look at the many ways we are committed to the environment. The following post addresses many of the myths and misunderstandings about logging practices in the Amazon rainforest, including links to important resources on the matter. Go Earth!

Logging practices in the Amazon rainforest are generally misunderstood. Our goal is to help explain some of the issues regarding rainforest logging and to help consumers make intelligent decisions regarding lumber products from tropical South America.

Tropical logging in the Amazon is NOT clear cutting. The Amazon forest is the most heterogeneous tropical forest in the world; selective harvesting of commercially viable species is the only economically viable approach to logging in this context. Clear-cutting occurs when land is cleared for farming and ranching. For timber extraction, selective harvesting of between 20 and 200 trees per 1000 acres is typical throughout the Amazon region.

The greatest danger to the Amazon currently is the expansion of agricultural areas to grow food crops and raise cattle. In order for South American farmers to cultivate the land for crops or cattle, clear cutting must be done. Government agencies such as IBAMA in Brazil and third party certification agencies such as the FSC, Forest Stewardship Council, require land management plans which are based on selective and sustainable logging practices.

Landowners and local people need a way to get value from their land. With reasonable market prices and consumer support for tropical lumber products, the incentive to convert tropical forest to agricultural use is minimized. It is a way of adding value to the standing forest.

Companies logging in the rainforest must submit detailed forest management plans in order to extract timber. Each area to be logged is divided up into sections and trees are identified by specie. With the assistance of GPS, detailed maps can be created on computers and by hand. Seed trees of each specie are left so that natural regeneration may take place. Trees that are under certain sizes are also left in place so that they may be cut in the next logging cycle in 20 to 30 years.

In many cases, government agencies will require that companies also replant areas that have been cleared in the past. This is typically done with Teak or Mahogany plantations that can replace ranching areas. It doesn’t take long to turn a bare patch of land into a plantation forest; after only 5 years, the average height of these plantation trees is already 15 feet. Selective logging in the Amazon is THE best way to add value to the standing forest resource. People live in the Amazon and will use the forest resource for their livelihood. The Amazonian wood industry is well positioned to play a key role in helping to preserve the Amazon forests by providing value and jobs without chopping the forest down.

For more information on Amazon logging practices and the environment, visit any of the following resources:

www.novausawood.com/environment
www.fsc.org
www.iwpawood.org
www.nwfa.org

Hardwood Decking Oil Finish Review

2011-04-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

It’s a fact: No matter what type of material you use or how well it’s built, a hardwood deck will naturally wear over time. Even such naturally decay-resistant varieties as Ipe decking are vulnerable to the elements, and prolonged exposure to varying weather patterns and UV radiation will inevitably lead to discoloration, checking and cupping. The good news, however, is that there are many high-quality deck finishes available that help prolong the life of any hardwood deck.

While many solid and opaque finishes offer great protection against the elements, most homeowners choose hardwood decking because of its appearance. The best way to protect a deck while maintaining its original look is to use a clear, high-quality oil finish. A penetrating oil finish with UV inhibitors will offer great protection against the elements without covering up the natural beauty of the hardwood. The following are a few of the top brands of oil finish, their strengths and weaknesses, and what to expect when using them.

Superdeck
The professional grade transparent stains and sealers from Superdeck feature three high-quality oils, including linseed and tung oil, that offer great protection against harsh weather. The transparent oxide pigments in the Superdeck formula protect against harmful UV rays without covering up the wood’s natural appearance. Superdeck Transparent Stain & Sealer also comes with a satisfaction guarantee.

Messmer’s
This oil-based finish is perfect for those who want a protective coat with an even appearance. While Messmer’s UV Plus finish does change the color of the deck, it does not affect the texture or cover up the grain pattern. The finish is offered in two attractive colors, natural and red mahogany, and is great on denser hardwoods, such as Ipe decking.

Penofin Performance Coatings
Penofin is the leading choice for environmentally friendly exterior wood stains. Penofin Verde contains all-natural ingredients, including vegetable ester solvents, plant-based resins, and Brazilian rosewood oil – no petroleum or heavy metal compounds here. It offers 99% UV protection and is safe for inside use.

Olympic
Olympic’s line of clear waterproofing sealants feature a custom penetrating oil formula, two-way waterproofing protection, advanced UV protection, and their exclusive Scuff Guard ® protection formula. This is a great finish if you’re looking to protect against mildew and wood rot and works best when applied to new or pressure-treated wood.

Tune in next week when we'll discuss tips for before, during, and after the application of an oil finish to hardwood decking.

Nova USA Announces All-Coast As New SW Batu Distributor

2010-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Nova USA recently sent out a press release announcing the addition of All-Coast Forest Products as its southwest distributor of Batu decking. Read all about it here!

Hardwood Decking End Wax – Is It Necessary?

2010-11-22T15:41:00.000-08:00

Most hardwood decking installation professionals will suggest using end wax to seal the ends of boards before installation. For the impatient consumer, this may seem like a time-consuming, unnecessary step. This misconception couldn't be further from the truth. End wax is the best way to prevent end checking, also called cracking. The following are the top reasons why a high-quality end wax is absolutely necessary for the installation of a new deck.

Moisture Change
The main goal – indeed, the entire point – of sealing the ends of deck boards with wax is to prevent moisture from moving in and out of the boards. The cellular structure of wood allows moisture to freely move in and out of the porous board ends. This moisture exchange causes the board ends to crack and split, sometimes as quickly as one hour after being cut.

Some homeowners will underestimate the damage end checking can have on a new hardwood deck. The cracks and splits caused by moisture exchange may not seem like a big deal when it is simply one board, but when almost every board starts to crack the result can be very unattractive. Also, since end checking tends to affect about 90% of untreated boards, replacing cracked boards can be very expensive.

Discoloration
Cracks aren't the only outcome of end checking. Water can cause major discoloration in hardwood decking materials, even ones as resilient as Ipe decking. Discoloration occurs most around exposed, untreated parts of the wood, and end checking exposes more surface area of the board. The cracked, exposed areas start to darken and discolor as soon as they are exposed to moisture, giving your deck a spotted, unattractive look.

Cost
Even though applying end wax is a relatively inexpensive procedure, some homeowners still don't want the added cost. Foregoing the application of end wax, however, is more costly over time. Replacing cracked and discolored boards is expensive and annoying, and if the majority of your deck has experienced end checking you may need to replace the whole thing.

How to Apply End Wax
Now that you know why it's important to apply end wax before installing a hardwood deck, let's take a look at the application process. Luckily, applying end wax is a relatively easy process. One method is to simply take a folded rag or small towel, dip it in a high-quality wax such as Anchorseal, and gingerly apply to the board ends. Use just enough to properly seal the end, but avoid getting any on the deck board as excess wax can cause staining. If you do happen to use too much, simply scrape the excess off with a putty knife and lightly sand the affected area.

As you now know, applying end wax is a very important step in the installation process. You may be tempted to skip it, but doing so can cost you a lot of time and money in the long run. Using Anchorseal or an equivalent sealant will prevent end checking and help keep your hardwood deck looking great for years to come.

Ipe Decking: A Better Choice Than Composite Decking

2010-11-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

There are a number of reasons why exotic hardwoods such as Ipe make better decking material than composites. For instance, real wood Ipe decking is a natural, renewable, recyclable building material, making it much better for the environment than non-recyclable composite decking. Here are the top five reasons why Ipe decking is better than composite decking. Enjoy!

Appearance
Ipe decking is hands down the better looking building material of the two. Composite decking has inconsistent coloration from batch to batch and has an unnatural, plastic-like appearance, usually with a stamped-on wood grain impression.

Structural Stability
Composites are not as structurally stable as hardwoods like Ipe decking. They don't handle temperature change very well, the material breaks down faster than hardwood, and the U.S. Government has even issued a number of recalls on types of composite decking after they were proven to be unsafe for use.

Ease of Maintenance
Ipe decking and other exotic hardwoods require very little maintenance over time. Real wood decking requires sweeping, leaf and yard debris removal, and on occasion, a light pressure wash. Composites, on the other hand, require harsh, abrasive chemicals and brush scrubbing in order to get clean. Also, composite decking can't be refinished, so once the deck gets scratches and scrapes you can't get rid of them.

Resistance to Decay
Because of its density and hardness, Ipe decking is naturally resistant to wood-boring insects, mold and other forms of wood rot and decay. Composite decking is very vulnerable to mold, mildew, termites and fungi, and because there is no way of repairing or refinishing composites, once decay has set in the deck will need to be replaced.

Cost Over Time
Ipe decking and other natural wood decking materials last longer and require less repair and maintenance than composites, making them more cost-effective. You can purchase some relatively cheap composite decking materials, but they are just that – cheap. They will rot, warp, chip, peal, and fade in a short amount of time. If you want a dependable, beautiful, long-lasting decking material, choose natural exotic hardwood.

The Ups and Downs of Importing Exotic Hardwood Flooring

2010-11-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

You may not realize it, but the exotic hardwood flooring industry has had a rough year. An already volatile import, the past 12 – 16 months has seen extreme fluctuations in both availability and pricing for exotic hardwood. Hardwood Floors magazine published an interesting article by Guillermo Figari on what has caused the roller coaster that was the past year. Here are some highlights:

Procurement Problems
It's not always easy to get exotic hardwood flooring material. According to Figari, local lumber mills in some areas in Brazil control a vast majority of the production capacity, setting a false price point and forcing companies to go to different areas to source for species.
“It is imperative for us to always have a backup plan when sourcing for different species, because procuring exotic flooring at any time is not cut and dry,” Figari wrote. “There is the usual rule of supply and demand, but importers also have to take into account what local powerhouses some mills are within their regions.”

Pricing Puzzles
The U.S. dollar lost value in South America last year, creating an almost immediate price increase from Brazilian suppliers. Figari elaborates:
“This coincided with the slowing U.S. economy, so even if importers were able to justify the price increases, the market simply could not bear it. Additionally, the largest importers still had large inventories and were liquidating them to generate cash flow.”

Dwindling Supply
Not only is procuring exotic hardwood flooring material more difficult than it was two years ago, but the supply is also dwindling. The Amazon rainy season, a strong Asian purchasing campaign, and a reduction in mill purchasing capacities has led to a scarce lumber supply.

It Will (May?) Get Better
Figari paints a pretty grim picture of the current exotic hardwood import industry, but also offers a glimmer of hope:
“Importers must have real customer service and make sure that we have several mills available to meet our demand. In the past, when we could not find a competitive price in Brazil for cumaru, we would source from Peru or Bolivia. Right now options are running out and demand is growing every day. We can just hope for the best, keep a positive mindset and try to be as competitive as possible.”

Winterizing Your Ipe Decking

2010-10-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ipe hardwood is one of the most popular decking material choices in the country, and for good reason. Ipe decking is very dense, making it naturally resistant to wood rot and wood destroying organisms. Unfortunately, Ipe decking won't hold up forever against a harsh winter. However, there are a number of maintenance steps you can take to make sure your Ipe deck withstands the elements as well as it can.

Sealing
Ipe is naturally resistant to rotting and warping, but it's always a good idea to put down a coat or two of appropriate sealant anyway. Sealing a deck can help protect your deck against water absorption. Remember to seal the whole deck, though – you don't want discoloration on your brand new deck.

Finishing
Use a high-quality water-seal product. Decrease the chance of bending or warping by applying the seal to all sides of the decking material before you install it. This creates an equal moisture transfer and makes sure there aren't any gaps in the seal through which water can pass.

Regular Maintenance
Keeping your ipe decking clean is a great winterization method. The best way to clean an Ipe deck is with a rake or broom, making sure to get between boards. Yard debris can rot and lead to mold and deck decay. It is also a good idea to make sure there is a run-off system leading away from your deck. Rain water and snow can pool around support posts and cause the wood to rot, decreasing the deck's structural integrity and making it dangerous to be around.

Ipe decking is one of the most beautiful, durable building materials you can buy, but if you fail to properly winterize your deck it can get very ugly very quickly. By following the above-mentioned steps, however, you can keep your Ipe decking looking good for many years.

Ipe Decking Pricing - Economic Trends for Wholesalers and Importers

2009-12-14T21:38:00.000-08:00

Prices for Ipe decking to importers and wholesalers are traditionally at their very lowest between early November and late December. Personally, I've been fairly active in the import and wholesale hardwood decking business since 1995, and I have never experienced a market like the present one. For the first time in my experience, there were no "end of the year" discounts on Ipe decking from the manufacturers in South America.

In fact, we have seen fewer offerings this Fall than I ever remember seeing in the past. I'm concerned that due to a perfect storm of events, we will see major shortages in the supply of hardwood decking in 2010; and it will start with Ipe decking. When you take into account the currency trends with the Brazilian Real and the U.S. Dollar, combine with environmental pressure in South America, and then add in low inventories at wholesalers and distributors in the U.S., all you need is steady demand during the first part of 2010 to send prices upward.

Ipe is considered to be the finest hardwood decking available, and has long been the bellweather species of wood when it comes to setting the high water mark for pricing. Generally trading at 20% to 40% over all other wood decking species, Ipe is the most stable wood product and has the most appealing color to the majority of customers.

My recommendation to wholesale distributors is to get your orders in while you can. If you wait, you will likely pay a substantial premium; or you just won't be able to buy Ipe, and you'll have to consider some alternatives.

Nova has buying offices in Belem, Brazil and Curitiba, Brazil, and we have historically purchased between 100 and 300 containers of Ipe decking annually from our suppliers in South America. As the U.S. economy recovers during 2010, we are looking to promote some alternatives in the hardwood decking market because we sincerely believe that it will not be business as usual for Ipe decking.

Please contact Nova for more information about Ipe decking.

Economic Stimulus for Small Businesses

2009-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

Obama proposed this week that he will help small businesses by reducing capital gains taxes and encouraging investment through SBA programs.

Reducing or even eliminating capital gains taxes is great for businesses that have something to sell like real estate - maybe it's worth more if you bought it 15+ years ago, but how does this help any business that recently bought commercial real estate and is now underwater? And by no means is there an active set of buyers out there for commercial real estate - maybe some sharks circling.

The SBA programs are only good for real estate aquisitions. And they are very good if you happen to have a profitable business that wants to take on more risk and aquire real estate. More than likely, a small business aquiring more real estate today is making a long term commitment to a location and a business model, and crossing their fingers that it will work. That certainly characterizes our business at Nova.

Cash for caulkers? Well, that might be a good idea for those businesses in the insulation and caulking supply - Home Depot, Lowes, your local lumber yard, etc. And it is certainly good for people to do energy savings projects to their homes. I support this idea, but feel it is still very limited in its scope.

Personally, I like concept of the Canadian initiative, valid thru January 2010, which allows a 15% tax credit on home improvement projects over $1K and up to a $10K. I think it is prudent to encourage people to invest in their homes. We could use a similar plan here in the U.S., especially considering all the out-of-work construction tradespeople.

Batu Decking Newest Offering from Nova USA Wood Products Exotic Decking Line

2009-11-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

Batu Decking Newest Offering from Nova USA Wood Products Exotic Decking Line

Nova USA Wood Products expands its popular line of exotic hardwood decking products with the introduction of Batu Decking, strengthening the company’s position as a one-stop shop for decking and railing products.

Consisting of only a few select species found within the Shorea Genus, Batu (also known as Membatu, Red Balau and Mangaris) is known for its hardness, beauty and natural durability. Adding to the product's appeal is the fact that Nova's Batu is carefully selected to achieve a nearly blemish free decking with excellent color consistency, superior strength and natural durability.

Professional builders and do-it-yourselfers alike will enjoy working with Nova's Batu Decking because of its high quality and consistency. The product is further backed by Nova's industry-leading 25-year Limited Warranty.

“Nova has built a strong track record over the years for high quality, superior performance, visually appealing wood decking and railing systems in a variety of exotic species throughout North America” says Bill Christou of Nova USA Wood Products. “The addition of the Batu Decking line strengthens Nova's position in the market still further.”

Nova Batu Decking is available in 1x4,1x6, 5/4x4, 5/4x6, 2x2, 2x4, 2x6, and 4x4 sizes and can also be supplied in 1x4 and 5/4x4 T&G porch flooring plus trim boards from 1x8 through to 2x12. Versatile, durable and beautiful, Nova Batu is the superior choice for any outdoor project.

“Many people are partial to the rich, classic look of a Mahogany deck, but don’t like the inconsistency or the maintenance hassles that accompany products like Cambara or Meranti,” Christou says. “Our new Batu product line is ideal for customers who want long-lasting durability and visual appeal from their decks, with minimal maintenance efforts.”

Nova's Batu Decking is carefully kiln-dried and inspected before shipment by Nova's Indonesian staff at the source in order to ensure customer satisfaction. Batu Decking is available in lengths up to 20' and comes both yard-packed and pulled-to-length. Like other Nova Decking products, it is easily installed with traditional face fastening techniques or hidden fastener systems such as the Eb-Ty EBE004 or Tiger Claw TC-4S. Pre-grooving is also available by request.

The new Batu Decking product joins a variety of high-performance exotic decking and railing products in the Nova collection, including Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Cambara, Massaranduba, Tigerwood, Jatoba and Meranti/Philippine Mahogany.

For more information on the complete list of Nova's exotic hardwood decking collection, go to http://www.novausawood.com/hardwood-decking.aspx or call Tel: (416) 483-0351

Economic Recovery? Not Yet.

2009-11-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone is expecting tough economic conditions for building materials this winter. It seems to me that within the construction industry, the economy is getting slowly worse, not better. We are hearing about more people losing their jobs, and more companies going out of business.

We measure our web results very closely and this is an excellent indicator of how many people are actually looking for building materials within our main product sectors - Prefinished Flooring and Residential Hardwood Decking. We've been working hard on our web sites all year long. Our rankings on the search engines keep going up. But, our overall hits per day, week and month are relatively flat to slightly down. That's a bad sign. I think fewer people are looking for flooring and decking; fewer people are planning new remodeling projects; and, few people are building new homes.

So what do we do about it? We'll continue to push our marketing efforts as hard as we can.

1. We have a new flooring brand coming to market soon - this is very exciting for us and will be the first time we have attempted to push a branded product as opposed to generic, white box, no-name material. As soon as the new brand is officially released, I'll blog more. Can't wait for everyone to see the new logo.

2. We are working more Southeast Asian decking species into our mix - Our Nova Batu is a fantastic Red Balau / Dark Red Meranti product. We just completed brochures for this program and hope to soon establish distribution on the west coast to compliment our established east coast distributors. Nova Batu Decking

3. We'll continue to push our truck flooring programs with both direct sales and OEM sales. See our Trailer Decking page for more info.

Let's all hope that things start to improve for the construction industry by 1st Quarter 2010. Best of luck to everyone in this industry.

Meranti Batu | Mahogany Decking | Surabaya, Indonesia

2009-09-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

1. Where does Meranti Batu come from?
Meranti Batu / Red Balau is Shorea species (principally S. kunstleri, S. guiso, S. collina, S. ochrophloia). The species is a medium to large hardwood tree, often buttressed, with a straight cylindrical bole between 30 and 50 m long. Shorea spp. grow across a variety of areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Local names include Red selangan, Urat Mata, Selangan Merah (Sabah,Sarawak), Chan (Thailand), Guijo (Phillipines), Giso and Membatu (Indonesia).

2. Why is it a better option than all the other tropical decking options?
Meranti Batu is the first choice for any job that requires a superior finish, natural durability and time tested, long lasting performance. Meranti Batu is very durable and resists cupping, splintering and twisting. It is very strong and heavy, is low-maintenance, and will not shrink. Due to its high durabiliity, homeowners may choose to seal the wood and maintain its natural color or allow it to weather to a silver-gray while remaining smooth and splinter-free. With a rich natural beauty and hardiness that is not easily found in other decking materials, Meranti Batu is the natural answer for exterior decking applications.

3. Should I buy Meranti Batu Decking from Nova?
At Nova, we carefully inspect each load of decking before shipment. Our Meranti Batu decking is graded for appearance as well as strength. We carefully select only the finest timbers to provide you with a nearly blemish free decking with excellent color consistency and superior strength and durability. Nova's Meranti Batu decking contains only heartwood, the tight-grained, slow-growth part of the tree which is rot-resistant and can last as long as three decades. Faster-growing, light-colored sapwood has less natural rot resistance and durability.

Meranti Batu Decking

Wood Flooring - Nova Expands Oak, Birch and Acacia Hardwood Floors

2009-08-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

Wood flooring is our specialty and we are pleased to announce that after almost one year of testing, our StoneWood Collection is here to stay. Based on the very best value in the industry, our StoneWood line consists of Acacia, Birch, Kempas and White Oak. We offer these products in a solid 3/4" thickness, and with selected options in engineered products for below grade applications.

Handscraped wood flooring is available in Acacia, Birch and White Oak. Our best seller year to date is by far the Acacia, but the latest product we added is handscraped Birch and we are anticipating the handscraped Birch to be even more popular than the Acacia due to its dramatically lower price point.

Here's a picture of the Birch Handscraped Honey, our best seller in the Birch line up:

Be sure to check out the web site for more details on these products. www.novausawood.com/stonewood-hardwood-flooring.aspx

Ipe Decking - Finishing Options

2009-06-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

So you've just installed a brand new Ipe deck and you want to keep it looking beautiful, right? Finishing your deck with a high quality oil finish is the right choice, whether you want to preserve the beautiful rich red-brown color, or let it slowly gray or silver out.

There are a number of high quality oil finishes on the market today including: SuperDeck Duckback, Penofin, Mesmers and Extreme. We generally recommend SuperDeck Duckback in the Walnut color. The Walnut finish contains some pigment and will help preserve the color.

Even if you desire to let your Ipe decking fade to silver gray over time, you should still put an oil finish on the material. It will take a lot longer to fade to silver gray, but the oil finish will help prevent checking and cracking.

See our web page on Ipe decking for more information. Also, be sure to check out our installation guide.

Ipe Decking vs. Cumaru Decking

2009-06-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

After working for several years promoting Cumaru decking, I think we finally are starting to make some progress. Ipe is a great species of wood and has proven itself as the best choice for exterior wood decking. Cumaru is a close second and costs about 20-30% less than Ipe.

Some of the key differences are highlighted in our new comparison page on www.novausawood.com - click here to go to the new Ipe vs. Cumaru comparison page.

In summary, even though Ipe has 90% of the tropical hardwood decking market in the U.S., we believe Cumaru will become a more popular choice over time. The key with Cumaru is that it must be kiln dried to 10-12% MC. It is similar in strength and durability and will provide a fantastic residential or commercial deck for many years to come.

Cumaru is in abundant supply from South America including Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. We are expecting a strong supply of FSC - Forest Stewardship Council Certified material arriving by Fall 2009.

Patagonian Rosewood Flooring

2009-05-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

Curupay, also known as Patagonian Rosewood Flooring, is one my favorite species. It has incredible strength properties, including a Janka Hardness rating of 3840 pounds. That's almost 300% harder than Red Oak.

See our Janka Hardness chart comparing all our popular hardwood flooring species. http://www.novausawood.com/woodhardness.aspx

Patagonian Rosewood is very sensitive to ultra violet rates and will darken on exposure. After installation, it is important to leave as much area as possible uncovered by rugs or carpets. The flooring will need a few months to darken.

We have recently begun adding a light red-brown stain to our Curupay flooring. We call this "Natural" and it effectively ages the product to its natural color. There will still be some darkening of the product after installation, but this new staining process will help the process and help protect the wood from extreme ultraviolet conditions which can eventually bleach out your flooring.

Modern windows are frequently coated with UV inhibitor or a thin film (typically made by 3M). This slows the natural darkening of the wood and can help to prevent bleaching. See 3M's Web Page about Residential Window Film for more information.

NWFA Preview

2009-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

The annual NWFA, National Wood Flooring Association, trade show starts next week in beautiful southern California. We are hoping for great weather and a strong showing, despite recent economic conditions.

We will be introducing our Asian line of products: the Stonewood Collection. This collection includes Acacia, Asian Walnut; Birch; and White Oak - all available in a number of stains in both solid and engineered formats. We are excited about this new product line and have already had excellent feedback from many of our customers.

Acacia is by far the most popular of these new products, followed by our Asian Teak stained, handscraped White Oak. Please give us a call for more information:
Western US Flooring - Mike Bennett 503.419.6407
Eastern US Flooring - John McGlocklin 206.501.4432

Whack-A-Mole! Management Philosophy

2009-04-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever worked for a company where aspiring mid-level and senior managers are constantly being undermined by those above them? How about a boss or owner that routinely criticizes senior managers in front of middle managers? If so, you may have been working at a company that actively practices "Whack-A-Mole" Management Philosophy.

Let's say you come up with a great idea - maybe a better way to report cost accounting on a monthly basis. You go to your senior manager and he says, "I can't do anything without the owner's approval - and you know he won't give it." So, you go to the owner after hours and present your idea. The boss-man says, "Great idea, let's see your proposal in writing. And by the way, please give me a written analysis of all the ways in which we could improve the work of this senior manager..."

So you do as asked - big mistake - and turn in your report to the big boss-man. The boss then confronts the senior manager; whacking him squarely on the head. Then, of course, the senior manager strategically whacks you on the head as well, probably in front of the other senior managers and not with you in the room. You've burned the bridge, son. Time to find another place to work.

Yes, this happened to me. Undermining your direct manager is rarely a good idea. If the company in which you work practices "Whack-A-Mole" management, be especially careful.

Another common form of "Whack-A-Mole" is the classic management meeting during which a lot of good ideas are thrown around the room, maybe even written up on a whiteboard. One by one, the boss knocks down the ideas. Maybe he even takes a few shots at an employee's lack of experience or recent poor decisions. Anything he can do to put you down just enough so you know who's really in charge. You've been whacked; maybe whacked gently, but whacked none-the-less.

Lapacho Prefinished - A Great Value

2009-03-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest woods available, Lapacho is a type of Ipe or Brazilian Walnut. Lapacho belongs to the genus Tabebuia and offers a fairly consistent brown color in appearance, as well as a more distinct grain pattern when compared to Brazilian Ipe.

Pricing for Lapacho has varied over the last few years. When first introduced by Nova in 2006, we were able to sell every stick of Lapacho we could get our hands on. A strong building economy and attractive pricing put tremendous pressure on Lapacho supply. Within 6 months, we were forced to raise prices substantially and sales slowed as a result. But now with a slow economy, Lapacho pricing has fallen back to near 2006 levels.

This is a great opportunity for our customers to start promoting one of the hardest, most durable and most beautiful species of wood we carry. See http://www.novausawood.com/lapacho-hardwood-flooring.html for more information and pictures.

Lumber Calculator - Now Only $30

2009-03-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I've got a lot of interest in our new lumber calculator but no sales so far. I've decided to lower the price to $30. I know it's worth it if you trade random length lumber, especially if you are an importer of tropical hardwood decking and buy on metric counts.

$30 gives you free upgrades for life. And I will add new features. As soon as I sell enough copies to justify my time, I'll add %'s by length. I'm thinking 8-10', 12-15' and 16'+ for percentages. What works for you?

I could also throw in a gross profit / mark up option if people thought that would be useful. Let me know. I'm here to make you a better lumber trader.

Download at www.lumberiq.com

Lumber Calculator - Random Length Tally Calculator

2009-03-16T21:16:00.001-07:00

Now in its second release, the Lumber IQ Ultimate Lumber Calculator has been upgraded to include a random length tally calculator. Just put in the pieces by length from 6' to 20' in both even and odd lengths; by choosing the correct size, you'll get all the conversions you need.

I'm open to adding more features based on suggestions from any users out there. Just let me know what you think you want the Lumber Calculator to do. As long as the feature is useful to most of the lumber professionals, I'll find a way to add it.

Let me know how I can help you be more efficient. To download the Ultimate Lumber Calculator, Click Here.

Apitong lumber is available - why use softwood?

2009-03-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

I started selling truck trailer flooring products in the late 1980's. At that time, Apitong lumber was sort of new on the scene; most people used Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine for their flatbed trailer flooring.

The use of softwood lumber on trailer floors just doesn't make a lot of sense. Yes, maybe it is a bit cheaper, even with cheap imported hardwood options. But it just doesn't last.

I've talked to four end users just this week and every one of them needed to replace their softwood trailer floor. We used Ipe in one case and Angelim Pedra, Brazilian Apitong in the other three cases. Problem solved.

The term Apitong is a technically a reference to Keruing, which is Diptocarpus spp. There are quite a few species within the Diptocarpus genus that can also be referred to as Apitong. In addition, Angelim Pedra, Hymenalobium excelsum, is now being referred to as Brazilian Apitong.

Apitong, whether Indonesian, Malaysian, or Brazilian, is hard, durable and will not rot out like softwood. If you've got a flatbed trailer with a softwood deck, you will need to replace it at some point. Choose one of the naturally durable hardwoods and you won't need to replace your deck again for a long time.

Ultimate Lumber Calculator - Metric Standard Unit Conversions

2009-03-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

We do a lot of conversions at Nova. From BF (board feet) to LF (lineal feet), SF to Square Meters (m2), etc. And most of our purchases are in m3 (cubic meters).

Those of us in the lumber industry realize how much time we spend burning up the keys on our calculators. And occasionally we make an error... not good.

Introducing the Ultimate Lumber Calculator - This thing makes conversions easy.

No more questions about how many LF of 5/4x6 are required to cover a 500 SF deck. Just choose 5/4x6 (1" x 5-1/2") and enter 500 in the SF field. Easy.

Of course, in this market nothing's free. I expect to get paid fairly for saving you time. Enjoy! Click here to go to the download site >>

Brazilian Cherry Flooring

2009-02-25T18:22:00.000-08:00

For "Brazilian Cherry Flooring", I've been wondering why our web site isn't ranked higher in the Google results. Nova USA is the largest importer of unfinished Brazilian Cherry flooring. We stock material in Portland, OR, Oakland, CA, Denver, CO, Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, Philadelphia, PA / Camden, NJ and Tilton, NH.

Just check out our packaging quality. It's the best in the business. I took this picture at our Oakland warehouse facility this AM. Very clean warehouse. You could eat off the floor. That's the right way to store an expensive and beautiful product like our Brazilian Cherry Select Unfinished Flooring.

Anyway, the question is why aren't we ranked higher if we are the largest importer and have the best quality? Web rankings on Google are not exactly simple to understand. We use tools to optimize our web site for keywords, headings, meta tags and more and still we are only on the third page.

That's why I'm blogging now - hoping to drive a little more traffic to our site and improve our rankings on search engines.

Keruing, Apitong Shiplap Trailer Decking

2009-02-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, I am traveling to Oakland, CA to meet an old friend and discuss our plans for an import truck trailer hardwood decking program. This is exciting stuff because I have been working with trailer decking and trailer flooring for a long time, but honestly, never really was committed to putting a real program together. Something was always in the way of buying direct and selling direct.

Finally, we are ready to build a direct program with no compromise standards for direct purchasing and direct selling. Our philosophy is to buy as well as we can and sell direct to aftermarket parts dealers, trailer repair centers and trailer owners. Our goal is to offer better pricing than anyone else in the business - why? because we will maximize our efficiency at every step of the process. No waste. Really. Why should customers pay for a bloated management layer? Why should customers pay for broker fees when they add little value? Fine, argue with me on this point.

We need companies that run efficiently: Companies that believe in eliminating waste at every step of the process. That's our core philosophy.

That's why we started www.trailerdecking.com

Apitong Keruing vs. Angelim Pedra

2009-02-23T19:05:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I wrote a primer on the truck trailer flooring market, specifically comparing Apitong to Angelim Pedra. Now, I realize that the market standard has been Apitong or Keruing which comes from Southeast Asia. I agree it is a great product, but it's always nice to have an option.

So, I started working with Angelim Pedra in the late 1990's when Boyd Roe (formerly Nelson International, Oregon-Canadian Forest Products) and I were looking for a naturally durable alternative to Kapur and treated Keruing. Boyd was supplying Utility Trailer with fillers in Kapur, which is naturally durable, and Keruing, which had to be treated. We wanted the ugliest, most durable, medium density hardwood which was available in good quantity at a cheap price.

Well, I wouldn't say Angelim Pedra is ugly, I would say it meets all the other requirements: durable, available, and cheap. Cikel Brazil actually makes a stained prefinished flooring product now out of Angelim Pedra - gorgeous stuff, actually.

Anyway, check out my article on www.TrailerDecking.com regarding Angelim Pedra vs. Apitong, Keruing.

Brazilian Cherry Flooring - Brazilian Cherry Floors

2009-02-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Brazilian Cherry flooring the wood to watch as FSC Certification becomes consumer requirement for Brazilian Cherry floors.

Brazilian Cherry flooring has long been the the wood most imported from Brazil into the United States. This is primarily because there are long-established supply chains in place, from mills/manufacturers to importers/wholesalers to distributors/retailers. As environmental concerns have ramped up and the green movement has become much more of a tangible reality for consumers and producers alike, Brazilian Cherry has become the wood to watch as far as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) chain of custody enforcement is concerned. Additionally, with the passing of the Lacey Act in the United States, not only are there heightened sustainability measures to meet, but import/export standards are now more stringent than they have been in the past.

Naturally, the advent of additional bureaucracy and red tape requires more logistics and administration by importers/exporters and mills as well, which equates to more man power and labor required to bring products into the United States. This will inevitably cause a rise in price to the consumer of these products. The question is, will the consumers find the extra cost worth it for certification of their Brazilian Cherry floors?

Some mills and distributors find the FSC certification process cumbersome, costly, and ultimately just more bureaucratic red tape to deal with when they already practice sustainable harvesting practices as a logical manner of conducting sustainable business. The cost comes from maintaining the chain of custody, which requires all transfers of all wood to be documented so that the wood itself can be traced back to its original harvesting point.

As this nascent certification process and new import/export laws come into effect and coalesce, Brazilian Cherry will be a product at the forefront of the environmentally sustainable certification and importation movement.

Brazilian Apitong Trailer Decking

2009-02-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

When I first started in the lumber industry in 1987, I went to work for my dad who owned a finger-joint, edge-glue manufacturing facility. We specialized in laminated truck trailer flooring made from vertical grain Douglas Fir. These were not great times, but not nearly as difficult as being in the building industry today. I learned a lot and used my truck trailer experience to launch a successful career in the tropical hardwood industry.

Today, Nova has excellent sourcing for Angelim Pedra, Purpleheart, Massaranduba, Tatajuba, Apitong, Keruing and other outstanding industrial woods. We have a few OEM programs going for shiplap hardwood trailer decking and some components, but there is much room for improvement in terms of growth and diversity.

We are pleased to announce that we will start distributing our trailer decking products on the West coast beginning this Spring. We have created a web site at www.TrailerDecking.com which will allow our customers to enter orders, view inventory, and get massive amounts of technical information about our products and competitive products. Hopefully we can go live with the web site by the end of March.

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs

2009-02-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

A business friend of mine sent me his latest advertising campaign today. I really enjoyed his technique - one of the most colorful ads - and a really fun choice of fonts and colors:

Here's his pitch:

There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot
dogs.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes, so he read no newspapers.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood on the side of the road and cried: “Buy a hot dog,
Mister?”
And people bought.
He increased his meat and bun orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He finally got his son home from college to help him out.
But then something happened.
His son said, “Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio?
Haven’t you been reading the newspapers?
There’s a big depression.
The European situation is terrible.
The domestic situation is worse.”
Whereupon his father thought, “Well, my son’s been to college,
he reads the papers and listens to the radio, and he ought to
know.”
So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, took down
his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the
highway to sell his hot dogs.
And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
“You’re right, son,” the father said to the boy.
“We certainly are in the middle of a great depression.”

Author Unkown

Enjoy,

Steve

GSP Duty on Prefinished Flooring

2009-02-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

After reading the GSP post, the primary concern that comes to mind is how well intended is the import duty?

Is it intended as a deterrent to foster use of comparable domestic resources/product?
Is it intended to indirectly foster the development of domestic finishing operations/facilities? (I know you wrote on the cost vs benefit analysis)
Is it intended as purely a bureaucratic pocket stuffer?

So I suppose that protectionism is at the heart of the matter and would be mediated by trade relations and foreign policy with respect to Brazil and current currency valuations. If you were to seriously pursue application to FTC for exemption, your petition would need to be framed within the idea of market stimulus, fair and equitable trade relations, and appear non-destructive to domestic industry and resource management.

Obviously, no duty supports our trading partners and reduces financial overhead for us, but does this duty contribute to the financial strength of the us import/export economy?

-Lance Joseph

GSP, Import Duty, Economic Stimulus?

2009-02-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Nova imports a variety of products from South America and Asia into the US. The main products are prefinished tropical hardwood flooring, unfinished tropical wood flooring and tropical hardwood decking (which is usually kiln dried and run to an S4S E4E pattern).

There is an import duty on all the prefinished flooring items of 3.2%, but not on any of the unfinished flooring or decking. The GSP (General System of Preferences) status doesn't apply to tropical hardwood prefinished flooring from Brazil (but it does apply to similar products from Paraguay). I'm guessing the idea is to encourage US importers to have their material finished in the US, right?

Well, finishing in the US has a few problems - for starters, it is horribly inefficient from a transportation and handling aspect; unloading and reloading containers and wasting money on freight. Secondly, quality is extremely difficult to control when the material is finished at a different facility than where it was manufactured; it's much better to have immediate feedback from the finishing plant to the manufacturing plant. Lastly, my experience has been that prefinishing quality is generally much higher when done at the source. From a pure cost and quality standpoint, it makes little sense to prefinish in the US, even with the 3.2% duty.

But what would happen if the 3.2% duty on prefinished flooring was dropped? Would we simply pay more to our overseas suppliers? Is this bad because it sends money out of the US? Or is it better to support our foreign trading partners?

Certainly a retroactive repeal of the 3.2% duty would go right into the hands of the importers - not a bad thing since most of us have eliminated jobs and cut salaries. Many importers are weak due to the crisis in the housing and building markets. Wouldn't this be a good idea?

Lastly, why are manufacturers and importers of prefinished tropical wood flooring penalized for supplying a higher quality product that can't easily and cost effectively be produced here in the US?

Please feel free to comment.

The Pendulum Swings Too Much

2009-01-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

I've got a hard time writing about products in such crappy economic times. I'm frustrated with so many things going on in our economy. As one of my banker friends puts it, "the pendulum swung too far in one direction (loose credit standards), and now it has swung the other direction (tight credit standards)". Is it right that just a few years ago banks would give 90-95% loans classified as "no doc", ie. no proof of income needed; and now you can't even get a competitively priced 80% loan without a credit score of 740 and two appraisals?

We sell high end flooring and decking products - some of the most beautiful stuff on earth. These products are most popular in expensive homes, say $600K and up. Most people need a jumbo loan to afford a house like that - and jumbo loans are even more difficult to get than smaller loans. Jumbos also are way more expensive today - most consumers that can afford them know that it would be stupid to pay the typical bank interest rate for a jumbo loan today. So instead of buying or refinancing, they just wait... sitting on the sidelines and hoping that real estate values once again rise steadily. For most consumers that use our products, the key to building equity and net worth is rising real estate values.

So, you're one of the few who can still afford a new hardwood floor in spite of the crappy economy? Prices are certainly down a bit since mid 2008. We have plenty of awesome products available - and certainly not many shortages. Consider something like Ipe or Santos Mahogany; both incredibly beautiful and durable.

Let's all hope for some quick action by our government to put the pendulum back in the center and leave it there. We need a realistic and rational approach to banking and credit. Wall Street got drunk and now they've gone cold turkey; personally, I think a couple glasses of wine each day is a nice balance.

Bloodwood Flooring

2009-01-14T11:08:00.001-08:00

Bloodwood flooring is extremely beautiful but it is also a very rare species of wood. We keep small amounts in stock; however, we do not see a strong future for Bloodwood as a major commodity flooring product.

Our current inventory includes just a few thousand square feet remaining of Bloodwood unfinished flooring. As of today, we have 3,500 SF of 3" Clear grade and 3,400 SF of 2-1/4" Clear grade. This material is 1' to 7' lengths, and is packaged in nested sub-bundles.

Bloodwood is often used for accents in high end, custom furniture, as well as being used to make acoustic guitars, typically on the backs and sides of the guitar.

Bloodwood is just one of many species we carry in our extensive line of exotic unfinished flooring products.

Unfinished TigerWood Flooring

2009-01-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

Tigerwood flooring comes from South America, most frequently Brazil and Bolivia. Tigerwood goes by several different names including Astronium, Muiracatiara, Goncalo Alves and Cuta Tigre. I especially like Cuta Tigre. See our specie page for more details.

Due to the economic downturn, sales have slowed quite a bit for unfinished Tigerwood flooring, but our prefinished Tigerwood flooring is still selling quite well. I think more prefinished flooring is used in the remodeling industry as opposed to new construction.

We carry Tigerwood unfinished flooring in 3", 4" and 5" widths - all in a 3/4" thickness. The lengths range from 1' to 7' in each sub-bundle, with the average being around 3.2' to 3.5'. We carry both unfinished and prefinished Tigerwood flooring in Clear grades - some people refer to Clear as Select and Better or SelBtr or Sel&Btr. These are generally equivalent grades.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

I started playing guitar three years ago; and like everything else I do, I got really obsessed. I spent many hours playing the first year and less and less every year after. But I love to play when I have time - and this year I resolve to learn at least 3 new songs.

So, the key to having more time to play guitar is to work less. That's a tall order in this economy, but it is also just not sane to work 12+ hours per day. Better to just keep a balance and work smart.

I think I'll start working on Bad Luck by Social Distortion. Love that song!

Happy New Year to Everyone. All the best in 2009.

Para Rosewood is Awesome!

2008-12-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite species is Para Rosewood, aka Monkeywood, and Macacauba. The botanical genus name is Platymiscium. It is a fairly rare species that comes from the lower Amazon region of Brazil. My business partner, John McGlocklin, formerly of Robinson Lumber, worked with Para Rosewood in the mid 1990's and had excellent early marketing success.

We brought in several truckloads and have the product available in 3", 3-1/4" and 5" widths in both unfinished and prefinished flooring material. We actually just ran out of the 5" product and are making more at the Pampa factory in Brazil - should be available again by April or May of 2009.

One of the reasons this is awesome flooring is that it is not UV sensitive. It maintains its color over time and won't fade or darken. We have some in our Portland office and it is truly beautiful with a wide selection of natural colors including purples, reds, browns, and tans.

Building a Web Site

2008-12-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

2008 was the year of learning something about building a web site. I had done a little HTML in the past and did some Dreamweaver programming as well, but this time I decided that I would build a database driven site. Since I already had a pretty sweet inventory tracking system, I figured I could integrate the catalog into our web site; all I needed to do was learn how to program in ASP.NET, C# and throw in a little HTML and CSS.

Could it be more complicated? I don't think so. There's the presentation layer, which consists of ASPX and CSS - 2 separate files, then the server side page in C#, then the data access layer, stored procedures to get to the data on the SQL Server, and finally the database itself. Simple, really.

Here's an example of one of the pages we built for Royal Mahogany, Andiroba Prefinished Flooring. All the specifications for the product are stored in the database - we had to add quite a few fields to capture all the data. And with over 1000 active products, that means tons of data entry.

Business Summary

2008-12-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

I can't think of a better place to start then with a quick business summary, and a few words about my business philosophy - which I thankfully share with my partners.

We import hardwood flooring, hardwood decking, rough lumber and a few industrial products for the truck trailer industry. Most of our products come from Brazil, but we also buy from Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana and China. We sell to wholesale distributors throughout the US and Canada. This is a difficult business, especially in these economic times. Thankfully, it was a decent business during 2006 and 2007. We are all hoping for a decent 2009 - and we are doing everything in our power to be the best.

That's our core philosophy - Be the best. Do everything as well as you can possibly do it. Do it perfectly, within financial constraints, of course.