It’s stronger, more UV resistant, cooler under foot, and more mold-resistant than other PVC decks, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s consistently rated among the most attractive manufactured decking.

American Lumber is pleased to introduce Solstice in four new and highly realistic variegated hardwood colors (Ipe, Mahogany, Ironwood, and Walnut), as well as four classic earthtone colors.

The grooved decking is dual-sided, with two colors to a board – basically cutting the number of SKU’s in half and making it more efficient to stock the product.

The sun is any manufactured deck’s worst enemy, but Solstice can take the heat. Solstice features patented SunShield technology to resist fading and reduce heat build-up, and carries the industry’s most extensive lifetime limited warranty with 25 years fade and stain warranty.

If you haven’t seen Solstice yet, please give us a call and let us show you why it’s the best PVC decking on the market. We know you’ll be impressed.

Click herefor more information about Solstice PVC Decking.

Fortress Iron, maker of prefabricated customizable iron railing systems, has upgraded the coating system and increased the term of its Warranty from 10 years to 15 years.

All Fortress Iron Railingis now manufactured with four-stage 'FortressShield', a galvanized steel surface, zinc phosphate anti-corrosive treatment, DuPont™ E-Coat, and DuPont™ Powder Coat, which according to the manufacturer creates a highly rust-resistant, strong and durable rail.

American Lumber is honored to receive the 2010 ProSales Excellence Award, "the most prestigious award in the construction supply industry". 

"The 2010 ProSales Excellence Award winners exemplify the smart, innovative, creative thinking that’s taking place at America’s best construction supply companies even as we suffer through the worst housing market in decades," said Craig Webb, editor, ProSales magazine.

"The judges were impressed by how well-conceived American Lumber's marketing campaign was, as simple and forthright as the message might seem," added Webb. "Its research showed that, these days, the lumberyards that lie at the heart of American Lumber's customer base value the ability to buy in smaller quantities. By declaring 'We want your small orders,' American Lumber emphasizes capabilities that make it special, and speaks to the relevant business needs of the times.  Adapting both message and service to the changing business environment helped American win the Excellence Award."

Small orders  are more challenging to execute.  There is no question that a stocking distribution wholesaler's efficiency is greatest when it comes to stocking orders shipped in original mill packs.  But it makes sense for many dealers at least some of the time, because set against the additional cost is the efficiency of just-in-time, just-as-needed ordering, as well as improved cash flow.  We are determined to help our customers get through the worst downturn since the Great Depression, and we have the ability to service small orders because we have a built-in competence at servicing custom orders of all sizes.  What many dealers need right now is the ability to outsource more of their warehouse function, and American Lumber wants to be their first choice for that.  That is the reason for this ad campaign. 

"The ProSales Excellence Awards honor outstanding achievements in construction supply in showroom design, facility design, technology, marketing and customer service, advertising, and Web sites. The awards program honors business leaders whose creativity and ingenuity have not only improved and reinvigorated their own companies, but also set new benchmarks for service in the entire industry."

We thank The James Group for their assistance in crafting the winning campaign.

New videos help show how well QuietRock isolates noise and how easy it is to work with new QuietRock EZ-Snap.

Matt Risinger builds green homes and blogs about it.  Here, he demonstrates QuietRock in action in one of his recently completed projects.

In addition, QuietRock recently released a video demonstrating how, unlike any other soundproof drywall product on the market, QuietRock EZ-Snap offers a true score and snap that is every bit as simple as installing standard drywall.

Both videos can be found, along with helpful links and information, on American Lumber's QuietRock page.

New prefinished cellular PVC shingles from NuCedar are practically indistinguishable from real cedar shingles.  

Produced in a modern saw mill (not molded), each NuCedar shingle is distinctively unique – allowing installers to replicate the quilting effect that until now could only be created with cedar shingles. Even the 4' Shingle Panels are made up of unique sets of individual shingles; allowing a more efficient installation without the appearance of noticeable repeating patterns.

In previewing these shingles with dealers, we’ve been struck by how frequently they were at first mistaken for real wood.  NuCedar has achieved texture and color variation that looks completely real when installed.  Aside from being as close to zero maintenance as you can get, it’s cost competitive with cedar shingles at the time of installation.  And as you won’t ever have to recoat or replace it, its value only grows over time.

Like all NuCedar products, including clapboard, vertical siding, and complementary trim and mouldings, NuCedar shingles are pre-finishes in any color imaginable.  All prefinishing is done in-house utilizing a solar-reflective coating from Sherwin-Williams® and carries a Lifetime Limited Warranty against chipping, peeling or cracking.

American Lumber has introduced Prime Poplar® from Glen Oak®, craftsman producer of fine domestic hardwood lumber.  Prime Poplar® is fingerjoined KD poplar 'paint-primed' with a zero-VOC, anti-fungal formulation. 

Because of enhanced interest in green building and indoor air quality, low-VOC and especially zero-VOC formulations are now sought by many homeowners, and are rewarded by green building standards such as LEED®.  Prime Poplar® boards are thoroughly sanded, primed and buffed and require only one coat of quality finish paint.

Prime Poplar® is part of American’s full Glen Oak® line, which in addition to Poplar includes KD Oak, Cherry,  and Maple S4S boards.  These are also available fingerjoined and edge-glued for extra-stable clear wides and longs, featuring “invisible-spliced” veneer.

American Lumber reports it has been steadily growing its FSC offering and now boasts over a million board feet of FSC material available right from inventory. “We have FSC pine, cedar, spruce, fir, hardwood plywood, and more all generally available from stock for quick delivery.” American has worked particularly hard to grow its FSC offering in commonly used domestic species.

“For many FSC buyers, LEED compatibility is important.  LEED rewards the % of FSC material used in a project, so being able to get FSC material in the most commonly used items is key.  It’s great to have the tropical hardwoods like Ipe, and we do, but for LEED it’s the old standby’s that matter most. We have to make it possible for an FSC-certified customer to call us for some cedar bevel or 2x4 SPF without worrying that it will take weeks or not be available at all.

“It’s no secret that the number one dealer concern about selling FSC-certified lumber is availability.  We felt with our first-mover advantage that we’ve been in a good position to change that.”

American Lumber has held FSC certification since 2007, making it the first wholesale lumber distributor in the northeast to address the growing interest in FSC wood.

New innovations from NuCedar Mills®, manufacturer of the pre-finished PVC siding with the lifetime warranty, now enhance the siding and trim line. The improved clip system makes installation even simpler, eliminating the expansion and contraction risk commonly faced by vinyl installers when they fasten too tightly.  Combined with the universal trim system which “makes installation a snap”, and the manufacturer’s active support for new installers, putting up NuCedar is now unbelievably easy.

NuCedar also continues to innovate in product offering.  In addition to a growing line of vertical siding, the new rough-sawn texture option may be the most realistic-looking wood alternative on the market.

“NuCedar is a terrific option for anyone who wants the appearance of painted CVG cedar siding but wants a low-maintenance option.  NuCedar carries a lifetime warranty and never needs to be replaced or repainted.  The paint process also carries unique ‘green’ benefits that will appeal enormously to environmentally-conscious homeowners.

“Architects agree that of all alternatives to wood siding, NuCedar is the highest quality and most realistic.”

American Lumber is now proud to offer Glen Oak domestic hardwood.   Highlights of the line include:

• Oak, cherry, and poplar S4S boards

• Prime Poplar® Zero-VOC paint-primed FJ poplar

• Engineered Solutions™ veneered FJ/EG for extra-stable clear wides and longs

• Stepping and other specialty profiles

“We’ve long known Glen Oak as one of the elite American hardwood manufacturers for boards. They are dedicated to doing things right, rather than doing whatever is cheap – so for example, they don’t end up compressing the grain of their oak boards as some other manufacturers do trying to save costs.  

“But they have now achieved such a well-organized operation that they are price-competitive even while offering the high-end product.”

The domestic hardwood line complements American’s existing strength in hardwood plywood.