Lumber
In 1973 lumber arrived here untreated, and people built with it anyway. We fixed that. We still stock only the best grades of treated Southern Yellow Pine.
What we stock
Treated Southern Yellow Pine
- #2 Prime & Better - 2x4 x 8'-14'
- #1 Prime - 2x4 x 16'-20'
- #1 Prime - 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, 2x12
- #1 & Better wane-free - 3", 4" and 6"
- "D" & Better 1" and patterned stock - virtually knot-free
Forming, ceilings & decking
- Douglas Fir Standard & Better forming lumber (untreated)
- Cypress #2 & Better 1x6 T&G (V-groove) for exposed ceilings
- Mahogany 1" and 2", random lengths
- Trex Select Saddle, 12' and 16'
Why treated Southern Yellow Pine
When MSI opened, lumber was arriving in the territory untreated - and people were building with it. We decided, in an early Island Tough way, to bring in only the highest grades of treated SYP. Most Caribbean homes have wood-framed roofs, and SYP has a 350-year track record here:
- Sustainably harvested, with high strength and density
- Very good tensile and compressive strength; holds fasteners well
- Accepts treatment, which makes it right for our climate
- Easy to work and finish, in a wide range of sizes and lengths
Douglas Fir for forming
Concrete and aggregate poured in the USVI is denser and heavier than in most places. Douglas Fir is the strongest softwood and stays straight in our climate, so forms hold - fewer blow-outs and form failures on your pour.
Cypress, hardwoods and composites
Our 1x6 T&G Cypress has been the go-to for exposed ceilings for years. Mahogany is stocked for decks; Iroko (African teak), Ipe, Cumaru and Abaco can be special ordered. For low-maintenance decking we stock Trex Select Saddle - other Trex colours arrive in about three weeks.
Long beams and special sizes
Decades-long relationships with our mills mean we can source what we don't stock - SYP beams up to 32' long and treated laminated beams have gone to projects across the Caribbean. Request a special order.
