At Middle Tennessee Lumber, details make all the difference. From the dip tank to the shipping dock, each step in our process is designed to deliver you a superior product and a first-rate service experience.
1. Dipping
We treat our green lumber with a special non-toxic solution that protects our boards from fungal infestation during the drying process.
2. Steaming
We steam our Cherry and Walnut, which blends the color of the heartwood into the sapwood. This gives the wood a uniform color.
3. Inspecting
Before and after kiln drying, four full-time inspectors grade our lumber in accordance with the National Hardwood Lumber Association's grading rules.
4. Stacking
Our boards and stacking sticks are always perfectly aligned. That means your lumber is guaranteed to begin the drying process flat and warp-free. We even use Ipe stacking sticks, with their patented corkscrew design, to maximize airflow between boards and to prevent blemishes on all your finished hardwood.
5. Waxing
Applying white wax to the ends our boards slows moisture loss, ensuring that each and every board you order from us dries evenly and straight.
6. Pre-Drying
Our low-temperature pre-dryer readies our boards at 20% moisture level, the optimal drying rate for lumber in the early drying process.
7. Kiln Drying
After our boards dry to 20% moisture content, we then use a dry kiln to reduce moisture to NALA standards. We closely monitor the temperature and moisture in each of our 6 dry kilns, checking one sample every 8,000 board feet to make sure you always get worry-free wood.
8. Planing
Our finish surfacing is done by highly trained personnel on a Newman S-282 high-speed steel knife planer, which gives your hardwood the best finish possible.
9. Packing
We measure the width and length of every single piece of lumber and millwork to ensure you get totally accurate measurements for your hardwoods.
10. Shipping
Whether we ship your hardwoods with a commercial carrier or with our own fleet of Middle Tennessee Lumber trucks, we guarantee your shipment will be delivered on time, exactly as you ordered it.
Now that you know how we manufacture and distribute our hardwoods, take a look at our finished hardwood products:
- Hardwood Lumber
- Hardwood Flooring
- Millwork
- Premium S4S Mouldings
Sustainable Forestry
Without trees, we'd all be out of business. That's why we employ Best Management Practices across the board, which protect our soil, water, wildlife and timber. As a result, our forests are more than just sustainable -- we're growing 2.29 trees for every tree harvested.
