Sustainable Forestry: How Frank Miller Lumber Operates as a Zero-Waste Facility

Posted by Chelsea Timmerman on

At Frank Miller Lumber, we believe sustainable forestry is not just a responsibility—it’s a commitment to preserving our forests, supporting our communities, and delivering high-quality American hardwoods in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.

As a leader in the hardwood industry, we are proud to be a zero-waste facility. We ensure that every part of the tree is utilized efficiently, from responsible harvesting practices to innovative ways of repurposing by-products. We are dedicated to sustainable forestry and minimizing our environmental impact.

What is Sustainable Forestry?

Sustainable forestry involves managing forests to ensure their health, biodiversity, and productivity for future generations. This includes responsibly harvesting trees, replanting forests, protecting wildlife habitats, water quality, and soil integrity.

 Unlike fast-growing softwoods, American hardwoods such as red oak, white oak and walnut regenerate naturally. Responsible forest management ensures that hardwood resources are continuously replenished, allowing us to provide premium lumber while protecting the environment.

How Frank Miller Lumber Supports Sustainable Forestry

  1. Certified and Responsible Sourcing – We work with forestry partners who follow sustainable harvesting guidelines set by organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These practices protect biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure forests remain healthy for generations.
  2. Selective Harvesting for Forest—We source our hardwoods from responsibly managed forests, where harvesting removes mature trees while allowing younger trees to thrive. This method promotes natural forest regeneration and ensures long-term sustainability.

Frank Miller Lumber: A Zero-Waste Facility

At Frank Miller Lumber, we make sure that no part of the tree goes to waste. From lumber production to byproduct utilization, we maximize efficiency and sustainability at every step of our process.

How We Achieve Zero Waste

  1. Efficient Lumber Processing – Our sawmill operations optimize cuts to reduce waste, maximizing the yield from each log.
  1. Utilizing Every Byproduct
  • Sawdust – Used as fuel for kilns, providing renewable energy to dry lumber
  • Bark – Recycled into mulch for landscaping
  • Wood Chips – Used in paper production
  • Cutoffs – Repurposed for secondary markets such as pallets
  1. Energy Efficiency & Carbon Reduction – Using wood byproducts to fuel our kilns reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers our carbon footprint.

Sustainability is Our Future

We are proud to be a zero-waste company focused on sustainability. From our responsible forestry partnerships to our waste-free production methods, we are dedicated to protecting the environment while delivering the highest quality hardwoods to our customers.

When you choose Frank Miller Lumber’s hardwoods, you’re not just getting premium–quality wood – you’re supporting a company that values sustainability, conservation, and a greener future for all.

Frank Miller Lumber Fine Woods - Exotic Hardwoods

Embracing a New Chapter: Welcome to Frank Miller Lumber Fine Woods

Posted by Chelsea Timmerman on

At Frank Miller Lumber, we’ve always been committed to providing top-quality lumber and unparalleled customer service. Over the years, we’ve grown and evolved, continually striving to meet and exceed the expectations of our valued customers. In recent weeks, we have slowly rolled the rebranding of our retail store to Frank Miller Lumber Fine Woods. This change reflects our dedication to enhancing our product offers and signifies our commitment to becoming your premier destination for the finest woods and woodworking materials.

Expanded Product Offerings

Bush Oil EZ-Sanding System

With our rebranding, we are excited to introduce an expanded range of products catering to various woodworking needs. Whether you are a professional carpenter, a dedicated hobbyist, or someone embarking on a DIY project, you will find an extensive selection of premium exotic hardwoods, locally made finishes, handcrafted gifts, and much more.

Our inventory includes:

Exotic Hardwoods: Explore rare and unique species from around the world, such as zebrawood, purpleheart, and padauk, ideal for crafting one-of-a-kind pieces.

Domestic Hardwoods: Choose from the finest quality oak, cherry, walnut, maple, and more, all sourced sustainably.

Specialty Plywood: Choose from various high-grade plywood, ideal for structural and decorative applications.

Live Edge Slabs: Experience the natural beauty of live edge slabs, each uniquely shaped and perfect for creating stunning tables, countertops, and other statement pieces.

Woodworking Accessories: Explore a range of finishes, sandpaper, and Bush Oil Product finishing kits to easily complete your projects.

A New Look, the Same Trusted Service

While our name and logo may have changed, our dedication to serving our customers remains unwavering. We are still the same family-owned business you have come to know and trust, now with a renewed focus on providing an even better shopping experience. We invite you to visit Frank Miller Lumber Fine Woods and experience the transformation yourself.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in Frank Miller Lumber Fine Woods.

For more information, please contact us at 765-964-7705 or [email protected].

American Hardwoods: An Environmentally Friendly Resource

Posted by Frank Miller Lumber on

Last month, I wrote about creating a healthy environment in your home for your family and pets by using products made from American Hardwoods. This month I will explain why these products come from one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly resources. 

Hardwood forests are prevalent in every state, in the U.S. mainland.  However, the eastern half of the U.S. grows the majority of hardwoods.  This region extends from Minnesota down to Texas, all the way over to Florida, up to Maine, and all states in between.     

The hardwood forests in the U.S. are very sustainable.  Sustainability occurs when there is an ecological balance when a resource is removed yet that resource is not being depleted for future generations.  Each year we have more growth in our forests than what is removed through timber harvests.  The American Hardwood Export Council has done an excellent job representing the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture’s data, by state.  Indiana is growing almost twice the volume than is harvested.   The U.S. is growing two and a half times more volume than is harvested.  Refer to www.americanhardwood.org/environmental-profile/interactive-forest-map to see this data.

Hardwood forests and the products manufactured from the hardwood trees are environmentally friendly.  Hardwood trees are constantly consuming carbon dioxide (CO2) to assist with the production of a glucose substance that trees use as food.  The tree will break the carbon dioxide compound down, utilizing the carbon molecule to produce the glucose substance, and emit the oxygen molecules into the atmosphere.  Carbon is a greenhouse gas that negatively impacts the environment; therefore, trees are essentially improving our world. 

Hardwood trees have a life cycle, and that life cycle is dependent on the tree species.  Typically, most tree species can live to be approximately 150 years old.  Disease (viruses and fungi), weather (lightning and wind), fire, or insect infestations will eventually take the life of the tree.  When a tree dies and begins decomposing in the forest, it will release the unused carbon back into the atmosphere, further contributing to negatively impacting our environment.  Forest management is the practice where timber, wildlife, and plant life are managed to maintain or improve the overall forest ecosystem.  When a tree is at the end of its life cycle, it will be harvested to open the canopy to get sunlight to the forest floor.  Tree saplings grow close to the forest floor and need sunlight to grow.  Sunlight gives saplings the opportunity to become bigger trees. 

The tree that was harvested in the prior example will also produce income to the landowner since it has value to the lumber industry.  The value in that tree will disappear once the tree falls and begins to decompose in the forest.  In addition, forest management creates jobs.  Jobs are created when the trees are manufactured into lumber, and when that lumber is utilized to manufacture furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and millwork.  In 2016, an economic impact study was completed that showed the economic output of the hardwood industry in Indiana was over $10 billion and that industry employed over 61,000 people.  Refer to http://hardwoodfederation.com/Hardwood-Industry-Economic-Impact to see this data.   

Let us circle back to the carbon stored in the tree, which is now in the lumber that was used to produce the furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and millwork.  That carbon will always be stored in those products while those products are in use.  Did you know 50% of the wood’s weight in the furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and millwork is the stored carbon? Be a part of positively impacting our environment by purchasing products made from American Hardwoods.

We have been blessed with a sustainable and environmentally friendly resource when it comes to the hardwood forests in the U.S.  Forest management will keep our forests healthy, reduce our carbon emissions, and improve the forest ecosystems.  The products manufactured from these trees are beautiful, resilient, environmentally friendly, and can be enjoyed for generations.     

Reasons Why You Should Consider Hardwood Flooring Exposed.

Posted by Frank Miller Lumber on

Since the dawn of time, humans have argued over a very pressing issue: hardwood or carpet flooring? The debate continues to this day – some will praise the comfort a carpet provides while others prefer the more polished look of hardwood floors. But we hold a firm belief that, no matter what, hardwood floors are the way to go. Below is a list of reasons why you should consider hardwood flooring exposed.

1. Hardwood floors are easier to clean and maintain.

Carpets are prone to holding dust, skin, and hair. To get rid of these stomach-churning particles, you’ll need to vacuum. If you want them eliminated almost entirely, professional carpet cleaning services might be necessary. Luckily, hardwood floors don’t hold on to these particles. A quick sweep or mop will do the trick to keep your floor clean. We also all know the dreaded feeling of spilling a drink on carpet – it’s nearly impossible to get rid of the whole stain unless you call in professional Carpet Cleaning Melbourne or any other place for that matter. With hardwood floors, just grab a paper towel or rag, and you’re good!

Hardwood Flooring Exposed.

2. Hardwood floors are more durable and longer lasting.

As long as your hardwood floor is properly maintained, it can last for decades. Even a dent in the floor can be alleviated easily with a minor repair. They can be refined and polished to keep fresh and clean. Hardwood floors also take much longer to go out of style – remember shag carpets? Yeah, we’d like to forget that, too.

3. Hardwood floors are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

While carpeting is usually manufactured with synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester, hardwood floors come from nature’s greatest gift: trees. They are produced naturally and created using the most abundant renewable resource in the world. You also have the option to research how sustainable your hardwood flooring really is using industry standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council and other like-minded organizations.

4. Hardwood floors can help you save energy.

Since wood is a conductor, hardwood floors allow the heat to pass through and circulate in your home, unlike carpet which acts as a barrier for hot air. This means longer-lasting heat, and consequently, less work from your furnace, and most importantly, lower heating bills.

5. Hardwood floors simply look more stylish.

Hardwood flooring is becoming trendier as the years go on. There is a seemingly endless amount of wood types, colors, and designs you can choose from that can bring out your inner interior designer. Different stains and polishes can help make your floors even more unique. Plus, a rug can really tie a room together.

Let’s face it: carpets are losing their popularity. If you want to keep current, hardwood flooring is the most logical option. For environmentally-conscious folk, there is nothing better for a home than a nature-friendly material like hardwood. And for those who love interior design, there are more opportunities to use your creativity and imagination, enabling you to put together a perfectly styled home. If you are currently building or planning on building a home, definitely think about installing hardwood instead of carpet – maybe, soon enough, this debate will end for good.

 

The Year of the Case Study

Posted by Criswell Davis on

In this forum I have told the story of the process of Quartersawing and why its use creates beautiful and stable hardwoods for some of the world’s most iconic projects.  Frank Miller Lumber has been used in some very high profile buildings as well as beautiful homes around the world.  I have set a goal for myself in 2015 to obtain the rights to tell the stories of some of those projects.

One such project is 432 Park Avenue in New York City, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere.  All of the quartersawn white oak flooring in that building was fabricated from Frank Miller quartersawn lumber.  Some other projects are the Fogg Museum at Harvard, 56 Leonard in New York City, The Walker Tower in New York City and The Chancery Court Hotel in London.  One of the more unique projects is a replica of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello built in Connecticut featuring floors made from Frank Miller quartersawn white oak.  All of these projects would make excellent case studies but it is always a challenge to get all of the required approvals for the necessary photographs and interviews.

I will remain tenacious about obtaining those approvals in order to tell you the stories of those projects.  There is, in my opinion, no hardwood product in the United States more beautiful than quartersawn hardwoods.  In my AIA presentations I use photographs of amazing East Coast mansions from the late 1800’s.  These homes featured quartersawn white oak interiors.  The Garrett-Jacobs mansion in Mount Vernon, Maryland is a great example.  In the late 1800’s Robert and Mary Garrett hired Gilded Age architect Stanford White of the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to help them realize their vision of a beautiful home that would compare with other Gilded Age homes in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Renovations of the original home would continue for thirty-two years.  Finally the house included over forty rooms, sixteen fireplaces, and one hundred windows.  In my presentations I show several pictures of the quartersawn white oak spiral staircase leading to a Tiffany dome.  It is truly spectacular and I point out to my audience that the house was built in the late 1800’s and the photographs were taken in 2010.  All of the joints are as tight as they were when the house was built.  These homes were built before there were “controlled environments” and in the case of the Newport, Rhode Island mansions, the windows were open to the ocean air during the summers.  These homes have stood the test of time, showing the lasting beauty of quartersawn hardwoods.

I am hopeful that I will get to tell the story of a large residential project in New York that is using Frank Miller Lumber quartersawn red oak for the floors.  New York City has been known for more than a century as a quartersawn white oak market.  The use of red oak is noteworthy and I have seen the floors in the sales offices.  They are beautiful and will last for generations, just as white oak would.

I am excited to be able to tell the story of these buildings and homes because each story is unique, even though they are all connected by the use of quartersawn hardwoods.

Wood Supply Chain

Posted by Criswell Davis on

I want to start this edition of “Criswell’s Corner” by telling you all that the hiatus I took this winter was actually due to a cancer diagnosis I received in October of 2013. I have been focused on my treatment and recovery and am happy to report that two weeks ago I had a PET scan that was free of cancer.

It was a difficult period, but I am proud to say that Frank Miller Lumber stood by me and my family throughout the entire ordeal.  In the world of commerce, the character of a company is very important.  If I am going to align myself with a company who will play a crucial role in the outcome of a project, I want to align myself with a company of integrity and true character.  I have proudly represented Frank Miller Lumber for nearly 18 years, the first 14 as a salesman and the past 4 as an architectural marketing consultant.

Through good financial times and bad (we all remember 2008, right?) Frank Miller Lumber has consistently produced some of the world’s highest quality quartersawn hardwoods.  The company has never waivered and my cancer treatment showed the kind of commitment that the company makes to its employees as well as its customers.  If one is judged by the company they keep, I am proud to be judged by my association with Frank Miller Lumber.

As a designer or architect it is more important now than ever that if high quality hardwoods are an aesthetic feature of your project you should forge a strong alliance with a premium mill like Frank Miller Lumber.  Leaving the successful outcome of your project to the vagaries of the lumber market can often result in heartache and disappointment.

Unlike other materials that will be used in your project, many factors affect hardwood lumber supply.  Let’s look at the current situation in the market.  After the financial recession of 2008 many log suppliers went out of business, as did many sawmills.  The strongest companies, Frank Miller Lumber among them, stayed the course and remain healthy to this day.  The market for quartersawn hardwoods is stronger than ever as is the market for plain sawn lumber around the globe.  Supply is the problem now.  Demand has classically outpaced supply.  In September I was speaking to architects and designers in Saigon with a group of American Hardwood suppliers.  One hardwood mill representative told me that he was very anxious about going out the next day to talk to his customers because they all want plain sawn red oak for their furniture manufacturing and there was simply not enough wood to go around.  He was actually going to have to cancel some orders.  It is my guess that those companies who had not forged a relationship with him would be the ones to come up short in supply.

Developing a hardwood supply chain for your project early in the design phase is critical to a successful outcome.  Frank Miller Lumber is unique in allowing me to represent them to the design community.  Allow me to work with you to develop the crucial hardwood supply chain that you will require for your project.  Feel free to send me an email at [email protected] and I will be very pleased to assist you in whatever way I can.