Gang Nail is dedicated to producing an environmentally responsible product.  Lumber, the primary material we process, is a renewable resource, purchased mainly from Sustainable Forestry Initiative, or Forest Stewardship Council member suppliers, who employ sustainable forestry practices. Please visit their websites at sfiprogram.org and fsc.org. 

In addition, we actively seek out methods of conservation, making special effort to reduce waste, both to fully utilize resources and to do our part to reduce the burden on landfills.  Lumber that doesn’t meet structural standards or size requirements is recycled for blocking or non-structural applications. Wood waste not suitable for building components is shredded to create shavings sold for agricultural purposes; bedding for animals, and moisture retention material for blueberry farmers and nurseries.

We chip plastic and metal strapping, shipped into the plant securing units of lumber, into 2-inch pieces, and have recycled over 4 tons of that material through a local processing center in the past year.

Having a rail spur coming into the plant greatly reduces our reliance on trucking, conserving transport energy for our raw material and relieving congestion on the roadways. We deliver the finished product with our own small fleet of well-maintained trucks that are regularly smoke tested and inspected under the CHP BIT program. Our production facility complies with San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District regulations, with no emissions, careful oil and fluid recovery, and regular dust control through sweeping the plant and watering non-paved areas of the facility.

The great majority of plant equipment is previously owned and has been refurbished to extend service life. We’ve rescued saws, presses, a wood shaver, a bag house for collecting sawdust, a machine that stress rates our lumber, and a myriad of other devices from various liquidation auctions.  Decreasing our reliance on energy-consuming forklifts, we transport cut material through the plant on “trains” of salvaged baggage carts pulled by small tugs.

Some of our clients request “dry“ lumber be used in their trusses. Instead of relying on energy-intensive oil and gas-fired kilns at the lumber mills, we have a drying booth that uses fans to push air through carefully stacked lumber, reducing the moisture content in “green” lumber to less than 19% in just a few days with a minimum of energy expended.

Gang Nail recognizes and accepts our responsibility to use resources wisely. We welcome opportunities to associate with builders attempting to provide essential shelter in such a way that protects the precious environment that ultimately sustains us all.