Behind the Build
How a 70-Year-Old Millwork Shop Operates: Behind The Build at Magbee Contractors Supply, Part 1
May 29, 2026 Length: 19 min Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
In Part 1 of Behind the Build, Stefanie Couch tours the custom millwork shop and 20-acre, rail-served yard at Magbee Contractors Supply in Winder, Georgia, with owner Bob Magbee, VP of Sales Stewart Brandon, and inside sales manager Melissa McDougald. They cover custom wood doors, divided lites, transoms, and thermally modified wood.
About This Episode.
Most lumber yards sell what their suppliers stock. Magbee Contractors Supply builds it. In this episode of Behind the Build, I head to Winder, Georgia with owner Bob Magbee, VP of Sales Stewart Brandon, and inside sales manager Melissa McDougald to walk a 20-acre, rail-served yard and the custom millwork shop that sits at the heart of the operation.
You will see how Magbee runs a real custom wood door shop. We find door slabs in white oak, poplar, and maple, raised panels, shaker designs, and a 48-inch wide door with a custom lattice grid built in-house, that you will not find at a big box. You’ll learn about multi-point hardware, flush glaze exteriors, direct set vs sash set transoms, and the difference between true divided lite and simulated divided lite. These are the small details that separate a custom home from a cookie-cutter look.
Bob shares how his dad and uncle started the company in Decatur in 1954 and why rail access still matters in 2026 when most framing lumber comes down from Canada. Stewart breaks down the rise of thermally modified wood, a heat-treated, chemical-free option that holds straighter, lasts longer, and gives clients the stain-grade look they want with very little maintenance.
We also get a sneak peek at the Lew Oliver Collection, a curated set of doors, crowns, trim, casings, and plinth blocks designed by one of the Southeast's most respected designers, Lew Oliver, and built by Magbee Contractors Supply.
Thermally modified wood gives clients a chemical-free, low-maintenance option that lasts longer.
True divided lite and simulated divided lite look similar, but solve very different jobs for high-end home building materials.
The Lew Oliver Collection gives builders and homeowners a curated path to custom without starting from scratch.
A 20-acre rail-served yard with custom wood doors built on site is how a family business competes with the giants.
What you'll take away today
- A custom millwork shop can run custom wood doors, knives, moldings, and trim packages that most yards cannot offer.
Key Takeaways.
- The shop builds custom wood doors in white oak, poplar, and maple, including a 48-inch wide door with a custom lattice grid.
- True divided lite and simulated divided lite look similar but solve very different jobs in high-end homes.
- Thermally modified wood is heat-treated and chemical-free, holds straighter, lasts longer, and gives a stain-grade look with very little maintenance.
- Bob Magbee's dad and uncle started the company in Decatur in 1954, and rail access still matters because most framing lumber comes from Canada.
- The Lew Oliver Collection, designed by Lew Oliver and built by Magbee, includes doors, crowns, trim, casings, and plinth blocks.
Questions and Answers.
What is the difference between true divided lite and simulated divided lite?
They look similar but solve very different jobs in high-end homes. The Magbee Contractors Supply team explains both and why simulated divided lite gives you endless design options.
What is thermally modified wood?
Thermally modified wood is a heat-treated, chemical-free option. Stewart Brandon, VP of Sales at Magbee Contractors Supply, explains that it holds straighter, lasts longer, and gives clients a stain-grade look with very little maintenance.
What is the Lew Oliver Collection?
It is a curated set of doors, crowns, trim, casings, and plinth blocks designed by Lew Oliver and built by Magbee Contractors Supply. It gives builders and homeowners a curated path to custom without starting from scratch.
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