 Red
Alder
Where it Grows
Principally the Pacific Northwest, where it is the most abundant commercial
hardwood. Average height is 90 feet and the tree matures in 25 to 40 years, but
will begin to deteriorate by 60 to 80 years of age. Alder grows well on burned
over lands and thrives in areas that have been ravaged by fire, earthquakes or
logging.
Main Uses
Furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, moldings, panel stock, turnings,
carvings and kitchen utensils.
 Cherry
Like all fruit trees, cherry belongs to the rose family. American Colonists used
the cherry tree for its fruit, medicinal properties and home furnishings. They
mixed cherry juice with rum to create Cherry Bounce, a bitter but highly favored
cordial. The bark was used in the production of drugs to treat bronchitis, and
cherry stalks were used to make tonics.
Where it Grows
Throughout Midwestern and Eastern U.S. Main commercial areas: Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia and New York. Average tree height is 60 to 80 feet.
Cherry trees can live to the extreme ages of 150 to 200 years.
Main Uses
Fine furniture and cabinet making, moldings and millwork, kitchen cabinets,
paneling, flooring, doors, boat interiors, musical instruments, turnings and
carvings.
 Yellow
Birch
From sap to bark, birch trees are used to make everything from beer to
toothpicks. Native Americans stretched birch bark on their canoe frames and used
the wood for their arrows. The birch is New Hampshire's state tree. It is also
popular as an ornamental tree and has gained the nickname "Mother Tree" because
birches were planted at the White House to honor the mothers of U.S. presidents.
The oil extracted from the bark contains a chemical used to treat rheumatism and
inflammations.
Where it Grows
Eastern U.S., principally Northern and Lake states. The average tree is 60 to 70
feet in height. Birch prefers valleys and stream banks although it adapts itself
to higher grounds.
Main Uses
Furniture, millwork and paneling, doors, flooring, kitchen cabinets, turnings
and toys.
 Hickory/Pecan
Its name is an English contraction of the Native American "powcohicora." In
Eastern North America, it survived the catastrophic changes of the Glacial
Epoch, some 50 million years ago. Thus, it is the first strictly American
hardwood species. Westward trekking pioneers made hickory a prerequisite for
their wagon wheels. Later, the Wright Brothers whittled hickory for their
"flying contraption." Hickory sawdust and chips are used to flavor meat by
smoking. Commercially, the pecan is the most important native North American nut
tree and it is the state tree of Texas. Pecan was a Native American name given
to any nut hard enough to require cracking with a stone. Native Americans,
particularly in the Northeast, used hickory for their bows.
Where it Grows
Eastern U.S., principal commercial areas: Central and Southern states. Tree
height ranges from 60 to 120 feet. Hickories grow slowly and it is not unusual
for a tree to take 200 years to mature.
Main Uses
Tool handles, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, paneling, wooden ladders, dowels
and sporting goods.
 Hard
Maple
The hard maple is the state tree of Wisconsin, Vermont, New York and West
Virginia. In the North, during the cold nights and warm days of late winter, the
sugar maple is tapped for its sucrose-containing sap, the source of maple syrup.
It may take up to 30 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Early American
settlers used maple ashes to make soap and Native Americans crafted their spears
from hard maple. Until the turn of the century, the heels of women's shoes were
made from maple. Maple has been a favorite of American furniture makers since
early Colonial days. Hard maple is the standard wood for cutting boards because
it imparts no taste to food and holds up well.
Where it Grows
Eastern U.S., principally Mid-Atlantic and Lake states. A cold weather tree
favoring a more northerly climate, its average height is 130 feet.
Main Uses
Flooring, furniture, paneling, ballroom and gymnasium floors, kitchen cabinets,
worktops, table tops, butchers blocks, toys, kitchenware and millwork: stairs,
handrails, moldings, and doors.
 Poplar
Yellow poplar trees grow taller than any other U.S. hardwood species and they
are members of the magnolia family. The bark, leaves, flowers, fruit and roots
contain pharmaceuticals. Poplar is the state tree of Indiana, Kentucky and
Tennessee.
Where it Grows
Widespread throughout Eastern U.S. Tree heights can reach 150 feet.
Main Uses
Light construction, furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, musical instruments,
exterior trim and siding, paneling, moldings and millwork, edge-glued panels,
turnings and carvings.
 Red
Oak
The Latin name for oak, Quercus, means "a fine tree." The oaks have been key in
America's industrial transformation: railroad ties, wheels, plows, looms,
barrels and, of course, furniture and floors. The oak is the state tree of New
Jersey.
Where it Grows
Widespread throughout Eastern U.S. The oaks are by far the most abundant species
group growing in the Eastern hardwood forests. Red oaks grow more abundantly
than the white oaks. The red oak group comprises many species, of which about
eight are commercial. Average tree height is 60 to 80 feet.
Main Uses
Furniture, flooring, architectural millwork and moldings, doors, kitchen
cabinets, paneling and caskets.
 White
Oak
White oak is impervious to liquids, and has been used extensively for ship
timbers, barrels and casks. White oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois
and Maryland.
Where it Grows
Widespread throughout the Eastern U.S. The white oak group comprises many
species, of which about eight are commercial. The trees prefer rich well drained
soil, and average height is 60 to 80 feet.
Main Uses
Furniture, flooring, architectural millwork, moldings, doors, kitchen cabinets,
paneling, barrel staves (tight cooperage) and caskets. |
Find out more about your choices by clicking on the links below.
Wood Type - These are some common types of wood that we use, you can select from these or we can special order a type of wood for you.
Finishes - Some people enjoy the warm glow of the natural grain of wood in a stained finish while others prefer a painted finish. There are as many options as there are individuals. Our staff artist would be happy to consult with you to get the desired custom finish. We have completed projects with many different types of finishes from a stained finish to a distressed antique finish.
Door Styles - There are three basic types of cabinet doors and then specialty doors. Remember that the more complex the door style, the more expensive the finished product.
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