Below is a chart of all of our possible wood species to choose from. Please choose the correct wood for you application. Following the chart is a brief description of the woods.
Below are some general descriptions of the individual woods. Also if you click on the name of the wood it will bring up a sample picture to view.
Alder North American hardwood that is light brown to tan in color. The grain is uniform with very little pattern. The wood is relatively soft and easily machined. This specie lends itself to a more rustic or distressed look. We offer (3) grades all of which contain some knots or character. Alder is not available in long lengths for moulding; the lengths will vary between 8’ to 12’. To view our specs on the grades of Alder click here.
Cherry North American hardwood that is prized for its beauty. The grain is tight with a lot of figure and a distinctive luster. The heartwood is pinkish red in color with the sapwood being a lighter color. Staining will bring the two colors to an even appearance. The wood is very durable and a good choice for exterior products. No wood is more beautiful.
Cypress North American softwood that is tan to yellowish in color. The grain is tight with some figure. The wood is soft, similar to white pine, but known for its rot and decay resistance. This is a good choice for exterior mouldings and trim. It also makes beautiful doors, however some slight checking may occur in some climates.
Mahoganies:
1. Sapele Mahogany is an African hardwood that is extremely similar to Gen. Mahogany. We recommend it as a substitute. The color and grain are so close that most people can’t tell the difference between the two. It is a great choice for exterior doors and millwork; it is our #1 recommended wood. The color is a fairly uniform reddish brown with an open grain and good figure.
2. Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) also known as Honduran Mahogany is a South American hardwood. It is without question one of the best woods God made. It is beautiful, durable, stable and pleasurable for woodworkers to use. The demand for this wood has created supply and environmental concerns. It is listed on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix II as an endangered specie. We try to ensure that our supply comes from responsible sources. The color will vary from light red to dark brown. *We are unable to guarantee a good color match when using this wood.*To view our letter concerning the color matching issues please click here.
Maple North American hardwood that is very hard and is light beige to white in color. The grain is very tight and uniform with little pattern or figure. Great choice for doors in high traffic areas where dents & dings can occur. Can be stained almost any color.
Oak:
1. Red Oak is recommended as an interior product. This is a North American hardwood that is very common and plentiful. It’s hard with an open grain and nice figure. The color is tan to a reddish brown.
2. White Oak is recommended as an interior product. This is a North American hardwood that is very common and plentiful. It’s hard with an open grain and nice figure. The color is light tan to a grayish brown.
Pines:
1. Southern Yellow Pine is plentiful and comes from the Southeastern U.S. The wood is fairly soft with a visible difference in the growth rings. The color is a tanish yellow. This is a good choice for stain grade doors and moulding where cost is a concern. There can be some slight checking on doors, it is usually unnoticeable.
2. White (Ponderosa) Pine comes from the Western U.S. and is commonly available. It is recommended as an interior product but can be used outdoors. It is very soft with tight grain it has a visible difference in the growth rings which gives it a good pattern. It is favored by carpenters, because it’s ease of use.
3. Knotty White Pine is very similar to Ponderosa Pine, but has a lot of knots. This comes from the Eastern U.S. and fairly inexpensive in comparison. This is a Good choice for interior stain grade millwork where a rustic/mountain cottage look is desired. The lengths when running mouldings will average around 10’ to 12’.
4. Antique Heart Pine is very distinctive and needs to be discussed toughly. This wood is available from two sources. The first is large old timbers that are reclaimed from structures built around the turn or the century. These old beams yield beautiful lumber, but will contain some marks from its past. These will include some nail holes, screw holes, checks and other character. This is a striking wood that is very durable and suitable for interior and exterior use. The color varies from bright yellow to deep red. The second source is sinker logs that are salvaged from the bottom of lakes and rivers. These “sinker logs” were virgin growth timber that sank while being floated to a sawmill. This material is very similar to lumber from old beams, but has no nail holes or other markings from the past.
5. New Heart Pine is freshly sawn lumber from large trees available today. This is a less expensive way to get the “Antique Heart Pine” look. This material will have some character such as knots and checks.
6. Swedish Pine
7. Pressure Treated So. Yellow Pine has limited use as millwork, but can be cost effective as an exterior moulding. This is a very durable material when used and spec’d correctly. We buy clear or #1 grade and have it K.D.A.T. (kiln dried after treatment).
Poplar is a North American hardwood that is very popular as an inexpensive interior millwork material. The wood is fairly soft and works easily. The grain is close and even resulting in good painting qualities. It is typically painted, but can be stained. Please indicate “Stain Grade” if applicable. We use more Poplar than any other single specie.
Walnut is a North American hardwood known for its beauty. It is somewhat hard with interesting grain and figure. The color ranges from light brown to dark chocolate brown. Great for use as interior or exterior millwork. This is a very durable wood that is often over looked as a viable option.
Western Red Cedar comes from North America and is known for its durability. The wood is very soft with a tight even grain. The wood is used for doors as well as moulding. The color is light brown to dark brown with the possibility for a few small tight knots.
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