Domestic hardwoods are popular not only for their sustainability and availability, but also their durability, beauty, and versatility. This makes them ideal for a variety of applications in both residential and commercial settings. Each species has unique characteristics that make it more suitable for certain projects than others.
Ash
Ash is known for its strength, shock resistance, and uniform color. It is a popular choice for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and sporting equipment. Ash has a light to medium color and a straight grain pattern.
Cherry
Cherry is prized for its warm, reddish color that darkens with age, making it a popular choice for furniture, cabinetry, and paneling. It has a fine, even grain and is known for its durability and stability.
Hickory
Hickory is one of the strongest domestic hardwoods and is known for its distinctive, heavy grain pattern. It is often used in furniture, flooring, and tool handles. Hickory is also a popular choice for its unique color variation, ranging from pale cream to dark brown.
Hard Maple
Hard maple, known by various other names such as sugar maple and rock maple, is a dense, hard, and durable wood that is popular for its uniform color and tight grain pattern. It is often used for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and cutting boards. Hard maple is known for its strength and stability, making it a good choice for high-use applications.
Soft Maple
Soft maple is usually a more affordable alternative to hard maple, depending on market conditions. It has a softer texture and lighter color than its hard maple counterpart. Many customers report it finishes more easily than hard maple, and it is often used in cabinetry, furniture, and flooring. Soft maple is also used for carving and turning due to its work-ability.
Poplar
Poplar is a lightweight, soft hardwood that's known for its uniform light color and straight grain pattern. It is often used for furniture, cabinetry, and molding. Poplar is a good choice for painted projects as it accepts paint well and is relatively inexpensive.
Walnut
Walnut is a popular choice for its rich, dark color and fine, straight grain pattern. It is often used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and paneling. Walnut is known for its durability, stability, and work-ability, making it a good choice for high-end projects.
Whether you're looking for strength, durability, beauty, or affordability, there is an American grown hardwood to suit your needs. When choosing, consider your specific project requirements, such as color, grain pattern, stability, and cost, to ensure you select the right species for your needs.
Red Oak
Red oak is known for its stunning reddish-brown color and distinctive grain patterns. It's a durable and sturdy wood that is well suited for heavy foot traffic and offers good resistance to wear and tear. Additionally, red oak is relatively affordable and widely available. This makes it one of the most popular - if not the most popular - choice for many homeowners and builders.
White Oak
White oak is favored for its strength, durability and stability. It's a strong and dense wood that can withstand heavy foot traffic and has excellent resistance to wear and tear. White oak has a light to medium brown color, with a distinctive and attractive grain pattern. However, it is more expensive than red oak and can be more difficult to find due to strong international and domestic demand.
Looking for more detailed information on red and white oak? Click here to read our blog post on those two.