Wood Species Characteristics

Here are a few of the woods we work with. If you have questions regarding any other species including "exotics", please email us.

Birch is a hardwood with smooth, fine, uniform grain and characteristic light-coloring. Colors can vary from creamy white to medium brown.

Cherry hardwoods are rich in color and have a smooth texture with flowing grain patterns. Cherry has a pinkish hue and can exhibit shades of white, yellow, green and gray. Small spots, holes and flecks are characteristic.

Clear Pine is a soft wood that is usually light colored with pink-brown variations offering an ideal surface for stained or painted finishes. The vertical grain cut provides a uniform, yet elegant look to the door.

Hickory is a hardwood with a coarse texture and closed grain. It is typically a straighter grained wood with some waviness. Hickory's contrasting color, ranging from white to a reddish-brown, adds to its's overall appeal. It accepts stain well and finishes beautifully.

Knotty Pine is a soft wood that is usually light-colored with pink-brown variations in color. The knotty grade is an ideal choice for a rustic door offering its own unique charm with its mix of color, knots and character.

Maple is a close grained hardwood which possesses a uniform texture. It is usually straight grained, but is sometimes found with highly figured birdseye or burl grain. Colors can vary from creamy white to light brown.

Mahogany is a fine-grained hardwood with a medium texture. The grain is straight, but may contain parallel runs resembling ribbons. Color is generally reddish brown, but may sometimes be lighter with a pale red to grayish tinge.

Paintable Species Some species with fine-textured grain such as Poplar, Birch or Maple make an excellent choice for a painted door.

Poplar hardwoods, with their smooth texture and fine grain, offer an ideal surface for stained or painted finishes. Poplar is yellow in color with occasional streaks of gray and green.

Red Oak hardwoods are chosen for their prominent and beautiful grain patterns which vary from a close-knit vertical grain to a sweeping arch. Some color variation is possible in its natural state.