Compare Hardwoods and Softwoods

Natural Characteristics of Woods

Hardwoods

Cherry

Cherry is a rich closed grain wood that is reddish in color with the sapwood varying from a whitish color to a light brown with a red cast and the heart wood varying from light to a dark reddish brown. Sapwood is a major part of the log and is allowed on the finished product. Laminated panels are matched to achieve a pleasing color and grain pattern with no lamination strip less than 3/4” in width.

Limited amounts of pin burls and mineral streaks are allowed to appear on the face. A natural finish or a light stain will let the natural color of the wood show through. Ultraviolet light (sunlight) darkens cherry after a period of time to a dark reddish brown in the dark wood streaks while the lighter areas will darken to shades from yellow to brown. This is normal for cherry and should be expected when you decide upon a cherry kitchen.

Eastern Maple

Eastern Maple is a magnificent closed grain wood that is creamy white to a slight reddish brown tinge in color. The sapwood from this species is used for this grade and no reddish brown heart wood is allowed on face of the door or drawer front but some heart wood may appear in the machined areas. The laminated panels are matched to achieve a pleasing color and grain pattern with no lamination strip less than 3/4.' in width.

The uneven grain and mineral stains of this species enhance the beauty of this wood and should only be chosen by those who have an appreciation for these occurrences in natural products. This species is difficult to stain due to changing main patterns in the closed grain wood and any stain applied may appear blotchy and darker on the end grain.

Hickory

For hickory is the best commercially available wood in North America. Not only is a premium wood protect for cabinetry, because of its proven strength, hardness and flexibility,it is also used for tool handles such as axes and mauls and for sporting equipment.

Normally straight grain, but can be irregular or wavy; coarse texture, brown to reddish brown heart wood; white sapwood. The sapwood of hickory is white and usually quite thick, except in old, slow-growing trees. The heart wood is reddish. The wood of pecan resembles that of true hickory. Accepts most finishes well.

Red Oak

Red Oak is a warm open grain wood that is pink-to-red in color and is the predominate choice of material used in kitchen cabinets both in the past and present day. The sapwood varies from a whitish to a grayish brown to a pale reddish brown, while the heart wood varies from a pinkish brown to a light reddish brown. Sapwood is not acceptable on the face for the door or drawer front except in machined areas. The laminate panels are matched to achieve a pleasing color and grain pattern with no lamination strip less than 3/4 in. (19mm) in width. Wild grain and pin knots are some of the more common characteristics of red oak. Red oak is an easily stained wood with varying degrees of pain penetration depending on the grain structure resulting in various degrees of darkness.

If a red oak flat panel door (either 'Shaker' or with an inner profile) the center panel is made from veneer plywood and the stain may penetrate differently on the veneer panel than on the solid wood outer door frame.

Softwoods

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir's light rosy color is set off by it's remarkably straight and handsome grain pattern. This light rosy color “reddens” over time to a pleasing deeper shade. Many designers and consumers agree the aesthetic appeal of clear, light, straight vertical grain Douglas Fir is unsurpassed among the worlds softwood species.

Knotty Pine

Knotty Pine is a moderately soft closed grain wood with a yellowish-creamy cast in color, accentuated with knots to provide a rusty color. Laminated panels are matched to color, grain and knot selection. The red or black and split knots may have cracks in them. This species is susceptible to ultraviolet light (sunlight) and will darken to a yellowish brown on all exposed areas.

Pacific Coast Hemlock

This exceptional wood species is predominate in the forests of B.C. and is a sustainable resource. The grain is straight and fine, imbued with a subtle tinge of “eggplant” into the pale blond wood. While Hemlock, in it's natural color is preferred in most applications, its color can be changed quite readily with tinted lacquers. Cabinets doors are made from Vertical Grain (edge grain) clear Hemlock allowing limited natural mineral streaks. The back face of the door may contain more and / or larger mineral steaks.

Yellow Cedar

Yellow Cedar” grain is novel in it's subtleties and uniformity in color. Both flat and vertical grain cuts of wood are used to create a door that is truly individual. The dramatic bright yellow color of freshly machined Yellow Cedar matures to a mellow deeper tone. Yellow Cedars natural color offers an exciting product to both Interior Designers and the end user.

Finish Grades and Specifications

Important Note: Due to the number of grain variations found between different species of natural wood, each piece of wood accepts stains and lacquers differently and the following should be considered when purchasing any finished natural wood products:

Oak, Raised Panel

• Easily stained wood with varying degrees of penetration. Stain will appear darker in open grain and end grain. Any amount of open grain on a particular piece of wood will dictate the degree of darkness.

Oak, Flat Panel

• Easily stained wood and veneer with varying degrees of penetration. The stain will take differently on veneer panels than on a solid wood frame. Stain will appear darker on the open and end grain. Amounts of open grain, solid wood or veneer will affect the overall color.

Eastern Maple, Raised Panel

• This species is particularly difficult to stain. Due to changing grain patterns in this closed grain wood any stain will often times appear blotchy and darker on end grain. The darker the stain the more pronounced this blotching will become.

It is acceptable industry standard, due to the nature of real hardwood to have a variety of colors and grain textures. Because these variations are the real natural beauty of hardwood, unusual or wild grain patterns, or differences in color will not constitute a reason for replacement. No special emphasis is made to select doors or drawer fronts to match one another.

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