Home      About Us      Portfolio      Cabinetry      Wood Species      Countertops      Appliances      Contact Us      Recipes      Comments

Click above photo for additional information

What is the Difference between Hardwoods and Softwoods?

Hardwoods are a deciduous species and comprise the botanical group of trees that have broad leaves, produce a fruit or nut, and generally go dormant in the winter. There are hundreds of hardwood species in the United States. Popular hardwoods include birch, oak, hickory, cherry and mahogany.

Softwoods, or conifers, from the Latin word meaning "cone-bearing," have thin leaves or needles. Despite their name, softwoods are actually hard and quite durable. Widely available softwoods include cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood and spruce.

Wood chip photos are shown Natural in color

Birch

Yellow birch is a deciduous hardwood which grows principally in the upland, hilly terrain of the Northeastern and Lake States forests: There are nine species of birch native to North America, including the very distinctive and familiar white-trunked paper birch. But the species named yellow birch is the most common and important commercial lumber birch. It is identified by its bright, yellowish-bronze colored bark which peels in long, thin horizontal strips.

• Color: Cream or lightly tinged with red.
  Grain: Fine grained (often curly or wavy).
  Characteristics: Heavy, strong, hard and even-textured.
  Finishing: Birch takes paints and stains well.

Cherry

Cherry belongs to the rose family and was used as early as 400 B.C. by the Greeks and Romans for furniture making. Today, cherry helps define Shaker, Mission and country styling. The wood from the cherry tree can be described in a single word: beautiful. Its rich, red-brown color deepens with age and small, dark gum flecks add to its interest. Distinctive, unique figures and grains are brought out through quarter sawing. It has an exceptionally lustrous appearance that glows. The finish is satiny to the touch.

• Color: Rich, reddish-brown. Cherry darkens considerably with age and exposure to sunlight.
  Grain: Straight-grained and satiny. Small gum pockets produce distinctive markings.
  Characteristics: Light, strong, stiff and rather hard. Cherry's grain is more subdued than some other hardwood species, with very interesting character.
  Finishing: Cherry is unsurpassed in its finishing qualities; its uniform texture takes a finish very well.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a hardwood that earns high marks for strength, durability and excellent weathering characteristics. The eucalyptus genus represents more than 300 species and is a renewable resource with high productivity in relatively short harvest rotations. They have been successfully planted in South America, South Africa, Europe and the U.S. 

• Color: Pinkish-brown in color and turns to a reddish-brown with age and exposure to light. 
  Characteristics: Its' resistance to decay is relative to teak. Eucalyptus is a heavy, hard wood that earns high marks for strength.
  Finishing: When finished with high-quality penetrating oil (it is recommended that you use commercial grade deck oil) and mixed with the stain of your choice, Eucalyptus takes on a teak-like appearance. Occasionally clean and reseal eucalyptus pieces to keep them looking new.

Hickory

Hickory is a member of the walnut family. Hickory is the hardest, heaviest and strongest American wood in common use. Hickory wood is extremely tough, yet flexible, and is valued for tool handles, bows, drumsticks, wheel spokes, carts, etc… Westward trekking pioneers allegedly made hickory a prerequisite for their wagon wheels!

1. Color: White to tan to reddish-brown with inconspicuous fine brown lines.

2. Grain:  Fine grain

3. Characteristics: Quite hard and resilient, only moderately heavy with an even texture.

4. Finishing: The fine grain pattern welcomes a full range of medium-to-dark finishes and bleaching treatments.

Mahogany

Mahogany is one of the most valuable timber trees. This wood is famed for its use in making furniture. It has traditionally been and continues to be, a favorite wood for interiors, boats other rather durable objects. Popular in the '50's, mahogany is making a comeback due to the new attraction to "red" woods.

• Color: Varies from light red or pale tan to a rich, dark, deep red or deep golden brown, depending on country of origin.

• Grain: It is generally straight-grained but is prized for its figures, which include: stripe, roe, curly, blister, fiddle back and mottle.

• Characteristics: Extremely strong, hard and decay resistant.  Known for its workability and stability, mahogany displays a beautiful reddish sheen when polished.

• Finishing: Finishes and stains to a beautiful natural luster.

Maple

Maple is divided into two groups: Hard maple, which includes sugar and black maple; and soft maple, which includes red and silver maple. Until the turn of the century, the heels of women's shoes were made from maple, and in the 1920s it was used for airplane propellers. Maple has been a favorite of American furniture makers since early Colonial days.

• Color: Cream to light reddish-brown.

• Grain: Usually straight-grained and sometimes found with highly figured bird's-eye or burl grain. Bird's-eye resembles small circular or elliptical figures. Clusters of round curls are known as burl.

• Characteristics: Heavy, hard and resilient with a close-grained, uniform texture. Maple has excellent resistance to abrasion and indentation, making it ideal for flooring, cutting boards and countertops.

• Finishing: Takes stain satisfactorily and polishes well.

Oak

Oak was a favorite of early English craftsmen and American Colonists.  It would be difficult to name a wood with a longer and more illustrious history in furnishings and interior design. Common uses for oak include:  flooring, furniture, cabinets, ships and decorative woodwork. A big, slow growing tree, red oak takes 20 years to mature and lives an average of 300 years.

• Color: White oak ranges from nearly-white sapwood to darker gray brown heartwood.  Red oak ranges from a nearly-white cream color to a beautiful, warm, pale brown heartwood tinged with red.

• Grain: Distinguishable by rays, which reflect light and add to its attractiveness. Distinctive and sought-after patterns such as flake figures, pin stripes, fine lines, leafy grains and watery figures emerge depending on the way the logs are sawn into timber.

• Characteristics: Heavy, very strong, hard and stiff.  Oak holds nails and screws well, is wear resistant and offers durability under exposure.

• Finishing: Oak can be stained beautifully in a wide range of finishes.