popular types of woods

Here are some of the most popular types of wood used for cabinets:

Hardwoods:

All natural hardwoods come with a degree of consistency, in terms of color and grain patterns. However, there can be [and usually is] some inconsistency in the “color” and the grain pattern depending upon the selection of the wood, where it was harvested, aging [exposure to SUV light, both before the finished in applied and after the finish has been applied].  Almost all wood will darken.  Generally, the application of a lighter or darker stain will even out the color variation in the wood.
 
Maple -  a light, fine, tight grained hardwood that can be left natural with a clear, lacquered finish or stained or painted. Maple is the wood of choice for staining and painting with or without glazing. It is more dense, in terms of hardness, than cherry, fir and mahogany.

Birdseye Maple — (some kinds are also called QUILTED or FIDDLEBACK as it is often used for the backs of fiddles!) a glowing, golden wood with little “eyes” used in details such as a veneer panel. This wood is starting to come back into new designs for its uniqueness. A darker stain will accent the “bird’s eye.”

Cherry —a fairly hard reddish/brown wood with fine, tight grain. It is very elegant and can be used in either traditional or contemporary styles with a clear finish.  Application of most stains will even out the inconsistency in the wood but the stain will also darken this wood. It is more expensive than Oak, Maple, Alder, or Birch.  

The term “cherry” can be confusing since “cherry” can also be a color. For example, when the stain “burgundy” is applied to natural woods such as Maple and/or Mahogany, the wood will look like the color “cherry.”

Red & White Oak — It is a grainy hardwood, more dense, but relatively less expensive than Maple or Cherry. Red Oak is slightly reddish and most commonly used. White Oak is lighter in color.  Oak has been commonly used for wood flooring and cabinetry. While it has been used for many years in cabinetry, it has declined to a greater degree, particularly in the design industry, with the availability and the rise in the use of Maple and Cherry, which are more expensive, but provide many more options in achieving different styles and finishes.   However, White Oak [Rift and/or Quarter Sawn Oak cut from timber in different cutting patterns] is now coming into new designs, particularly with applied stain to the wood.

Alder—grows in the Pacific Northwest, has a warm honey color with a straight grain pattern similar to Cherry and Maple.

Birch—is a hard, dense wood ranging in color from creamy bay to medium red-brown. It can look similar to Maple but the veining has a grainy pattern in the wood. It is not as grainy as Oak, Hickory or Mahogany. This wood was used in many older homes where Birch, mostly in plywood from, was used for cabinetry.

Hickory —A hard, dense wood.  It is grainy, but it does not have the open grain as seen in Oak.

Walnut—a very dark brown, beautiful wood with figured grain.

Ash —a light and strong wood that takes stain and finish well.

 

Softwoods:

Pine—a softwood that has knots and a distinctive grain pattern.

Fir—a softwood, grainy and similar in color to cherry but lighter. Old growth fir was extensively used for flooring and windows, in many older homes. New growth fir looks similar but does not have the graininess as old growth.  It too, was used for cabinetry. Old growth fir, when sanded to down to natural finish, can look ‘yellowish, with darker “brownish” botches; over time, color blends out and looks more consistent.

Cedar—mostly used on the exterior, such as siding and decking.  A softer wood, lightweight, reddish brown in color. It takes stains well and it can be painted.  Moisture content should be checked before staining and/or painting when used outdoors, particularly siding. It has a straight grain pattern and a uniform texture.

 

Exotic:

Mahogany—a deep copper tones in color. It is grainy and less dense than Maple, Cherry, Oak and Hickory.  In many, older homes, both Philippine [more “brown” than “copper” and Honduras Mahogany [more reddish than copper] are considered “old growth wood.” It was used for doors, trim, baseboard and, to some degree, in cabinetry.  If available, both Philippine and Honduras mahogany are “new growth wood” and very inconsistent.  African mahogany is more available, it is similar in color and there are several different species of African mahogany, such straight grain, and “honing bone {ribbed}. It higher in costs than Oak, Maple and Cherry.

Jarrah—a very hard, dense, exotic and high-priced, red Australian wood in the Eucalyptus family often used in boats and furniture in Australia.

Lyptus—a dark wood from a natural hybrid Eucalyptus tree which is environmentally friendly because it is a renewable resource which means very fast-growing (14-16 years vs. 50-60 years for other trees).

Bamboo—compressed or cross-laminated grass which makes a very hard wood that is also environmentally friendly because it is a renewable resource.

Teak—one of the most stable and durable woods; commonly used in the marine industry for boats.  Naturally oily and water resistant with a rich golden-brown color.

Lacewood—a reddish-brown Brazilian wood with a unique grain pattern like “lace” or with “eyes” used primarily for accents and details, inlays, etc.

Rosewood—a Brazilian wood with a wavy grain with streaks of black.

Purple Heart —a South American species with a fine texture, straight grain pattern and dark purplish brown tone.