What type of wood to use in your rooms
As you know we specialize in woodwork. We know very well what type of wood to use for your interior.
The natural warmth and texture of wood provides a welcome contrast and nice atmosphere. Wood can be highlighted by stains and glazes. Your look can even change over time, with changes occurring as wood ages and is exposed to light.
Humidity
also has a significant impact on woods, with dimensional changes lasting several days or weeks.
The basic rule here is to use local wood for flooring or furniture because of this factor.
We remember our clients that had issues with their flooring during heating season where the humidity level was lower and the gaps between wood were growing rapidly. It was not so nice experience and it was also difficult for cleaning.
To avoid permanent or damaging changes, maintain the humidity levels at or above 20% when the temperature is below 20 degrees and over 35% when the temperature is above 20 degrees.
Hardness of the wood
Hardwoods are trees that have broad leaves, produce a fruit or nut and generally go dormant in the winter: oak, ash, cherry, maple and poplar species. Each species can be crafted into durable, long-lasting furniture, cabinetry, flooring and millwork, and each offers unique markings with variation in grain pattern, texture and color.
Softwoods or conifers, from the Latin word meaning “cone-bearing,” have needles rather than leaves: cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood and spruce. In a home, softwoods primarily are used as structural lumber such as 2x4s and 2x6s, with limited decorative applications.
Tropical Hardwoods, including mahogany, rosewood, teak and wenge – are not native to North America. They grow in the tropical forests of the world and must be imported for domestic use. While some tropical hardwoods can be used for interior applications, including flooring, the color, grain pattern, hardness and luster of many imported woods differ from those of American hardwoods.
| Species | Pressure To Mar |
|---|---|
| (Kiln-dried) | (in pounds) |
| Hickory, Pecan | 1,820 |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 |
| White Oak | 1,360 |
| Beech | 1,300 |
| Red Oak | 1,290 |
| Yellow Birch | 1,260 |
| Green Ash | 1,200 |
| Black Walnut | 1,010 |
| Soft Maple | 950 |
| Cherry | 950 |
| Hackberry | 880 |
| Gum | 850 |
| Elm | 830 |
| Sycamore | 770 |
| Alder | 590 |
| Yellow Poplar | 540 |
| Cottonwood | 430 |
| Basswood | 410 |
| Aspen | 350 |
Source: Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, USDA, Washington, D.C.
Common Natural Characteristics of Wood:
- Bird Pecks – Small marks in the grain pattern caused by pecking birds
- Burl – A swirl or twist in the grain of the wood that does not contain a knot
- Sound Knot – A knot solid across its face, which shows no indication of decay
- Unsound Knot – A circular area that once formed the base of a branch or twig and has a pith center
- Wormholes – Holes in the wood ranging in size to 1/16″
- Sugar Tracks – Yellowish to dark brownish streaks that run throughout part
- Mineral Streaks – Streaks of color ranging from olive to blackish-brown typically following grain pattern
- Gum Streaks – Mineral-like streaks of color naturally occurring only in cherry
- Heartwood – The mature, usually darker wood, extending from the sapwood to the pith
- Sapwood – Lighter colored parts that grow from inside the bark to the heartwood
Popular type of wood to use
Cherry
It is an exclusive, expensive type of wood to use for kitchen cabinets and wall panels. It is a smooth, very delicate material and very user friendly. All furniture look great and luxury.
Cherry ranges from tan blonde to deep brown and darkens naturally as it ages, blending hues from golden yellow to deep red. Cherry adds elegance to any interior.
Maple
It is a full of character wood that works well in many styles and finishes. It ranges from creamy white to pale reddish brown and has a subtle grain pattern and smooth, uniform appearance. It may include tiny “bird’s eye” dots and mineral streaks. It is very popular type of wood to use in our country.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a commercially important lumber prized for its beauty, durability, and color, and used for paneling and to make unique furniture. It is a very popular wood in our country, even fully imported and quite expensive. It is worth its price due to its features like amazing hardness, straightness, and is relatively free of voids and pockets. Its reddish-brown color darkens over time, and displays a reddish sheen when polished. It has excellent workability, and is very durable.
Much of the first-quality furniture made in the American colonies from the mid 18th century was made of mahogany, when the wood first became available to American craftsmen. Mahogany is still widely used for fine furniture. We also renovate some unique furniture, panels or any wooden things.
Pine
Pine wood is widely used in high-value carpentry items such as furniture, window frames, panelling, floors and roofing, and the resin of some species is an important source of turpentine. It is a soft type of wood to use, easy to manipulate and craft. It is a very popular worldwide.
Oak
Oak wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm3 (0.43 oz/cu in) creating great strength and hardness. The wood is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. Oak has a very strong, open-grain pattern and tawny patina, from salmon red to dark cinnamon. It may include random worm holes, mineral deposits, knots and wild-grain patterns. Oak is a durable hardwood suited to traditional, casual or rustic looks and external elements.
Of the North American oaks, the northern red oak is the one of most prized of the red oak type of wood to use for lumber, much of which is marketed as red oak regardless of the species of origin. It is not good for outdoor use due to its open capillaries unless the wood is treated.
Rift Oak is cut at an angle to the rings of the tree, so that its grain shows off interesting “flames,” “flakes,” and “rays.” Its distinctly artistic look can be applied to any style and can look dramatically modern.
Walnut
The common walnut and the black walnut and its allies, are important for their attractive timber, which is hard, dense, tight-grained and polishes to a very smooth finish. The colour ranges from creamy white in the sapwood to a dark chocolate colour in the heartwood. Because of its colour, hardness and grain, it is a prized furniture and carving type of wood to use. Veneer sliced from walnut burl is one of the most valuable and highly prized. We love it. Please look at our chosen portfolio.
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