Wood Species Information
What is the difference between hardwoods and softwoods?
Believe it or not the terms hardwood and softwood have nothing to do with the actual hardness of wood. The terms instead are applied to differentiate the microscopic composition and physical properties between the hardwood and softwood categories. Hardwood comes from deciduous trees, which produce either a fruit or a nut, have broad leaves, and generally become dormant in cold weather. In sub-tropical or tropical climates the deciduous trees do not go dormant. Softwood comes from coniferous trees (conifers), which are for the most part cone bearing evergreens that have needles.
What is the difference in wood species?
Each wood species has strong and weak points unique to itself. Some species are best used for exterior applications, while other types are exclusively for interior usage, some species are best for painting, others for staining. The type of wood that will best suit your specific need will depend on how and where the wood will be applied, and your decorating taste.
What species of wood do you use to manufacture your doors?
At Designer Doors we use only hardwoods that are native to our region, except Mahogany, which grows in a tropical climate. We manufacture our doors in the following hardwood species; Poplar, Ash, Red Oak, Hickory, White Oak, Cherry, Mahogany, and Walnut.
Will you explain the difference in the types of wood that you offer?
Along with reading the following brief descriptions of the different wood types click on a specific type to view a picture that will give you a general idea of the different wood grain patterns. You will also want to click on corner sections to help you decide what type of wood to have your doors manufactured in. After narrowing down your choices we suggest that you order corner sections to see first hand not only the wood grain pattern but also how our doors are constructed. Many of our customers order several different wood type corner sections then keep the wood sample that they like best, using it to experiment with staining or other finishing techniques to see how the wood will look when completed. When the other corner sections are returned in the same condition they were sent, your money will be refunded for all returned samples, making your only incurred expense the cost of shipping. Ask about our sample kits of the different woods for staining purposes.
A medium density wood with excellent strength and stability
providing even texture plus a straight grain. Poplar wood
can be stained in a nice cherry or walnut color. It's
lower cost and finer grain make it the best choice for
painting.
Easily the most popular and abundant of the hardwoods,
red oak is hard, has excellent wear resistance, and can
be stained to a beautiful finish. Due to the coarser grain,
oak will also take more abuse and still look good opposed
to woods with finer grain.
Durable and strong with a combination grain that sets
it apart from all the other hardwoods makes ash the choice
when a tough wood that also stains well is needed. Ash
is finer grained and slightly harder than red oak.
The strongest, heaviest, and hardest of all the hardwoods,
hickory sands to a good finish, with a grain that varies
from usually straight to wavy. Hickory can have many variations
and may look better in a rustic application, such as a
log cabin.
White Oak is considered to be the best all-around wood,
it allows little or no water to penetrate it's surface,
has longer rays than Red Oak, giving it more character
while still providing excellent wear resistance and stain
ability. White Oak is commonly used for marine uses such
as boats, and also used in the making of wine and whiskey
barrels.
While darkening with light exposure and also with age,
cherry resists warping, is of medium strength and density,
yet is hard, sturdy, plus sands and stains to an excellent
finish. Cherry is one of the most sought after wood types
for use in fine furniture, cabinetry, and doors. We use
some of the highest grades of cherry available, from Pennsylvania,
the best cherry in the country.
Regarded as a medium density but tough hardwood, walnut
has a chocolate-brown coloration and may have some blonde
streaks, with a grain pattern that varies from generally
straight to wavy or even curly, and it stains to an exceptional
finish. Although not used as widely as cherry, walnut
is highly sought after for furniture, cabinetry and doors.
A tropical wood that is quite durable and will very rarely
warp, has a fine grain with a silky texture, mahogany
appears red-brown in coloration and has excellent finishing
qualities. Mahogany is very dense and much more uniform
than many of the other hardwoods that we use.
