A Forest of Choices
Each type of hardwood has its own unique personality. There are enough differences in color, grain and texture that you’re sure to find one wood, or several, to match your personal taste and decorating preferences for your cabinetry.
Red Oak
A medium coarse to coarse textured wood, straight grained with color variations form white to reddish brown. High dent and shock resistance makes it ideal for flooring and furniture. Distinguished by medullary ray, a pattern of light tracks that run across the grain.
Maple
A straight-grained, fine-textured, extremely durable wood. Sensitive to both ultraviolet light and changes in moisture. Light, creamy brown color accentuates mineral streaks and color variations.
Hickory
A course-textured wood, generally straight-grained, but may also have dramatic variations in grain. Color also varies, ranging from white sapwood to near-black heartwood.
Cherry
A straight-grained wood with a fine, smooth texture. Colors range from vanilla to deep red and age to a warm, dark brown. Distinguished by an occasional pitchpocket or birdpeck, this wood is sensitive to changes in humidity.
Alder
Premium alder is also known as Red Alder or Western Alder.
Alder is a hardwood, which is deciduous, the botanical group of trees that have broad leaves, produce a fruit or nut, and generally go dormant in the winter. However, it is softer than cherry. Appearance: Straight grained and even textured no distinct grain pattern. Very consistent in color, from pale yellow to reddish.
CHARACTER WOODS:
Character Cherry, Character Oak & Character AlderCharacter Cherry, Character Oak, and Character Alder is also known as Rustic or knotty. Characteristics: the same as for the regular wood specie with the exception of the knotty, rustic characteristics. Knots will be sound, vary in size, quantity and placement will be random. Sapwood, mineral streaks, and color variations will be acceptable.
Below is a sample showing the difference of Oak and Character Oak.
