Characteristics of Woods and Finishes

Alder has a lot of the same grain patterns and colors as cherry, however it is softer, lighter in weight and dents/scratches very easily. Due to the softness of Alder the end grain may soak up the finish and a glaze may hang up heavier in the end grain, also the wood may dent/scratch easier, etc. This may result in subtle variations in shades of stained finish product. As with all wood it may darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and is not considered a reason for product replacement.

Natural Birch is randomly pulled pieces of wood which may contain; red birch, white birch, heart wood, sap wood, mineral streaks, etc. So one door may have many color variations. This may result in subtle variations in shades of stained finished product. Natural Birch is an open grained wood: the end grain may soak up the finish and the glaze may hang up heavier in the end grain. Painting birch is more cost effective than painting maple. However, due to the open grain, you will not get the quality finish that you would from painting maple. As with all wood it will darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and is not considered a reason for product replacement.

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Cherry is a mostly red colored wood but can vary to yellows, greens, and whites. And will have variations in color and grain from piece to piece. Cherry has tendencies to have mineral streaks and is a softer wood than maple. This may result in subtle variations in shades of stained finished product. As with all wood it will darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and is not considered a reason for product replacement.

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Hickory is a very hard and open grained wood, with extreme color variations ranging from blonde to green to black. We order our Hickory as a rustic hickory that has a lot of knots and color variations. Hickory has tendencies to have mineral streaks. This may result in subtle variations in shades of stained finished product. As with all wood it will darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and in not considered a reason for product replacement.

Maple is a very hard wood. Maple may vary from piece to piece, some pieces will have a grainy look and some pieces will look as if it has no grain. Maple has tendencies to have mineral streaks. This may result in subtle variations in shade of stained finished product.

Red Oak is a very hard and open grained wood. Red Oak has some color variations and some unusual patterns. This may result in subtle variations of stained finished product. As with all wood it will darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and is not considered a reason for product replacement.

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Knotty Pine is the softest of all wood species that we offer. Therefore it is easily scratched or dented. Knotty Pine has some color variations and may go from no knots in some doors to multiple knots in other doors. This may result in subtle variations in shades of stained finished product. As with all wood it will darken over time. This is the natural characteristic of the wood and is not considered a reason for product replacement.