Wood for the Trees
Material
MATERIAL
With special thanks to Bingaman & Son Lumber, MacDonald & Owen, Northland Forest Products and Rossi Lumber for their timber donation.
American red oak
Quercus species, mainly Quercus rubra
American red oak is the dominant species in the U.S. hardwood forests – with distinctive grain and wood that is not always red in colour. The name comes from the leaf colour in the fall. Red oak may be sold on the basis of ‘northern’, ‘southern’ and ‘Appalachian’.
Learn more about American red oak
Yellow birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Preferring cool regions with high rainfall, yellow birch is mostly harvested from forests in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Generally straight grained with a fine uniform texture, the wood of yellow birch has a distinct difference between the sap which is white and the heartwood which is light reddish brown. It is heavy, hard and strong, with good bending qualities.
Hard maple
Acer saccharum, Acer nigrum
Grown for both lumber and syrup, American hard maple is distinct from other maple species around the world, and renowned for its delicate colour, hardwearing nature, straight grain and fine finish. With creamy white sapwood and heartwood that can vary from light to dark reddish brown, hard maple darkens with exposure to light over time. It is widely used for applications where durability is important, such as flooring, worktops and furniture.
Cherry
Prunus serotina
American cherry is a fast-maturing hardwood species, with an ability to regenerate rapidly after forest fires. Cherry wood has a fine uniform grain, and a smooth texture. Sapwood is creamy white; heartwood varies from rich red to reddish brown and darkens on exposure to light. Easy to machine, mould, sand and stain, cherry wood is ideal furniture and fine joinery, and is a popular choice for doors, interior panelling and musical instruments.