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Choice of Wood Species

I am not sure that people understand that the choice of wood species helps to determine the overall price when selecting everything from cabinetry to furniture. The fact is that different wood species sells for different prices. Let me try to explain some of the most common woods and how they affect your bottom line.

 

Red Oak will be your least expensive hardwood choice. It has a prominent grain pattern and in my experience is the least desired kitchen wood choice in southern Florida. Hickory will fall next in line. The hardwood Hickory has vibrant, unpredictable grain patterns. This product too is very seldom chosen for a home here.

 

Alder wood is next in the price structure. This medium density hardwood is often chosen due to its fine, light grain pattern and uniform texture. The Knotty version of this wood has been a huge success with the demand for a distressed look in the kitchen.

 

This brings us to the hardwood Maple which is the price starting point for most cabinet companies. The price is in about the middle of all the common wood specie. Maple wood is known for its fine, uniform grain and texture. It has a natural color range and mineral streaks are common and expected. This wood specie is chosen more than all the others for kitchens here in southern Florida.

 

From here we will go to Cherry which can amount to a price increase over maple from anywhere between 9% and 20% depending on how select the wood is. Cherry is known for its elegant warm tones. Once again mineral streaks are both common and desired.  Cherry is still very affordable and is often chosen for kitchen cabinetry. From here the price structure will go higher with Mahogany and the exotics.

 

I used the word common above to separate these woods from the Exotic woods. When I say exotic woods I refer to woods like Rosewood, English Sycamore, Wenge, Beech and Anigre to mention a few. These woods would need their own article. These woods also have their very own price structure.