Species 101
No Two Trees are the Same...and that's what makes wood beautiful. The graining gives it character and shows the movement of what once was alive. Let's not hide it, but rather enjoy it! When it comes to staining wood (or Fiberglass) the texture of the substrate will affect the overall appearance. It is for that reason when specifying stain colors we refer to it as a blend.
Choose your desired wood types below to learn more about what each species has to offer and its' recommended pre-finish options.
This species offers a fine, uniform grain, and is pale tan to whitish in color with a look similar to maple.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard – Clear Coat, Ultra or Premium
This species is loved for it’s very straight, uniform grain and varies in color from pinkish-yellow to warm reddish-brown in its heartwood while its sapwood skews a little lighter in color. Heartwood and sapwood are used alongside one another in door manufacturing.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard – Clear Coat or Premium
This species has a straight grain with deep, dark knots and is typically light brown with hues of red and peach and deep. Dime-sized knots or smaller are acceptable in both our doors and moulding lengths. Fun fact: alder is a shrub and a tree, so long lengths over six feet are hard to come by.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Glazed / Distressed
This species has a very fine grain in whitish hues with faint tinges of reddish brown. It is a dense and very durable wood that does not take stain well.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard – Clear Coat or Premium
This species has a relatively straight grain but the pattern of its grain can look different depending on how the log is cut. Live cuts produce cathedrals throughout its surface and is the most common, cost-effective option. Quarter sawn and Rift cuts produce grain patterns that are devoid of cathedrals with Rift cut being the straightest and Quarter sawn looking straight but with dashes, referred to as “chatter,” running across its surface.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard
This species has a distinctive straight, uniform grain within its heartwood and wide growth bands in its sapwood. The color varies from honey and straw-toned sapwood to reddish-brown heartwood and knots.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard – Clear Coat, Ultra or Premium
This species is loved for the way it takes stain, allowing it to look like more expensive hardwoods. It has an even texture and straight grain pattern, but its natural color can run from dark brown to pale yellow or olive green.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Ultra, Premium
This species has a light brown to medium brown color with an olive cast. It has a straight grain pattern and takes stain well. The white oak tree is slow-growing and requires a large diameter of space which has contributed to its shortage in recent years.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Standard
Primed Poplar - provides a smooth finish and is resistant to humidity changes within the home.
MDF - sustainable utilizing 95% + recycled material.
MDF - sustainable utilizing 95% + recycled material.
Recommended Pre-Finish Process: Paint