Wood 101
This section of the website has been developed to profile some of the wood varieties that I utilize when making your new furniture pieces. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I have just picked out some of my favourites.
Being a proudly Canadian company we are committed to use only 100% sustainably grown, Canadian hardwoods.
"White oak is to me the most noble of woods."
- Nick Offerman (aka Ron Swanson)
Quarter-Sawn White Oak
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, Sapwood is nearly white to light brown.
Grain is straight, with a beautiful varied colour and texture. Quarter-sawn white oak is distinguished - and coveted - for its distinctive medullary ray flecks.
Is a strong, dense wood famous for being used to build the most durable 18th century naval warships.
Walnut
Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown. Colour can sometimes have a grey, purple, or reddish undertone. Sapwood is a pale to medium cream colour.
Grain is usually straight but has areas of beautiful irregular figure.
Grown in Ontario and Quebec.
Alder
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, with a golden/reddish undertone. Colour tends to darken with age.
Grain is straight with an even, medium texture. Available in knotty and clear varieties.
Hard Maple
Sapwood colour is off-white to white, sometimes with a reddish undertone.
Grain has an even, fine texture and a generally straight grain with some wave to it. Has a very tight, closed grain.
Birch
Heartwood tends to be a light reddish brown, with nearly white sapwood. Has a fairly uniform appearance but with some colour gradients across the grain.
Grain is generally straight or slightly wavy, with a fine, even texture.
Red Oak
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, with a reddish undertone.
The grain is straight with an uneven texture. A very common hardwood that has been popular for decades across Canada. It is quite hard, works well, accepts stain beautifully, and is cost effective.