wood species

Wood is strong, easily harvested, 100% renewable, thermally efficient, acoustically calming, cost effective, easy to transform into virtually any shape, and always in harmony with its surroundings. It offers such a pleasing indoor temperature and ambiance that one instantly feels at ease in a room with wood features. Wood flooring is comfortable to the feet both in winter and in summer; wood doors open with a warm welcome, and wood moldings provide just the right accent to the homes dècor—bringing each room of the house together into one great whole.

Sun Mountain products are available in over 20 wood species including both domestic and exotic hardwoods and softwoods. Many species can be further designated by "grade", such as "knotty" (sometimes called "character") or "select" (clear, with little or no knots). In addition, unique effects can be achieved by special "cuts" of the logs, such as "flat", "rift" and "quarter" cuts. If you don't find what you desire from our standard offerings, we can source almost any unique or rare wood species for your special project.

AFRICAN MAHOGANY

Binomial Name: Khaya

African Mahogany is a hardwood with an interlocked or straight grain, often with a ribbon figure, and a moderately coarse texture. Color ranges from creamy-white sapwood to reddish brown heartwood, often with a purple cast. African Mahogany is moderately heavy and hard with medium bending and crushing strength, low stiffness and shock resistance, moderate decay resistance, and good stability.

ALDER

Binomial Name: Alnus rubra

Alder is a relatively soft hardwood with a grain pattern similar to Cherry. The color is uniform and varies slightly from reddish-brown to light tan or honey. Knotty alder has a rustic, rugged look; knots are random in size, quantity and location. Open, star, and split knots are common. Alder accepts stain and finishes very well.

SPANISH CEDAR

Binomial Name: Cedrela odorata

Spanish cedar is a softwood with a grain pattern similar to Mahogany. Traditionally used in humidors, it is prized for its resistance to insect attacks and rot, and is an excellent choice for exterior doors. Color varies slightly from reddish-brown to light pink. Knots tend to be small and pin-like; larger dark brown or black pitch marks and streaks are also common.

CHERRY

Binomial Name: Prunus serotina

Cherry is a hardwood with rich color and a flowing grain pattern. The fine, satiny texture of the wood is uniform and frequently wavy, with distinctive gum veins and pockets. The lustrous heartwood ranges from light to dark reddish brown, contrasting sharply with the sapwood, which may be light brown to pale with a light pinkish tone; however, between boards there may be significant color variations. Small gum spots, pin knots, and mineral streaks are characteristic. Cherry is extremely light-sensitive, and darkens significantly with age and intensity due to sunlight exposure.

DOUGLAS (CVG) FIR

Binomial Name: Pseudotsuga menziesii

Douglas (CVG, or Clear Vertical Grain) Fir is a softwood with a generally straight, sometimes wavy grain. Its texture is medium to fairly coarse, and its color varies from yellowish to orange-red heartwood and whitish to reddish-white sapwood. It is typically free of knots. Douglas Fir has moderate shock resistance and high stiffness. It is somewhat brittle and susceptible to checking/splitting.

HARD MAPLE

Binomial Name: Acer saccharum

Hard Maple is a very strong hardwood with a closed, subdued grain and a uniform texture. The sapwood is a lovely creamy white, while the heartwood ranges from creamy white to light reddish brown. Unless otherwise specified, figuring such as curly, birds-eye, quilted, or fiddleback is slight. Due to its light color and durability, Hard Maple is a popular choice for a "contemporary" look. Because it is so dense, it does not take stain well.

HEMLOCK

Binomial Name: Tsuga

Hemlock is a softwood similar to Fir, but with a coloring from light honey to a rich golden tan. The lumber may contain very small, very tight black knots. Dark streaks are often found in the lumber; these are caused by Hemlock bark maggots and generally do not reduce strength. Hemlock is moderately light in weight and moderate in strength and shock resistance.

HICKORY

Binomial Name: Carya

Hickory is a dense hardwood with extremely high shock resistance. The heartwood is tan or reddish, with the sapwood a contrastingly beautiful creamy white. Checking is relatively common in hickory, and the relative density makes it difficult to take a stain well. It is most beautiful with a clear, natural finish.

LYPTUS®

Binomial Name: Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla

Lyptus® hardwood has a density similar to hickory or maple with surface qualities similar to mahogany. Color is relatively consistent from dark pink to a deep red. Lyptus® is a "green" hardwood; it is only grown and harvested on renewable plantations, making it completely self-sustainable and environmentally responsible.

NORTHERN WHITE ASH

Binomial Name: Fraxinus americana

Northern White Ash is valued for its strength, hardness, heavy weight, and elasticity (shock resistance). Its use in wooden baseball bats and tool handles is famous. The wood is straight-grained with clear white to pale yellow sapwood and light to medium brown heartwood tones. Because of its hardness and light color, Northern White Ash is a very difficult wood to stain. However, its natural color is stunningly beautiful.

PINE

Binomial Name: Pinus

Pine is a softwood with a relatively straight grain pattern. The sapwood is usually light yellowish-white to yellowish-tan, while the heartwood is light orange-yellow to red or yellowish-brown in color. Pine is light in weight and relatively low in shock resistance. Knots are tight and sound; the quantity varies depending on the grade of lumber selected.

POPLAR

Binomial Name: Populus

Poplar is a hardwood with a relatively straight grain and a fine, even texture. Color varies significantly from creamy-white to green, to brown, to purple. Poplar is relatively soft and light with low ratings for strength and shock resistance. Due to variations in color and density, it does not stain consistently; however, it is an excellent choice for a painted finish.

QUARTER-SAWN WHITE OAK

Binomial Name: Quercus alba

Because of its unique sawing pattern, Quarter-Sawn White Oak has a beautiful plumed or flared appearance, or a flake pattern that may be referred to as "tiger rays" or "butterflies." It has long been used in fine furniture, especially in early colonial America. White Oak finishes well, is very durable and exhibits high shock resistance.

RED OAK

Binomial Name: Quercus rubra

A hardwood chosen primarily for its prominent open grain pattern. Some color variation from reddish tan to medium brown is possible. Occasional pin knots and mineral streaks are also characteristic. Red Oak is relatively heavy in weight and exhibits high shock resistance. It accepts stain readily and finishes well.

SAPELE

Binomial Name: Entandrophragma cylindricum

Native to tropical Africa, Sapele is reminiscent of Mahogany with a distinctive grain figure. It has excellent density and is sought after for flooring due to its durability and beautiful graining. This wood has been used by car maker Cadillac for vehicle interior wood trim and accents.

SOFT MAPLE

Binomial Name: Acer rubrum

Soft maple is a hardwood with a straight, close grain pattern and a fine, even texture. Colors may vary significantly—from a creamy white sapwood to a beige or tan-colored heartwood, with green or very dark brown streaks. It is strong and stiff, but has a relatively low shock resistance. Its even texture renders it suitable for painted applications, and it is more durable than Poplar for exterior applications.

SOUTH AMERICAN (HONDURAN) MAHOGANY

Binomial Name: Swietenia macrophylla

South American mahogany is a dense hardwood with a generally straight grain, although it may sometimes be roey, wavy, or curly. It has a coarse, uniform texture. Its color ranges from pale pink to dark reddish brown heartwood, with yellowish white sapwood. South American Mahogany has very good stability and resistance to decay.

STEAMED BEECH

Binomial Name: Fagus sylvatica

European Steamed Beech is a hardwood with exceptional color uniformity and texture. Trees are harvested larger than most other hardwaoods, which allows for larger board widths and greater flexibility. The lumber is close-grained, wear resistant, and machines and finishes well. The lumber is steamed to a consistent tan color and is typically free from knots and other defects.

WALNUT

Binomial Name: Juglans nigra

Walnut hardwood has beautiful, distinct differences in color between the nearly white sapwood and the heartwood, which ranges from a deep, rich, almost chocolate brown to a purplish black. The species often has a purplish cast with dark streaks. The grain of Walnut is mostly straight and open, although some boards may have a grain pattern that is burled or curly. The wood surface is generally fairly dull, though it may develop a lustrous patina after many years in use.

WHITE OAK

Binomial Name: Quercus alba

A dense hardwood with a white to cream to light brown color. The grains of White Oak tend to be longer than Red Oak, which makes the species prized for construction of "Mission" style furniture and woodwork. White Oak is very durable, exhibits high shock resistance and finishes well. White Oak stains well, although contact with metal will result in a dark stain in the wood.

WORMY MAPLE

Binomial Name: Acer rubrum

Wormy maple has been specifically selected out to show mineral streaks and color variations caused by the ambrosia worm. No two boards are alike. Colors and patterns vary significantly from a creamy white sapwood to a beige or tan-colored heartwood, with green or very dark brown streaks. It is strong and stiff, but has a relatively low shock resistance. Wormy maple is common in fine, hand-crafted furniture.

YELLOW BIRCH

Binomial Name: Betula alleghaniensis

Birch is among the most featureless of North American hardwoods, although it has a natural, pleasing figure. The sapwood ranges from pale white to creamy yellow, while the heartwood tends to be a light-reddish brown with a red tinge. Occasionally, boards may show curly or wavy figuring. It is hard and stiff, with excellent shock-resistance.