Wood Species

Wood species we work with

We use Western Red Cedar as the default wood for all our products. Below are the other wood species we typically work with, and we can also make our products in any wood species you choose.

To understand natural wood variation and how to manage your finish expectations, see Appearance Selection. For any species on any product, use our custom-work process.

Appearance Selection

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Compare at a glance

Species	Hardness	Type	Relative cost	Stain	Paint	Suggested use	Rot resistance
Western Red Cedar	350	Softwood	$$ (#1 or better $$$$)	Excellent	Good	Exterior (naturally rot resistant)	Excellent
Engineered Western Red Cedar	350	Softwood	$$	Good (excellent with a darker stain)	Excellent	Exterior (naturally rot resistant)	Excellent
Redwood	450	Softwood	$$ (#1 or better $$$$)	Excellent	Good	Exterior (naturally rot resistant)	Excellent
Eastern White Pine	380	Softwood	$	Excellent	Excellent	Interior (general use)	Moderate
Poplar	540	Softwood	$	Excellent	Excellent	Interior (paint grade)	Low
Douglas Fir	660	Softwood	$$	Good	Good	Interior (structural) or exterior (with treatment)	Moderate
Red Oak	1290	Hardwood	$$$	Excellent	Good	Interior (flooring, furniture) or exterior (with treatment)	Moderate
White Oak	1360	Hardwood	$$$	Excellent	Good	Interior (flooring, furniture) or exterior (with treatment)	Moderate
Maple	1450	Hardwood	$$$$	Excellent	Excellent	Interior (cabinetry, furniture)	Moderate
Sapele	1510	Hardwood	$$$$	Fair	Good	Interior (veneer, furniture)	High

Hardness is the Janka rating: the higher the number, the harder the wood and the better it resists dents. Relative cost runs from $ (lowest) to $$$$ (highest). Select a species for its details.

Species details

Western Red Cedar Default
- Hardness 350
- Softwood
- Cost $$
A beautiful, durable wood known for its rich, warm color and fine texture. Its natural resistance to decay and insects makes it perfect for outdoor projects like architectural woodwork, decking and siding. Easy to work with and lightweight, it is also ideal indoors for paneling and furniture, and its pleasant aroma and sustainable sourcing add to its appeal.

Grain and appearance: Straight, knotty

What is Western Red Cedar?
Engineered Western Red Cedar
- Hardness 350
- Softwood
- Cost $$
Combines the natural beauty and durability of Western Red Cedar with more structural stability and better value. It is made by laminating finger-jointed strips of high-quality Western Red Cedar, for a material with both good looks and improved performance.

Grain and appearance: Straight to fine vertical grain, with some lamination joints and tight smaller knots
Redwood
- Hardness 450
- Softwood
- Cost $$
A highly valued softwood with a rich reddish-brown hue, a fine, straight to wavy grain and natural durability. Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) comes mainly from coastal Northern California and Oregon and is one of the tallest and longest-living trees on Earth. Its resistance to decay and insects makes it ideal outdoors, and its light weight and beautiful finish suit interior woodwork too.

Grain and appearance: Straight to wavy grain, with occasional knots
Eastern White Pine
- Hardness 380
- Softwood
- Cost $
A versatile, attractive wood with a light, creamy color and straight grain. It is soft and easy to work, ideal for furniture, interior paneling and vaulted ceiling trusses, and is also used outdoors for siding, trim, wood brackets, braces and rafter tails. Its sustainability and affordability add to its popularity.

Grain and appearance: Straight, knotty
Poplar
- Hardness 540
- Softwood
- Cost $
A versatile wood with a light, creamy color and a fine, even texture. Soft and easy to work, it is ideal for furniture, cabinetry and interior trim, and its smooth surface makes it a popular paint-grade wood. Affordable and widely available.

Grain and appearance: Straight, uniform
Douglas Fir
- Hardness 660
- Softwood
- Cost $$
A durable, versatile wood with a light reddish-brown color and a straight, pronounced grain. Strong and easy to work with, it is ideal for structural applications, flooring and furniture, and its natural resistance to decay and insects suits outdoor projects too. Sustainable and readily available.

Grain and appearance: Straight, tight knots
Red Oak
- Hardness 1290
- Hardwood
- Cost $$$
A strong, durable hardwood with a warm reddish-brown color and a prominent grain pattern. Highly workable, it is ideal for flooring, cabinetry and furniture, and its strength and wear resistance suit high-traffic areas. It takes stains and finishes well, enhancing its rich appearance.

Grain and appearance: Open, prominent grain
White Oak
- Hardness 1360
- Hardwood
- Cost $$$
A highly durable hardwood with a light to medium brown color and distinctive grain. Exceptionally strong and water resistant, it is ideal for flooring, cabinetry and outdoor projects like boatbuilding. Its closed grain allows a smooth finish and stains well, and it is valued for its longevity and versatility.

Grain and appearance: Closed, subtle grain
Maple
- Hardness 1450
- Hardwood
- Cost $$$$
A strong, versatile hardwood with a creamy white to light reddish-brown color and a smooth, fine grain. Highly durable and easy to work with, it is ideal for furniture, cabinetry and flooring, and its uniform texture and abrasion resistance suit high-traffic areas. It takes stains and finishes well.

Grain and appearance: Closed, subtle grain
Sapele
- Hardness 1510
- Hardwood
- Cost $$$$
An exotic hardwood with a rich reddish-brown color and an interlocking grain that creates a striking ribbon-like pattern. Durable and resistant to decay, it suits interior and exterior uses such as furniture, cabinetry and flooring. Valued for its workability, smooth finish and natural luster in high-end woodwork.

Grain and appearance: Interlocked, ribbon figure