With a wide variety of colors, grains, and hardnesses, solid wood has always been a preferred material for fine cabinetry. Each species has its own set of characteristics and each board its own unique personality. Classified as hardwood or softwood each species brings its own advantages to reaching a desired look or functionality. Hardwoods, offering  a greater strength and stability, are derived from broad-leefed trees, such as maple, cherry, oak, ash, walnut, or mahogany. Softwoods come from needle-bearing evergreen trees, such as pine, spruce, redwood, or cedar, and are preferred for intricately carved pieces.

Alder

Alder as a medium density hardwood from the Pacific Northwest. Consistent color, stability, and uniform acceptance of stains and finishes are some of the characteristics that have made Alder the preferred wood of Pierce Cabinets. It features a color range of light brown with reddish hues and a fairly strait grain for uniform texture.

Knotty Alder

Small and large split knots and open knots that vary in size, shape, and color, that may be completely through the wood, are acceptable characteristics of Knotty Alder. Noticeable stain patina characteristics ranging in visibility from dark spots absorbing excessive stain to very light spots absorbing minimal stain may exist due to the Alder wood having soft and hard wood characteristics.

Cherry

Cherry ia a strong, fine-grained hardwood with a pink undertone, often played up with a medium or dark finish to enhance its mahogany-red tones. Its rich coloring darkens with age and exposure to light. Cherry resists warping and is often considered a luxury wood.

Knotty Cherry

Knotty Cherry varies in color from white to red and on to a deep, rich brown with gum and pitch pockets, mineral streaks and knots. Both sapwood and heartwood will be present in varying amounts. In addition, Knotty Cherry may have knots, split knots, ingrown bark and other natural character marks and defects. Small and large knots, both sound and unsound, and open knots that vary in size, shape and color that may be completely through the wood are typical characteristics of Knotty Cherry and gives this traditional wood specie a rustic appearance. With time, cherry ages and reacts to sunlight and begins to darken. These changes in the wood color are natural and should be expected in any Knotty Cherry cabinetry.

Maple

Maple is a light-colored medium to hard wood with diffused, evenly-sized pores that give a fine texture and even grain. Maple has the ability to be finished to resemble walnut, cherry, or other more expensive hardwoods. Maple may exhibit small areas that are reminiscent of bird’s eyes, curly grain, and may contain random small black mineral streaks.

Poplar

Poplar is a light-colored, softer wood with a fine, even texture and generally straight grain. Poplar is the premier choice for Pierce Cabinets when it comes to painted cabinetry.