Wood — nature’s creation — crafted into the look our Product selections offer.....

Choosing cabinetry material can be overwhelming. Once the decision to use hard wood is reached, many options exist for wood species. When choosing the type of wood to use, Sun Rock designers help our customers consider their budget, the durability, color, and grain pattern desired. The more easily attained and less exotic, the more economical the wood product is. The stronger, harder woods are a better investment for high traffic areas because they are more resistant to nicks and dings. Some people prefer a strong, visible grain pattern, while others prefer a neutral grain pattern that takes to stain well. Consider the overall appearance and the budget, and Sun Rock can find the perfect wood to achieve your design goals.

Each Species has uniques qulaities and careful consideration with the assistance of our designers, provides for the right selection. Take a look at the samples of each species and compare – then come to our showroom to see a wider selection.

Alder —Alder wood is growing as a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. It is also a relatively inexpensive wood. It has a uniform grain and light natural color, but most importantly for cabinet makers, alder stains well and holds consistent color allowing it to take a variety of stains to resemble other woods, such as maple or even cherry. Alder wood is a hardwood which is derived from an alder tree, a deciduous group of the birch family containing about 30 species of flowering trees and shrubs, including the main sources of hardwood- black alder, gray alder and red alder. Alder trees grow in the northern hemisphere, in Europe, Russia, western Asia and Japan. Red Alder grows on the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada. Alder is considered a soft wood with a hardness of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5.

Knotty Alder —Knotty Alder is selected for its rustic, rough look. Its knots and patches give it the distinct, mountain cabin look. It is a light, nutty brown color with yellow and peach hues. The ability of alder to take a variety of stains can further highlight the beautiful grain. The open, solid knots give alder a more informal presence. Knotty Alder is considered a soft wood with a hardness of 1 on a scale of 1 to 5 lending to its distressed, aged character.

Bamboo —Bamboo provides a sustainable option for eco-conscious homeowners. It grows easily and fast, taking less time and energy to replace itself. It is durable and brown in color with yellow undertones. Bamboo cabinets offer several benefits and a visual appeal that's uniquely different from cabinetry that's made with more traditional materials. Bamboo is strong and hard and is also a highly sustainable natural resource and is considered a medium wood with a hardness of 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. .

Birch —Birch has a very light, white natural coloring. It lends itself to contemporary styles well, and takes stain and paint well. Its texture is fine and even. Birch comes in two varieties: yellow and white. Yellow birch is a pale yellow-to-white wood with reddish-brown heartwood, whereas white birch has a whiter color that resembles maple. Both types of birch have a hardness of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5. Birch is readily available and less expensive than many other hardwoods.

Cherry —Cherry is known for its beauty, durability, and high quality. It has red to brown undertones, and is often chosen for traditional kitchens and studies. It is indigenous to the Northern Appalachians and has a fine to medium grain pattern. Cherry darkens elegantly with age, and has occasional knots, mineral streaks, and gum patterns that add to its unique beauty. Cherry is a very popular and an all–around great wood; easy to work with, stains and finishes well, and ages beautifully. Cherry has a hardness of 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. This is a very common wood for furniture-making and is available from sustainably-grown forests.

Hickory —Hickory is a strong, brown wood with a medium grain that is popular for country or rustic settings. It varies in grain patterns and color which adds to its appeal. Hickory comes in two main varieties. Hickory heartwood, or red hickory, has a reddish–brown coloring. White hickory is light–colored sapwood. Both types possess a rough texture and fine grain that is usually straight, but wavy and irregular in some cases. Hickory wood is tougher than oak or maple with a hardness of 4 on a scale of 1 to 5, meaning that hickory cabinets are strong and durable and will last a long, long time.

Mahogany —Mahogany is known for its unique beauty. It comes from the Ivory Coast of Africa and is one of the great furniture woods ranging in color from reddish-brown-to-deep-red tint and undertones with a straight grain and medium texture with little variation that takes well to stains. It is a durable wood with excellent workability andconsidered a hard wood with a hardness of around 4-5 on a scale of 1 to 5. It ages elegantly, darkening with time.

Maple —Maple is versatile and resilient with a mild, fine grain pattern. It takes stain and paint well and works well with both traditional and contemporary styles. It provides beauty and durability without the high price. Maple comes in two varieties: hard and soft. Both varieties are harder than many other woods; hard maple is so hard (a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5) that it’s difficult to work with. Soft maple, on the other hand, is relatively easy to work with a hardness of 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. Because of their fine, straight grain, both varieties are more stable than many other woods. They also tend to be less expensive than other hardwoods.

Oak — Oak is one of the strongest hard woods and has been used in cabinetry for generations. Its robust, prominent grain pattern lends itself well to casual or country looks. Red oak and white oak are both available, giving options for color undertones. Oak is one of the most used woods for furniture. Oak is strong (hardness of about 3 on a scale of 1 to 5) and easy to work with. White oak is preferred for furniture-making because it has a more attractive figure than red oak (white oak is also resistant to moisture.

The first step is to identify what you like, what you don’t like; the ambiance or feeling you want to achieve from your cabinet style. Remeber, your cabinets are the featured furniture in your kitche or bath. Our Sun Rock professional designers take stock your design preferences – –Listen...to you.... and work together to find the design that creates that perfect feeling you want. Our experience provides us the ability to achieve great results!

Take a look at our projects – Gather ideas – Visit our showroom – Come see us at The Home & Design Idea Center 19120 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, Arizona

 

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