Built for strength and durability, our 8/4 Cherry Hardwood is a great choice for flooring, furniture, and cabinet manufacturers.

This week, we are going through one of our 5/4 Hickory F&B packs. This species is known for having bird pecks, which flooring manufacturers and consumers often desire. Listen in as Noah flips through the pack, reviewing the characteristics and the environmental benefits.

Hickory Hardwood FAQ

What makes Hickory wood a popular choice for hardwood products?

Hickory lumber is renowned for its hardness, strength, and shock resistance. It’s a durable and attractive wood, often chosen for flooring, cabinetry, and tool handles. It also displays unique character markings like bird pecks, which many find desirable.

Where does Gutchess Lumber source its hardwood?

Gutchess Lumber sources its hardwood from the northern Appalachian region of the United States in the proximity of its New York and Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities.

What are the environmental benefits of using Hickory?

Using real wood products like Hickory stores carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Additionally, sourcing from sustainably managed forests ensures the long-term health of our forests.

Does Gutchess Lumber offer other hardwood species?

Yes, Gutchess Lumber offers other hardwood species besides Hickory. See each of the Northern hardwood species we offer here.

What thicknesses of Hickory does Gutchess Lumber offer?

We stock 4/4, 5/4, and 8/4 in this hardwood species and other thicknesses in other species.

What is “bird peck”?

Bird peck refers to small markings or indentations in the wood grain caused by birds pecking at the tree. These markings are a natural characteristic of Hickory and are often considered desirable, adding character and uniqueness to the wood.

Can I purchase hardwood directly from Gutchess Lumber?

You can purchase truckload and container quantities of hardwood directly from Gutchess Lumber. Please note that Gutchess Lumber does not sell small quantities of Hickory wood or any hardwood species; it must be purchased in either truckload or container quantities. Gutchess ships its hardwood products worldwide. If you are looking for smaller quantities and are in the Latrobe area, check out our brand Forest 2 Home.

Tune in to hear Noah Barber talk about our Spotlight Species of the Week 4/4 Wormy Ash. This product is commonly used in furniture, cabinets, and tables. What makes our sort different is that our grade is select and better over the wormholes.

Sugar Maple trees grow abundantly and are popular for what is on the inside- Maple Syrup and Hard Maple lumber! Hard Maple lumber has common uses in furniture, hardwood flooring, cabinets, sports equipment, kitchen accessories and more, allowing for this light-colored lumber to be featured in each aspect of your home. Hailing from the Sugar Maple tree, this incredible wood is a staple species that Gutchess Lumber manufactures.

Sugar Maple growth

The Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) tree grows throughout the Eastern United States, Canada, and the Great Lake states, specifically: through central Ontario, the southern third of Quebec, all of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, throughout New England, New York, Pennsylvania, the mid-Atlantic states, extending southwest to New Jersey and to the Appalachian Mountains, downward to the western edge of North Carolina and the Southern border of Tennessee. The western limit for Hard Maple lumber growth extends through Missouri and into small areas of Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota. There are a few outliers of Sugar Maple hardwood growth in Kansas, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Its ideal growing climate is cool and moist which is why it is restricted to these regions. That said, it can grow on sand, loamy sand, loams, and silt but it does best on well-drained loams. It does not grow well on dry, shallow soil and is very rarely found it swampland.

Early growth of Sugar Maple trees is slow as they often are regenerating under heavy canopies and shade, though of deciduous trees, they are among the most shade tolerant. The minimum seed-bearing age for Sugar Maples is roughly 30-years. Sugar Maples are a long-living tree, typically reaching 200-years to 300-years in age. The areas in which they reside, where they are hard freezes in the winter for proper dormancy, encourage this slow and long life.

Difference between Hard Maple and Red Maple grain

Differences between Hard Maple and Soft Maple

Hardwood species are classified by the seeds the tree produces. Each hardwood tree species has a coating that takes the shape of a fruit or a shell that becomes a flowering plant. These flowering seeds are known as angiosperm, which translates in Greek to “vessel seed.” Additionally, hardwood trees lose and regrow their leaves annually, making them deciduous.

They differ from softwood trees, as trees classified as softwoods seeds do not have any coating and are instead, dropped to the ground to deal with the elements. Examples of softwood tree seeds are needles and cones that are dubbed gymnosperm, meaning “naked seed.” Except for the Larch tree species, all softwood trees retain their needles year-round, making them evergreen trees.

That said, “Hard Maple” and “Soft Maple” do hold distinct meanings when referencing the tree species. The term “soft maple” is used to reference several different types of maple trees, including Red Maple, while “Hard Maple” specifically references the lumber that comes from the Sugar Maple tree and, on occasion, the Black Maple tree. Both Soft Maple and Hard Maple are harvested from dicot trees, making them both hardwoods. Soft Maple wood comes in many varieties and is 25% softer than Hard Maple wood.

Difference between Oak and Maple wood

Appearance and hardness are the biggest differences between Oak and Maple wood. Maple wood appears less “grainy”, has smaller pores compared to Oak wood, and is a white or cream colored hardwood. Oak wood has a distinct grain pattern and colors that range from a yellow-white to reddish brown, depending on the species. In terms of hardness, Hard Maple hardwood has a Janka hardness score of 1450, while Soft Maple has a hardness score of 950. Red Oak scores 1290 and White Oak scores 1360 on the Janka hardness scale. You must know which species you are comparing to determine the specific difference between Oak and Maple wood.

Hard Maple density

The Janka Hardness Scale is used to determine the relative hardness for domestic wood species, like Hard Maple hardwood. The test measures the amount of force that is required to embed a 11.28mm steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. While the Janka Hardness Scale is traditionally used to determine whether a wood species is suitable for flooring, it is a good measure of determining a wood species resistance to wear and its overall durability. Wood species with a higher number rating are harder than wood species with a lower rating. The data from the Janka Hardness Scale is expressed in pounds-force, or lbf.

On the Janka Hardness Scale, the Hard Maple hardwood species rating is the highest of all the Maple hardwood species. Hard Maple has a Janka Hardness Scale value of 1,450, while its soft maple relative, the Red Maple, has a rating of 950 lbf.  When compared with other hardwood species, Hard Maple wood falls in the middle of the Janka Hardness Scale. It is less durable that Red Oak wood and White Oak wood but marginally more durable than Cherry wood.

Different types of Maple wood

• Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum): this maple hardwood species is one of two hard maple wood types. It is also the first choice for those seeking to make maple syrup. It grows to a height of 50 to 80 feet, is abundant throughout the Northeastern and Southern United States and Northeastern Canada, and is one of the species of maple that Gutchess Lumber manufactures.
• Black Maple (Acer nigrum): this maple hardwood is the second of two hard maple wood types. It is incredibly closely related to the standard Sugar Maple tree and as such, is commonly known as the Black Sugar Maple. This Maple hardwood species grows between 80-115 feet tall in the Northeastern and Southern United States and Northeastern Canada.
• Red Maple (Acer rubrum): dubbed for its red leaves in the autumn, the Red Maple tree also is known as the Scarlet Maple, the Soft Maple, the Drummond Red Maple, the Carolina Red Maple, the Swamp Maple, the Trident Red Maple and the Water maple. It is a soft maple hardwood tree that grows from 30 to 100 feet in its native area of the Eastern United States and Canada.
• Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum): like the Red Maple, the Silver Maple gets its name from the leaf color, with the underside of its leaves reflecting a silver flash in the wind. It goes by various names regionally, including the Soft Maple, the Creek Maple, the River Maple, the White Maple and the Water Maple. Growing from 50 ft to 100 ft in its native region of the Eastern United States and Canada, this Maple tree type is over of the most abundant.

Birdseye Maple vs Spalted Maple

Maple wood species are commonly referred to by other names. While these names, like Birdseye Maple and Spalted Maple are popular, they are indicative of character traits of the lumber and are not, in fact, a Maple species.

Birdseye Maple, sometimes written as bird’s eye maple, was given its name due to the tiny knots in the grain that resemble a small birds eye. Birdseye Maple is in actuality Hard Maple lumber. The figuring of the lumber is caused by an unfavorable growing condition for the tree and as the tree makes repeated attempts to start numerous new buds to increase the amount of sunlight it is receiving, with the poor growing conditions the new shoots are abandoned and a number of tiny knots remain. The “defect” created by these growing conditions make for a incredible Birdseye Maple boards.

Like Birdseye Maple, Spalted Maple refers to a defect created by growing conditions and not a wood species itself. Spalting is a fungal discoloration of wood, not exclusive to the Hard Maple wood species. Spalted Maple can be found in wood that has begun its initial stages of decay and then subsequently dired to prevent further decay. Spalted Maple, otherwise known as Black Line Maple, is referred to as the latter because of the dark, contrasting lines and streaks created by fungus in decaying wood.

Birdseye Maple and Spalted Maple are similar in the way that they are both common defects produced in the Maple hardwood species. They have become so common that they fall in line with the actual tree species that fall in the wood type. While they share similarities in being defects, the Birdseye defect is most notable in Hard Maple wood, while Spalting can be commonly found in Sycamore Trees, Beech trees, Birch trees, Hickory trees and others.

Cherry wood is one of the most prized hardwood species. Hailing from North America, Cherry wood has its roots in all aspects of life; from fine furniture to custom cabinetry, to flooring, to musical instruments, to small scale woodworking, wood carving and wood turning projects. Well-loved and sought after by interior design professionals, furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, and others, this hardwood species has earned its recognition thanks to its workability, beautiful grain, and magnificent color. Cherry has become a staple for several Gutchess customers, and we understand why.

Cherry tree lore

Not only has the Cherry tree made roots in various areas of woodworking and interior design, but it has had a presence in story telling for centuries! By far, the most well-known myth of the Cherry tree in the United States comes from our first president, George Washington.

While Washington’s Cherry tree legend has gone through different iterations over the years, the long-standing narrative is that young Washington received a hatchet and cut down a Cherry tree that he was not meant to. When confronted, Washington was honest about the damage he had caused. George Washington’s candor in admitting his mistakes solidified his reputation as a virtuous and honest leader. While the legend has been debunked and rebuked, the myth has endured for more than 200-years and is an integral part of America’s cultural heritage. The presence of the Cherry tree in that myth speaks to the importance of the Cherry trees enduring presence in all aspects of North America.

Cherry wood growth

The Black Cherry tree (Prunus serotina) is native to North America and some areas of South America. Specifically, it grows from southeastern Canada, through the eastern United States, west towards eastern Texas, with smaller populations within central Texas, the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala. The main commercial areas of Cherry tree growth in the United States include Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and New York.

The growing conditions in which the Cherry tree thrives include moist but well drained soil and full sun to partial shade. The Black Cherry tree has general climate resilience with the ability to bare the incredible cold. Though considered a medium sized tree, the Black Cherry tree can grow between 25 feet and 110 feet, though the more common height range is between 50 feet and 60 feet.

In part due to its malleability through various growing conditions, as well as the wide distribution of the seeds of its fruit by birds, the Black Cherry tree has always been in abundance in North America.

Are Cherry trees hardwood trees?

Hardwood species are classified by the seeds the tree produces. Each hardwood tree species has a coating that takes the shape of a fruit or a shell that becomes a flowering plant. These flowering seeds are known as angiosperm, which translates in Greek to “vessel seed.” Additionally, hardwood trees lose and regrow their leaves annually, making them deciduous trees.

They differ from softwood trees, as trees classified as softwood’s seeds do not have a coating and are instead dropped to the ground to deal with the elements. Examples of softwood tree seeds are needles and cones that are dubbed gymnosperm, meaning “naked seed.” Except for the Larch tree species, all softwood trees retain their needles year-round, making them evergreen trees.

Cherry trees fruit contains a pit, or seed, that is transplanted into the soil and grows the tree. These kinds of seeds are those known as angiosperm and make Cherry trees deciduous, hardwood trees.

Cherry density

The Janka Hardness Scale is used to determine the relative hardness for domestic wood species, like Cherry wood. The test measures the amount of force that s required to embed a 11.28mm steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. While the Janka Hardness Scale is traditionally used to determine whether a wood species is suitable for flooring, it is a good measure of determining a wood species resistance to wear and its overall durability. Wood species with a higher number rating are harder than wood species with a lower rating. The data from the Janka Hardness Scale is expressed in pounds-force, or lbf.

On the Janka Hardness Scale, the ranking for standard Cherry hardwood is 950 lbf. While there are various types of Cherry wood, they all generally rank around 950 lbf, unlike Walnut wood, with its different wood types by region having significantly different hardness levels. Thanks to its medium density, Cherry wood has good bending properties, low stiffness, and medium shock resistance, allowing it to withstand wear and dents well.

Cherry wood grain

The grain of Cherry wood lends to its workability. Cherry wood features a fine, straight grain with the exception of figured pieces with curly grain patterns or when defects from pith, mineral deposits, gum pockets and knots arise. Cherry hardwood endgrain features small to medium pores with random arrangement. Growth rings are generally distinct.

Different kinds of Cherry wood

It is important to distinguish between the Cherry wood types, as in reality, they hail from distinctly different trees in distinctly different regions. Commonly known Cherry wood types include:

• Black Cherry (Prunus serotina): Black Cherry wood is mainly manufactured in Eastern North America and the Cherry wood that you will find here at Gutchess Lumber. Commonly known names for Black Cherry wood include American Cherry, Rum Cherry, and Wild Cherry. When settlers first came to the United States, colonial furniture builders referred to it as “New England Mahogany” due to its tendency to change color after sunlight exposure. Black Cherry wood has heartwood of a light pinkish brown color that darkens to a medium reddish brown when exposed to lights. The sapwood of the Black Cherry tree is a pale, yellow color.
• Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium): otherwise known as European Cherry wood, this species is mainly found in Europe and Asia. Its stature is smaller in comparison to that of the Black Cherry tree with heights that reach between 32 feet and 65 feet tall. The heartwood and sapwood of the Sweet Cherry tree is consistent in color with that of the Black Cherry tree.
• Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata): native to China, Korea and Japan, this flowering tree is likely the first that comes to mind when Cherry trees are mentioned outside the context of woodworking. Alternative names for the Japanese Flowering Cherry tree include the Oriental Cherry, Hill Cherry, East Asian Cherry and Japanese Cherry. The sapwood of this tree is pale pinkish brown to creamy with the heartwood being brown with gold and green hues.
• Paperback Cherry (Prunus serrula): the Paperback Cherry tree, otherwise known as the Birchback Cherry or Tibetian Cherry hails from Western China. It grows from 20 feet to 30 feet tall, skewing it to be one of the smaller Cherry trees. The Paperback Cherry tree is an ornamental tree, thanks to its distinct bark that is peels in layers to reveal smooth, mahogany colors.
• Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus): this Cherry tree is almost exclusively grown for the fruit it produces which is why it has obtained the alternative names of Pie Cherry and Tart Cherry. Native to Europe and southwest Asia, these types of Cherry trees can reach up to 50 feet tall but are consistently pruned and kept between 12 feet and 15 feet tall.

There are many other “Cherry” types that fall outside the Prunus genus that the Black Cherry tree falls into. These types trees, while not technically within the same species, are categorized as Cherry thanks to their similar properties. They include:

• Brazilian Cherry (Hymenaea courbaril): despite its little relation to the Black Cherry tree, the Brazilian Cherry tree, otherwise known as Jatoba, has its name thanks to its color resemblance. Located in the West Indies, northern South America and Central America, these trees can grow between 100 feet and 130 feet tall.
• Patagonian Cherry (Guibourtia hymenaeifolia): otherwise referred to as Tiete Rosewood, this tree actually hails from the rose family. Native to South America, this tree can grow between 130 feet and 165 feet tall. The Patagonian Cherry trees wood is dense and hard to work with but its color greatly resembles that of the Black Cherry tree with its pinkinsh brown to light orange color.
• Barbados Cherry (Malpighia galbra): known by several names, including Wild Crapemyrtle, Acerola, Manzanita and more, this tree can be found from south Texas, through Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The Barbados Cherry obtained its Cherry association through the fruit that is produced, though the resemblance to the Black Cherry tree ends there as this species is a shrub, growing to 3 feet to 6 feet in height.
• Chilean Cherry (Nothofagus dombeyi): this “Cherry” tree is part of the Beech tree family, though it closely resembles the Black Cherry tree to the point where they can easily be mistaken for one another. The Chilean Cherry tree is otherwise referred to as Coigue and is native to Chile and Argentina.

What are the different uses of Cherry wood?

Every day more and more people are looking to reconnect with nature through hobbies, incorporating nature into their lives and homes and even moving towards more rural areas. The act of reconnecting with nature is called biophilia. The easiest way to connect with nature as a human is by bringing the outdoors indoors. This is a concept called Biophilic Design.

Today, many interior designers are using more natural colors and elements like hardwood, bamboo, and stone in spaces to bring clients’ biophilic design dreams to life. In recent years, more corporate buildings, hotels, and homes have been designed using biophilia, incorporating plants and trees, natural light, hardwood, and more. A recent example is Bloomberg’s European HQ, designed by Foster + Partners. Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, engineering, urban and landscape design, rooted in sustainability. They have added a unique and inviting natural touch on Bloomberg’s new London headquarters, with an overall theme of sustainability. It is a great example of sustainable development and biophilia design coming to life:

Designers and architects look at their creations using a biophilic design angle to have a long-term, sustainable impact on people and the world around us. Incorporating hardwood in their biophilic design creates spaces people will resonate with and feel warm in. Hardwood is an extremely durable and versatile material. It gives a natural feel to a space while establishing a connection to the outdoors. You can use variations of hardwood like basswood, black cherry, black walnut, hard maple, hickory, red oak, white oak and white ash to bring any biophilic design concept to life. A few examples of the versatility of hardwood can be found in:

• Flooring: Using hardwood give calm aesthetic, while having a positive impact on the enviroment and has long term durability than using alternatives.
• Walls: If you think of a library what comes to mind? Typically, peace and quietness. Wooden walls in libraries create a sense of calmness to help promote learning and focus.
• Furniture: For generations, hardwood has always been used in furniture manufacturing and gives a timeless look when incorporated into residential and commercial buildings.

The three core principles of biophilic design, Nature in the Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature of the Space, are used by architects and designers in flooring, building, and furniture to reflect a feeling of nature.

Nature of Space is the most common and easiest way to bring biophilia into any design. Examples would include indoor plants, waterfalls, and fish tanks.

Natural Analogues, or man-made elements that mimic nature, come to life using materials such as hardwood, ceramics, wood, stone, patterns and organic forms.

Nature of Space is mostly used by architects to make a personal feeling a certain way in a space, using open views and floor plans. Working interchangeably, these three principles are pivotal in biophilia designs.

Biophilia Architecture using Hardwood

Hardwood products can bring a warm, relaxing, stress-free feeling to any space, creating an optimal living and working environment. It has been proven that incorporating elements of hardwood throughout a building or home can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and help one feel more relaxed. In 2019, the NIH conducted a study on hardwood and the impact it has on one’s health and concluded that, “usage of wooden materials verifies their regenerative and positive impact on the human nervous system, through the appealing aesthetics (color, texture, and structures), high contact comfort, pleasant smell, possibility to regulate air humidity, volatile organic compound emissions (VOC-emissions), and acoustic well-being in the space.”

Architects use hardwood to cultivate a sensual experience through senses like your vision, touch and smell to bring the biophilic feeling into their designs. Foster + Partners designed  Bloomberg’s European Headquarters and heavily relied on the three core principles of biophilia to do so. The new building has rolling walls of glazed hardwood incorporated inside and outside the headquarters. Also, natural ventilation occurs because of the way the fins on the building were angled, allowing for maximum sunlight exposure throughout:

What are the 5 senses of Biophilic Design?

Biophilic design plays on our senses to add elements of nature into a space, making our minds think we are surrounded by nature indoors. Here are the 5 senses of biophilic design:

• Visual: Using different species of hardwood brings a unique and warm experience to a space. When choosing a specific hardwood, you can use different species and colors to create the combination that feels right to the space. A common hardwood species combination is Walnut and Maple as it creates a contrast between light and dark wood tones.
• Touch: The texture of hardwood can resonate with people and connect them to the outdoors, all while being inside. You can incorporate different grains to enhance the feeling of the wood in your space. Fake wooden products do not provide the same sensory experience as hardwoods do.
• Scent: Hardwood gives off a natural, organic scent. This creates calming effects and makes for a positive, relaxing experience. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that integrating hardwood floors improve indoor air quality because they don’t harbor microorganisms, allergens, or pesticides that can be tracked in from outdoors.
• Hearing: Incorprating water, birdsong, and rustling leaves through water features, soundscapes, or open windows can foster a tranquil environment. Specifically using a material like hardwood, that controls sound frequencies and reduces overall echos in rooms.
• Taste: If you think of a garden, you have an area where you have the opportunity to plant and grow your food, while harvesting living plants before your eyes.

Biophilia and Interior Design

When it comes to interior design, biophilia has the magic to promote overall well-being. By transforming spaces using natural light, organic textures, and materials like hardwood, you can create an entire ecosystem in any building and create a sense of peace and tranquility.

To create a special place using nature in your home, you can integrate hardwoods in flooring, walls and countertops. This can add an organic and earthy touch that connects to the outside world. Oliver Health is a well known interior design consultancy, specializing in projects that promote wellbeing and biophilia design. They have partnered with companies like Westfield, to promote biophilia design concepts in vacant store fronts to show how you can incorporate biophilia design in your own home.

Envision walking through your home with beautiful hardwood complimented by wooden walls and countertops that create a flow between indoors and outdoors. Gutchess Lumber plays a pivotal role in biophilic vision by providing high-quality hardwood. Integrating biophilia and using natural elements like hardwood can cultivate a sanctuary for people to connect with nature. Hardwood has a timeless appeal when used in interior designs. By using Gutchess Lumber, you can leverage hardwood to invite the outdoors into any building, making it a true retreat.

Gutchess Lumber has been manufacturing hardwood for over 100 years and has perfected their process to produce the highest-quality hardwood. Their lumber is used to make furniture, buildings, cabinets and so many other wooden products. Using the highest-quality hardwood you are able to enhance your space to make it beautiful, promoting a healthier, cleaner and more natural living environment bringing a goal of biophilia design to life.

Furniture manufacturers are constantly looking for new places to buy the hardwood that is used to make products, including tables, chairs, bed frames, cabinets, couches, and more. Big furniture manufacturers seek new sources to purchase hardwood because they face challenges in their production line, like inconsistent quality, drying, delivery times, and yields. Challenges like this can be detrimental to the manufacturer’s bottom line. That is why finding a reliable and consistent source to purchase hardwood for furniture manufacturing is crucial.

Sustainable Hardwood Sourcing for Furniture Manufacturers

One of the best places to source quality hardwood lumber is from a sawmill that controls the lumber manufacturing process from start to finish. Companies like Gutchess Lumber, which has been manufacturing hardwood for over 100 years, have perfected their process to produce the highest-quality hardwood, which is used to make furniture and other wooden products.

Gutchess Lumber sources hardwood, in the form of standing timber or logs, from within a 100-mile radius of its manufacturing facilities across New York and Pennsylvania. This allows their forestry team to ensure all trees are harvested responsibly, taking care of the land to promote natural forest regeneration.

Furniture manufacturers can also check how long their hardwood source has been in business. Their longevity in the industry can reflect the quality and consistency of their hardwood products as well. Gutchess Lumber has been in business since 1904, with customers worldwide, including many furniture manufacturers.

American Hardwood for International Furniture Manufacturing

If you are a furniture manufacturer abroad and need quality American hardwood, your best bet is to find a kiln-dried hardwood manufacturer in the Northeastern region of the United States. This region, also called the Appalachian region, is known worldwide for its prized hardwood selection.

Hardwood from the Northeastern Region of the United States

The Northeastern region is known for its hardwood for several reasons, including the favorable climate and species diversity.

In the North, the climate is favorable with cool temperatures and seasons that are actually seasons (there is a true Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter). This climate is ideal for hardwood species because it allows the trees to grow slower, leading to tighter growth rings and a more consistent product.

Several hardwood species thrive in the Northeastern region of America. These include Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Walnut, Birch, Basswood, Ash, Beech, Cherry, Hickory, and Poplar.

The Best Hardwoods for Furniture Manufacturing

Some of the best hardwood species for furniture manufacturing are produced responsibly and sustainably by American sawmills like Gutchess Lumber. Gutchess hardwood goes into making tables, chairs, cabinets, and more. See the best hardwood species for these furniture manufacturers below.

Tables: One of the best hardwood species for table manufacturing is Hard Maple. It can be stained or painted to match your catalog of tables or create new products.

Chairs: Cherry hardwood is a great option for chair manufacturers because it is a hardwood species that matures over time. This means that if a chair manufacturer wants to create intricate details on the legs or back of the chair, they will become more prominent over time.

Cabinets: Cabinet manufacturers should consider Red Oak, a popular hardwood species that is a cost-efficient alternative to White Oak and can be stained to mimic the color of White Oak.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gutchess Lumber Co., Inc. (@gutchesslumbercoinc)

Where do Table Manufacturers get their Hardwood?

If you’ve ever visited a Hilton Hotel, P.F. Changs, or Disney restaurants like Cononado Springs or Kona Café and noticed their tables, you have seen Gutchess Lumber’s hardwood! Table manufacturers have trusted Gutchess Lumber as their trusted kiln-dried hardwood source for decades, including Gutchess Lumber customer Table Topics.

Table Topics purchases kiln-dried hardwood directly from Gutchess and manufacturers tables that go into popular dining and hotel establishments worldwide. Table Topics purchases from Gutchess Lumber because they know they will get their shipment of consistent hardwood delivered on time, which is critical when their customers have a deadline for new tables.

For all furniture manufacturers looking for a new source to buy hardwood, look no further than Gutchess Lumber. This 120-year-old sawmill and lumber yard is known worldwide for producing some of the finest kiln-dried hardwood products for furniture, from large pieces to stair treads.

In elementary science class, we learn that forests are the lungs of our planet. They provide clean air, filter our water, and offer vital habitats for countless species. At Gutchess Lumber, we understand the importance of these ecosystems. We are dedicated to responsible forestry practices, like active forest management, that ensure forest health and longevity for future generations.

One of the cornerstones of our approach is active forest management. This powerful tool can nurture healthy and resilient forests. Let’s explore how it benefits our planet’s vital ecosystems.

Active Forest Management

Active forest management involves carefully selecting and harvesting mature trees, sometimes called selective harvesting. Now, you might be wondering, wouldn’t this harm the forest? Quite the opposite. When done with a long-term perspective, it can promote healthy and sustainable growth. Here’s how:

• Increased Sunlight for Young Trees: Selective harvesting creates openings in the forest canopy, allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor. This sunlight is crucial for younger trees, stimulating their growth and development. A diverse mix of age classes within the forest creates a more resilient ecosystem. If a mature forest’s canopy blocks all the sunlight from reaching the forest floor, no new growth will occur.
• Reduced Competition for Resources: Mature trees can dominate resources like water and nutrients. By strategically removing some of these trees, we create more space and essential resources for younger trees to thrive. This fosters a healthy competitive environment, allowing a diverse range of species to flourish.
• Enhanced Forest Resilience: Active forest management can help mitigate threats like disease and wildfires. By removing diseased or weak trees, we can prevent the spread of illness and create natural firebreaks, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

“Offset protocols should incentivize active forest management, which is more effective in capturing and storing atmospheric carbon in forest and wood product carbon pools than a policy of hands-off management that precludes periodic harvests and the use of wood products,” the American Forest Resource Council wrote.

 

Natural Regeneration

At Gutchess Lumber, we allow Mother Nature to do her thing. When we responsibly harvest hardwood trees, natural regeneration occurs. Following selective harvesting, sunlight reaches the forest floor, triggering a natural phenomenon. Existing tree seedlings that might have been dormant due to limited sunlight receive the necessary energy to flourish. Additionally, seeds from surrounding trees are encouraged to germinate, creating a new generation of growth.

This approach leverages the incredible power of nature, ensuring a diverse mix of trees that fosters a vibrant and healthy forest ecosystem for all its inhabitants.

Planting Trees versus Natural Forest Regeneration

While tree planting initiatives often capture headlines and public enthusiasm, it’s crucial to recognize that planting isn’t always the most beneficial approach for forest restoration. Introducing non-native tree species can disrupt the delicate balance within an ecosystem, out-competing native plants for resources and reducing overall biodiversity. Even planting native trees can have unintended consequences in certain situations. A study measuring the replanting problem’s extent revealed that tree planting is extremely widespread, most notably in incompatible environments. The study’s author suggests that prioritizing natural forest regeneration can be a more effective and sustainable strategy in many cases.

“The best and cheapest answer [to promote forest health] usually just to step back and let nature do the job,” says lead author Matthew Fagan, an assistant professor of geography and environmental systems at the University of Maryland.

In contrast to replanting, natural regeneration allows the forest ecosystem to dictate its regrowth. Sunlight reaching the forest floor awakens dormant seedlings and encourages natural seed dispersal from surrounding trees. This fosters a diverse mix of native species, creating a naturally resilient forest structure that benefits all its inhabitants. By prioritizing natural regeneration, we allow Mother Nature to ensure our forests’ long-term health and biodiversity.

Selective Harvesting and Long-Term Carbon Storage

The story doesn’t end with the harvesting of trees. The hardwood products we manufacture offer another significant environmental benefit. These wood products store the carbon dioxide the tree captured throughout its life. This carbon remains locked away for decades within the furniture, flooring, and other beautiful creations crafted from our sustainable building materials.

By utilizing these selectively harvested trees for long-lasting products, we contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.

How does Selective Harvesting Help the Environment?

Selective harvesting focuses on removing mature trees that have reached their peak carbon storage capacity. While these giants have played a vital role in capturing carbon for decades, their ability to absorb additional carbon dioxide slows with age. We strategically remove these mature trees and create space and resources for younger trees to thrive. These younger trees, with their faster growth rates, act as powerful carbon sinks, efficiently capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and locking it away for years to come. This continuous cycle and the long-term carbon storage achieved through our sustainable wood products make responsible forestry a compelling alternative to building materials with higher embodied carbon footprints.

Gutchess Lumber: Committed to a Greener Future

At Gutchess Lumber, we are deeply committed to responsible forestry practices. We believe this approach is essential for a healthy planet and a sustainable future, so we employ a forest team of over 30 qualified foresters with decades of experience carrying out active forest management programs on company and private land. We continuously strive to refine our methods, ensuring the well-being of our forests and the resources they provide for generations to come. Here are some ways we demonstrate this commitment:

• Selective Harvesting: We only harvest mature trees, following strict guidelines to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem.
• Responsible Sourcing: Our forestry operations promote our shared commitment to long-term forest health. They manage company and private land within a 100-mile radius of our manufacturing facilities to ensure active forest management plans are followed and trees are responsibly harvested to allow natural forest regeneration.
• Education and Advocacy: We actively support research and education initiatives focused on sustainable forestry practices.
• Minimizing Waste: We use every part of the tree, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

At Gutchess Lumber, we’re committed to utilizing every part of the harvested tree to its fullest potential. This minimizes waste and maximizes the environmental benefits of these valuable resources. The bark, for instance, isn’t discarded – it’s transformed into beneficial mulch that nourishes gardens and landscapes. Even the sawdust generated during the milling process finds a purpose, fueling our on-site boilers and contributing to a more sustainable energy source for our operations. This commitment to whole-tree utilization ensures nothing goes to waste, further solidifying our dedication to responsible forestry and creating a greener future for all.

We invite you to learn more about our dedication to responsible forestry and how you can contribute to a sustainable future by sharing our free Lumber Education resources, including free social media posts and press releases.

Gutchess Lumber is a Real American Hardwood Coalition member and has proudly joined forces to share the global Build Your World campaign. Through the Build Your World campaign, the lumber industry is showing how Real American Hardwood products offer unmatched aesthetics, natural durability, and lasting value—as well as why they are healthier for our homes and environment.

The purpose of the campaign is to encourage our customers and our customers’ customers to unleash their inner architect. They can use the design hub to craft the world of their dreams from the perfect hardwood species. Users can choose their settings to explore countless hardwood options, embrace sustainability, and indulge in the beauty of authentic hardwood. A few of the hardwood species featured in the design hub include Ash hardwood, Poplar hardwood, Red Oak hardwood, and White Oak hardwood, all Northern species we manufacture at Gutchess Lumber.

Build Your World with White Ash Hardwood

White Ash hardwood is a species that could be extinct in the near future. Because of this, Ash lumber will be a coveted commodity. Get to know the hardwood species more below:

Ash Lumber Overview

The sapwood is light-colored to nearly white and the heartwood varies from grayish or light brown, to pale yellow streaked with brown. The wood is generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture. The degree and availability of light-colored sapwood, and other properties, will vary according to the growing regions.

Ash Lumber Physical Characteristics

Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing, and can be stained to a very good finish. It dries fairly easily with minimal degrade, and there is little movement in performance.

Ash Lumber Usage

Ash hardwood can be used in a variety of applications. It is particularly suitable for food and liquid containers since there is no odor or taste. Other ways Ash hardwood can be used includes:

• Furniture
• Flooring
• Doors
• Architectural millwork and moulding
• Kitchen cabinets
• Paneling
• Tool handles
• Baseball bats
• Sporting equipment
• Turnings

Build Your World with Poplar Hardwood

Gutchess Lumber harvests White Poplar lumber from prime timberland in the northern Appalachian region of Pennsylvania. Because of our dedication to the environment and sustainability, we only harvest standing timber near our manufacturing facilities across New York and Pennsylvania.

Poplar Lumber Overview

The sapwood is creamy white and may be streaked, and the heartwood varies from pale yellowish-brown to olive green. The green color in the heartwood will tend to darken on exposure to light and turn brown. The wood has a medium-to-fine texture and is straight-grained.

Poplar Lumber Physical Characteristics

Poplar is a medium-density wood with low-bending, shock resistance, stiffness, and compression values. It has a medium steam-bending classification.

Poplar Lumber Usage

Poplar hardwood is used from furniture to mouldings. Here is a list of how Poplar lumber can be used in application:

• Light construction
• Furniture
• Kitchen cabinets
• Doors
• Paneling
• Moulding and millwork
• Edge-glued panels
• Turnings
• Carvings

To learn more about Gutchess Lumber’s hardwood species, check out our full lineup of real American hardwood products here.