What is Pecky Cypress? Pecky Cypress is bald cypress AKA swamp cypress or red cypress that has numerous open defects that a fungus creates in the heartwood of over-mature trees. Bald cypress is a deciduous conifer tree that is in the same family as Sequoia and Redwood trees. As a deciduous conifer bald cypress drops … Read more
What is Poplar? Poplar – also known as aspen, cottonwood or pople – is considered a hardwood, but is surprisingly softer than pine. It is native to the northern hemisphere and encompasses around thirty different varieties. The sapwood is a creamy white color and has brown/gray streaks throughout and the heartwood is yellow-brown to an olive-green color. Poplar has … Read more
White Birch is a tree native to the northern parts of North America. White Birch is also known as Paper Birch and Canoe Birch. It gets the name Paper Birch from its thin white bark that often peels in paper-like layers. The name Canoe Birch comes from the fact it was often used by native … Read more
What is Avodire? Avodire is a hardwood that is native to western and central Africa. Its habitat preference is near water – lakes and streams mostly. On average, avodire grows up to 110 feet tall and has trunk diameters between 2-3 feet and can sometimes reach 5 feet in diameter. It is non-durable in regards to … Read more
What is Eastern White Pine? Eastern White Pine is one of the most commonly used woods in construction. It grows along the Eastern coast of North America and across to the great lakes. It is also grown in many plantations across it’s natural range. The long, straight trunks of eastern white pine were once prized … Read more
What is White Oak? White oak is a hardwood native to North America and can be found from northern Florida to northern Ontario. It is a long-lived tree and has been found to live to 450 years. The oldest recorded white oak tree is estimated to be over 600 years old. White oak trees grow … Read more
Spruce is a versatile wood and is used in many different industries. It is a great material for heavy construction and in this application is seen as beams, lumber, and plywood. Spruce isn’t entirely rot and decay resistant once harvested, so its suggested uses in this regard are for interior construction only.
Bamboo is often thought of as the fastest growing tree on earth. Most who choose bamboo love its aesthetics; its unique, Asian flair, and down-to-earth feel. But a not so known characteristic of bamboo is that it possesses the best stiffness and strength characteristics in the woodworking world.
Aspen is a common name for several species of trees, most of which belong to the Populus class. Aspen is a lighter color softwood, and is exceptionally strong.
Cypress is a softwood species that is native to the southeastern coast. Though it is a softwood, it grows among and is often processed and sorted with hardwoods. It is a common choice for outdoor projects such as docks, boats, and patio furniture, but also makes for great interior furniture.