Wood TypesAlder (Painted) Alder is a tight-grained hardwood that is used in fine furniture and noted for its ability to be painted. It is prized for its durability and strength, and it is relatively stable during moisture variations. It ranks third behind oak and pine as the wood most commonly used for ready-to-finish furniture. Alder gives the look of many fine hardwoods at a reasonable price. All of our pieces constructed from Alder are finished with a high-gloss, two-coat, water-based enamel for long-lasting elegance. Our products come in the following bold, bright colors: Signal Blue, Sunshine Yellow, Barn Red, Surf White, Capeside Green, and Earthbound Green. Asian Fir Asian fir has characteristics very similar to Cedar. Well known for its combination of stability and light weight, it is commonly used in furniture, both here and abroad. While being naturally weather-resistant, it may be further stained or finished to endure and age gracefully for many years. If left unfinished, the wood will fade to a silver grey when used outdoors. Like Cedar, the grain is usually straight and displays prominent growth rings and knots. Aspen With a straight, even grain and fine pores, Aspen is a medium light-weight wood with a pronounced silky luster. Aspen wood has a very light color and takes on paint and water-based stains well. This wood can be easily glued together. Although this wood doesn't shrink or swell much with humidity changes, its natural durability is low. Brazilian Cherry (Brazilian Hardwood) Brazilian Hardwood typically refers to Brazilian Cherry wood or Jatoba, and is naturally stunning with a subtle grain. Very hard and durable, this wood is often used for outdoor furniture. With versatile applications, Brazilian Cherry wood is often a favorite among wood workers. You will find Brazilian Cherry wood in hardwood floors, cabinetry, railroad crossties, furniture, tool handles, and more. Cedar (Western Red Cedar) Western Red Cedar is a fine-grain, dimensionally stable wood that is naturally weather resistant. With minimal care, our Cedar pieces will provide a lifetime of service and charm. Western Red Cedar contains natural oils that act as preservatives to help the wood resist insect attack and decay. Properly finished and maintained, Western Red Cedar ages gracefully and endures for many years. The wood is uniform red to brown in color but fades to a silver grey when used externally. It is relatively soft wood which can be easily marked and has a distinctive aroma. The grain is usually straight and displays prominent growth rings. Cedar needs to be re-stained every season in order to avoid fading to silver grey. Western Red Cedar is, above all, a wood of exceptional beauty. In its natural, unfinished state, it has a richly textured, tactile grain combined with a palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown. No man-made material can duplicate the depth of cedar's natural luster. It also remains subtly aromatic, and the characteristic fragrance of cedar adds another dimension to its universal appeal. Beauty aside, the purely practical, dollars-and-cents value of cedar offers other benefits:
Cypress is a beautiful, distinctive and durable wood that assures years of trouble-free satisfaction and its uses reflect that. In addition to rugged outdoor furniture, cypress is regularly used in building construction, posts, beams, decks, docks, porch flooring, greenhouses and siding. Because of its durability, cypress can be used in many of the same products as cedar and redwood. The reason for this durability is natural preservative oil known as "cypressine" which gives the wood resistance to insect attack and rot. Cypress is all but indestructible. It is a close grain wood that resists checking and warping and it is long-lasting as well as weather resistant. Cypress can be easily painted and holds paint longer than other wood. If you choose to paint this product, you should use an exterior oil-based primer (white or gray) followed by an exterior oil or latex paint of your choice. If you choose to have the product remain natural, you should apply a natural oil-based stain or preservative annually or as needed. Note: Cypress is a dense wood and the drying process may take several days depending on humidity and temperature. Small cracks called weather checking may appear in the wood. This is a natural process and will not affect the useful life of this product. Cypress - Distressed Our Cottage Classic products feature Southern cypress wood stained with white acrylic stain and a subtle antique finish. The finish is a Cuprinol water-based acrylic deck & rail stain that further enhances the ability of the wood to resist cracking & splitting. This finish will not crack, peel or rub off onto your clothing. This unique process of staining & finishing creates the timeless "cottage" or "distressed" look. Light Oak Light Oak is typically found in tropical, warm regions and grows at a fairly slow rate. This slow growth process allows the wood to develop a harder more durable structure which makes it highly valued for the construction of outdoor furniture. Light Oak has a natural light brown appearance and constructed with a distinctively close grain pattern. That adds beauty and personality to the wood as well as strengthening and protecting it from everyday use. This natural Light Oak hardwood produces a tannic acid that acts as a preservative to protect the wood from excess moisture and exposure to fungus and insects which can cause the wood to decay. Mahogany Mahogany is a fine-grain, tropical hardwood that is easily maintained and is insect, fungus and rot resistant. It is a hard and strong wood comparable in strength to Oak and Teak, and is much more scratch resistant than Cedar or Pine. With the best regards for our environment we take every effort to ensure that our Mahogany is sourced from well-managed permanent forests that allocate re-plantation. Mahogany is selected for durability and decay resistance to maintain their natural beauty even under the varying weather conditions. Mahogany furniture seasons/weathers well with minimal shrinkage and checking. In Malaysian government tests, this wood was found to last up to 30 years when stakes of Meranti were driven into the ground. As a hardwood it holds fasteners well and it is environmentally nontoxic. Each kiln dried Mahogany piece is ready to paint, oil, or leave natural. When left untreated it weathers to a soft gray. If treated, it should be treated with finish products meant for softer woods because Mahogany is a dense wood. A yearly application is recommended, or as weather conditions dictate. Meranti Meranti is a durable tropical hardwood that typically grows in Southern Asia and is a member of the Teak and Shorea family. Very similar to Shorea, it is known for its rich textured design and beautiful straight grain pattern. However, it is more lightweight than Shorea and also less dense. Nyatoh A plantation-grown wood from Southeast Asia, Nyatoh has similar cosmetic characteristics to Teak and Shorea. Nyatoh is a reddish-brown color and will weather to a silvery-gray. A hardwood, Nyatoh is not considered to be as durable as Teak but is more durable than Maple when left outside. Pine Pine is a soft wood that comes in many varieties from various parts of the world. In the U.S., Eastern white pine, ponderosa pine and sugar pine are some of the varieties used to make furniture.
Recycled Plastic is made of amazingly strong and durable recycled plastic polymer crafted to look and feel like real wood. Each piece contains over 500 plastic milk jugs that were once destined for the landfill! Recycled Plastic is a high performance wood lumber substitute manufactured from high density recycled plastic. Recycled Plastic is made to closely resemble wood products without the maintenance. The advantages of Recycled Plastic are hard to ignore. Recycled Plastic absorbs no moisture and will not rot, warp, crack, splinter or support bacterial growth. Recycled Plastic is also compounded with permanent UV stabilized colors, which eliminates the need for painting, staining, waterproofing, stripping and resurfacing. This material is also impervious to many substances including salt water, gasoline, paint, stains and mineral spirits. Recycled Plastic is also extremely easy to clean and maintain. Simple soap and water is all that you will need to get rid or dirt and make it look new again. For extreme cleaning needs, you can use a 1/3 bleach and water solution. Recycled Plastic is non-toxic to humans and animals, and won’t leach or bleed arson, heavy metals or chemicals into the soil. It can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering more than three times the amount of carbon as wood, rendering the carbon inert for decades.
Shorea Shorea is a durable tropical hardwood that typically grows in Southern Asia and is a member of the Teak family. Shorea is known for its rich textured design and beautiful straight grain pattern. That not only adds beauty and personality to the wood but also strengthens and protects it from everyday use. Shorea has a recognizable resinous golden to dark brown finish which will weather gracefully to a warm silvery gray over time if left untreated. To retain its natural beauty, simply apply a light layer of teak oil to the woods surface to preserve its natural warm brownish tones. This highly polished wood also produces a rich natural oil that shields the wood against harsh outdoor elements and makes it resistant from insect and moisture erosion that can cause decay. Teak An extremely durable, heavy-weight hardwood, Teak has a fine grain and is most-often used for outdoor furniture. The natural oils of Teak give it water-repellant properties. Naturally insect- and weather-resistant, unfinished teak will remain beautiful for 75 years or longer. Teak is a natural resource to Southeast Asia. |
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