| If you are considering new cabinets, be sure to | | | | durable hardwoods. |
| educate yourself about wood species. Durability, cost, | | | | If you are on a tight budget, choose a species of |
| and overall appearance are greatly influenced by your | | | | wood that is lower priced and easily attained. Oak |
| final decision. It takes several hundred board feet of | | | | and poplar are common choices because they are |
| solid wood to construct the average kitchen, which | | | | readily available in any part of North America, which |
| can be a tremendous investment. | | | | makes them inexpensive. You will see a significant |
| Solid wood is categorized into hardwood, softwood, | | | | price increase on some of the rarer species of wood |
| and exotic wood. Most cabinets are built with | | | | like cherry, select alder, hickory/pecan, and walnut. |
| hardwood, however pine, a softwood, can yield | | | | Wood grain is defined three ways, which are closed, |
| remarkable results. Exotic woods like mahogany and | | | | medium, and open. Closed grain is smooth to the |
| teak are less common, and come from far away | | | | touch, while open grain has raised prominent texture. |
| places. | | | | Closed grain woods like maple and poplar are best for |
| Durability is woods ability to withstand nicks and | | | | painting, while open grain woods are best stained, |
| scratches over the years. If you have a lot of traffic | | | | which brings out their natural texture and beauty. |
| in and out of your kitchen, especially from young | | | | Oak, ash, and hickory/pecan are open grain wood |
| children, you might want to choose a wood species | | | | types. Closed grain wood types include cherry, alder, |
| with a high durability rating. Hickory/pecan, maple, | | | | and maple. |
| ash, beech, oak, and walnut are high all extremely | | | | |