Species Highlight: Maple

When it comes to deciding on what wood to use throughout a home, maple has always been an American favorite. Why is this? The wood is hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular it has a high resistance to abrasion and wear along with good steam-bending properties. These qualities are perfect when it comes to the wear and tear wood can take over the years in homes.

Grown in the Eastern United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Lake states, maple is a cold weather tree favoring a more northerly climate. There are two types of maples: soft maple and hard maple. Ferche believes the best option for a home will be hard maple. Hard maple is dense, strong and dent resistant with good length and width structure. The hard maple used by Ferche has a very consistent white/cream color. When using maple mouldings with maple doors, generally the match between the two is better with hard maple as well. No matter the maple, both hard and soft require the use of a conditioner prior to staining to minimize the "blotchy" effect that can occur with maple.

When it comes to working with maple, whether it is woodworking or DIY home projects, there are some things to keep in mind. Hard maple dries slowly with high shrinkage, so it can be susceptible to movement in performance. Also, pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained to an outstanding finish. Maple also polishes well and is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones.

With all of this in mind, should you consider using the maple species in your home? We definitely recommend it! There are many uses for maple when it comes to incorporating the species in homes including: flooring, furniture, paneling, kitchen cabinets, worktops, tabletops, butchers blocks, kitchenware, and millwork (stairs, handrails, mouldings, and doors). If you have any questions regarding this particular specie of wood or others species for your home, do not hesitate to contact us: http://www.ferche.com/contact/.

Specie Spotlight: Hickory

Ferche Millwork realizes that there are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to choosing a wood species for your home. With the large selection, and differences between each species, it can be an overwhelming process. Ferche Millwork is here to take the difficulty out of the decision making process. Ferche believes educating and informing consumers about wood is important and makes choosing the perfect wood easier, as each wood species is unique and can create a completely different feel in your home.

One option when it comes to choosing a species for your home is hickory. The hickories are split into two different groups: true hickories and pecan hickories (fruit bearing). The wood is virtually the same for both, and they are usually sold together. The species grows in the Eastern U.S., and many are unaware that hickories grow quite slowly; it is not unusual for a tree to take 200 years to mature. Another unique characteristic of hickory is it is the heaviest and hardest of the hardwood options. This means the species is very hard, stiff, and dense, making it a great and durable option for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and paneling.

When it comes to the home, hickory is a popular hardwood for creating a rustic style. The main characteristic about this species from a visual standpoint is the wide range of color found within each piece and from piece to piece. Because of this, many choose to finish the wood in a clear coat. By doing this, the color is greatly emphasized and brought to life.

With its tough and durable nature, choosing to use hickory in your home allows you to be confident the species will last a lifetime. Hickory is a wood to take pride in with the long growing process, and it is an option for those looking to create a relaxed, warm, and countrified home.