Wood Doors by Harvest Creek Millwork

Red Oak

     Oak is generally grown in the Northern Central/Eastern states, but also down to Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas. It's sapwood is a light gray to reddish brown in color, with it's heartwood pink to reddish brown. The grain is somewhat straight, but the grain pattern tends to produce 'arrows'. With an open grain it has a semi-smooth feel after it has been stained and finished. During changes in humidity cycles, it is stable with only moderate movement. Oak stains easily, and evenly, with the stain leaving the grain more pronounced. Oak is quite hard and heavy, and with proper maintenance lasts for many, many years.

Hard Maple

     Maple is commonly found in New England, the Appalachians, and up into Canada. The sapwood and heartwood are both white, with the heartwood slightly more tan in color. It is not uncommon to find a light to medium brown streak in maple. The grain is generally straight, but can be curly, or wavy. Being a closed grain wood, it sands very smooth, and unlike other woods like oak, it stays very smooth after staining and finishing. A sanding sealer is recommended with Maple because stain tends to take unevenly. Maple is a very strong wood, and is also quite heavy.

Cherry

     Cherry is grown throughout Midwestern and Eastern U.S., mainly Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and New York. It's sapwood is generally reddish brown to pink in color, with it's heartwood varies from a light to medium reddish brown, and even lighter. The variations can be quite significant. It is also sensitive to UV light, changing color to a dark reddish brown, which would even out much of the color variations. The grain is fine and wavy, and some mineral streaks are common. Texture is quite smooth, and stains well. During changes in humidity cycles, it is somewhat stable and doors can warp if not sealed or stored properly. Cherry is a heavy, and strong wood, but has a look that is more subtle and formal.

Mahogany

     Mahogany is grown in the more tropical climates of Central and South America. It's sapwood is a yellowish white, with it's heartwood varies from a light red to medium reddish brown. The grain is straight and uniform. It stains well, and is easy to finish. Mahogany tends to react to direct sunlight, turning a deeper reddish brown color. During changes in humidity cycles, it is among the most stable with very little movement. Mahogany is a heavy wood, and quite strong. Given these qualities, and that it has natural resistance to rot and decay, it makes an excellent choice for exterior doors.

Clear Pine

     Pine is most commonly grown in the Northern states, and up into Canada. It's sapwood is generally white, to pale yellow in color, with it's heartwood a cream to light brown. Pine tends to turn a shade darker with exposure to sunlight. The grain is typically straight and even, sands smooth. Staining Pine can be tricky with uneven stain absorption leaving the wood appearing blotchy. During changes in humidity cycles, it is moderately stable with some expansion and contraction. Pine is a soft wood, with moderate weight. Older pine doors and furniture usually are found with many marks on them adding to their character.

(Clear Pine shown, Knotty Pine also available)

Knotty Pine

     Same as above but with knots.

Poplar

     Poplar grows primarily in the Eastern and Southern U.S., and is a quick growing hardwood. Poplar is an inexpensive hardwood, softer than cherry, and is used primarily for paint grade wood. Poplar can be stained, however, surface must be prepped for an even finish. Sapwood is creamy white and sometimes streaked, and the heart wood can vary from pale brown, olive green, to deep purple. The wood is straight grained and has a medium to fine texture with and varies widely in color.

Quartersawn Red Oak

     Same as Red Oak, but straight grain with a flaked pattern.

White Oak

     White Oak grows throughout the Eastern U.S. The sapwood is light-colored, while the heartwood is light to medium dark brown in color. White Oak has a natural resistance to rot which makes it an excellent choice for exterior doors. It is a relatively stable with a bit more color consistency than Red Oak. It is also slightly heavier than Red Oak, and a bit harder and smoother. White Oak is a slow drying wood and stains well with a variety of finish tones.

Ash

     Ash is grown in the Northern Central/Eastern states. It's sapwood is generally white in color, with it's heartwood a light to medium brown. The grain is typically straight, with an open grain it has a semi-smooth feel, even after it has been stained and finishes. During changes in humidity cycles, it is quite stable with only slight movement. Ash stains fairly easily, and evenly, and takes to finishing quite well. It is a very hard wood and is quite heavy. It is similar to oak in texture, and can be stained to look like oak