Hardwoods

Are you searching for the perfect species for your wood surfaces and crafts? Contrary to popular belief, purchasing quality exotic hardwoods for your home doesn’t necessarily mean you run the risk of spending over your budget. There are several ways to get beautiful, memorable wood at prices you can afford.

The most common method is to purchase rough cut lumber. Rough cut lumber is wood that has not been treated by the lumberyard. This means it has not been dried, sanded, or given a finish. Not only does this allow you to purchase exotic hardwoods for much less than you normally would, but it also allows you to buy more of it, which leaves room for mistakes or spur-of-the-moment additions.

The only downside is that you must dry, sand, and apply finish yourself. If you’re familiar with woodworking, however, this may actually be an advantage, as you can treat the wood according to your preferences. Just be sure to research beforehand—figure out which hardwoods respond better to air drying and kiln drying before attempting either. Learn which finishes and stains work the best. Doing so will save you a lot of time, money, and effort.

If you’re not familiar with woodworking, then perhaps buying rough cut lumber isn’t the best idea. However, you can still save considerably by purchasing hardwoods for veneering purposes. This means that instead of installing solid wood floors or countertop slabs, you will simply glue thin, flat squares of it over a more affordable surface, such as plywood or particleboard or even the original wood.

Don’t believe you’re settling for less by veneering your hardwood surfaces. This actually allows you to indulge in rarer, more expensive woods, such as mahogany or redwood, at a fraction of the price of installing solid exotic wood surfaces. You can even create a truly unique, dramatic look by combining tiled surfaces. This allows you to play with both color contrasts and patterns. Imagine a coffee table inlaid with mosaic patterns of deep red oak, pale bird’s eye maple, and burled cocobolo! The possibilities are truly endless.

Of course, there are plenty of gorgeous alternatives to exotic hardwoods as well. For example, if you want the naturally rosy hue of a redwood, black cherry, aromatic cedar, the Northern red oak, and several others are examples of more common trees that provide rich color at lower prices.

However, if you’re adamant in choosing exotic hardwoods for your home, finding a species within your price rang isn’t difficult. With time, persistence, research, and patience, you can find the perfect material for you.