Recap
Solid wood is used in the construction of all of our products which is included for the faceframes, jambs, threshold, header, crown, and case molding. Cabinet grade plywood is used on the bookcase sides, fixed, and adjustable shelving.
Made from Real Wood
Our doors are made from real wood, not MDF! But what is MDF? MDF stands for Medium Density Fiberboard and is made by grinding wood fibers into a pulp then adding wax and chemical binders. MDF contains urea formaldehyde (UF) which is toxic and harmful to landfills. It is not as strong as real wood and ply material therefore we do not use it in the construction of our products
Strength test: MDF vs. Real Wood
The reason we use Real Wood
Paint Grade
Crafted from finger-jointed pine, our paint grade is the most cost-effective material we offer. It arrives with a light primer layer from the manufacturer. However, units that are shipped unfinished might require additional primer layers due to the glueing and sanding process during assembly, which can remove some of the initial primer. For those opting for DIY finishes, we do not apply an initial primer. Being less dense compared to other woods in our range, paint grade is more susceptible to scratches and dents.
Paint grade does not take stain.
Not available on mirror doors
Pine
Also known as Pine Select has very few, if any knots and can be painted or stained (with the use of softwood conditioner). Pine is very soft and scratches and/ or dents easily. Pine Select is somewhat inexpensive and for the most part, is readily available.
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​Not available on mirror doors
Poplar
Poplar is denser than pine or paint grade but is still considered softwood. Poplar accepts paint very well. Variations in the natural pigment of poplar range from light to dark green, dark brownish green, and sometimes purple. Because of the natural variations found in poplar maintaining consistency when using stain can be difficult. Poplar is readily available but slightly more expensive than pine.Â
(ply materials are not available in poplar, the plywood body of our doors is supplemented with birch or maple, the trim & face frame components are made from poplar)
Alder
Sometimes referred to as Knotty Alder is a relative of Birch*. Alder has a reddish-brown tint with a fairly straight grain pattern. Knots and checks are common with Alder, so people looking for a rustic looking door choose Alder. Alder, because of the rustic knotty look, doesn't accept paint all that well but does look very good stained and can be clear coated see below*.
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*(ply materials not available in Alder other than MDF we do not use MDF, plywood used is supplemented with birch, trim/ face frame components are made from Alder. A slight variation can be expected with Birch & Alder especially when clear coating)
Our collections
Oak is an extremely hard, readily available, and dense hardwood that has very few if any knots. Oak has uniform grain patterns and stains extremely well. Oak has very porous wide open grain patterns therefore Oak Does Not Accept Paint and is better stained or clear coated.
Maple
Maple is commonly known for two different types, Soft or Hard Maple, we use soft maple because it is readily available and is easier to work with than hard maple. Maple is fairly dense, has a smooth tight grain pattern making it excellent for painting. Maple is very strong and doesn't dent or scratch as easy as pine or poplar. Maple has fine grain patterns and even colors throughout making it perfect for woodworking projects & cabinet making. Maple takes stain extremely well. Maple can be stained to look like other more expensive wood like hickory, walnut, or cherry.