Maple Archives - Solid Custom Heirlooms https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/category/american-hardwoods/maple/ American Hardwood Furniture Sat, 22 Mar 2025 01:08:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Favicon_3-100x100.png Maple Archives - Solid Custom Heirlooms https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/category/american-hardwoods/maple/ 32 32 211691748 Solid wood vs plywood https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/solid-wood-vs-plywood/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=solid-wood-vs-plywood https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/solid-wood-vs-plywood/#comments Sun, 07 May 2023 21:42:48 +0000 https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/?p=253232 Plywood or solid wood: which is better? Customers often ask – is plywood or solid wood better? When buying a new piece of furniture, customers want to know if natural wood is actually worth it. The short answer is: YES! Solid wood is simply superior to plywood. Not only does it look better and last longer, but real wood will save you money in the long term. What is the difference between plywood and solid wood? Plywood is a manufactured product made from thin layers of wood (plies) sandwiched together with binders and preservatives, then compressed and heated. The result is a large sheet of material that has a very good strength to weight ratio and can often be lower in cost that a solid wood equivalent. Plywood is ideal for cabinet sides and backs, interior shelves and other surfaces that are not commonly seen during everyday use. It’s important to keep in mind that the binders, adhesives and preservatives used in plywood often contain chemicals that offgas toxic fumes for months or years. If you are sensitive to formaldehyde or other preventives, you may want to avoid plywood in your home, or at the very least make sure it is sealed very well. If you are sensitive to chemical offgas, insist on furniture made from solid wood with a low VOC finish such as Tung Oil. Why is plywood used? Now, this is not to say that good quality plywood is useless. Plywood is great for areas that need lightweight strength while not being seen. At Solid Custom Heirlooms we use high quality plywood for things such as drawer bottoms, cabinet backs and some interior bed pieces that are hidden from view during day to day use. We use plywood for these applications items because of its strength to weight ratio. For example, to use hardwood for the unseen back of a dresser, we would need to use a 1 inch thick panel. Compare this with a 1/4 inch thick piece of plywood which has similar strength while being significantly lower in weight and consumes less space. This not only creates a design that is better, but it reduces shipping costs by reducing weight. Not all plywood is created equal Before we continue, we must point out that not all plywood is created equal. We only use very high quality plywood made in the US. This plywood is usually made from real wood veneers glued together with resin, and then pressed under thousands of pounds of pressure. This creates thin sheets of a highly dense and durable material that is very good for retaining heavy loads over long periods of time. But, this is for very high quality plywood. It is similar to marine grade plywood, but marine plywood is treated with waterproof glue. Ours is finish grade plywood. However, your average “big box store” piece of furniture is not made with this material. Rather, it is made with a low cost type of plywood also known as particle board – a sheet material made from wood scraps, chemicals and glue. You can learn more about the disadvantages of particle board here. Often the manufacturer will put a sheet of wood veneer made out of natural solid wood over particle board to make it look nice, but it will come apart under any serious pressure. You are in essence buying the wood version of Spam. Put too many books on a shelf made with that stuff and it will snap in half. So much for the decorative veneer! Why is solid wood better than plywood? At this point, many of you will ask, “this American plywood sounds pretty good. It seems stronger. Why not make everything out of this laminated plywood?” Well, there are things that good quality solid wood can do that engineered wood simply cannot. First, strength is not the same as durability. And second, there are qualities of real wood that plywood is simply incapable of matching. Strength of plywood vs solid wood Have you ever seen a professional weight lifter? They are really strong at certain motions. However, try to make them stretch in ways that they do not usually do. What happens? They get really stiff or hurt. Plywood is the power lifter of the woods we use. They are really good at holding heavy things. However, if you knock them against something, those strips of veneer will come unstuck from each other. Plywood gets chipped. The plywood strength is often not compromised, but it starts to not look very good. It gets damaged. Real wood is durable However, natural wood is durable and gets better over time. It is elastic. It pops back. It is like a scrappy endurance athlete. It may not be able to lift twice it’s body weight. But it can take the same movements again and again, while staying the same. It is simply more durable. This is partly due to the wood fibers in solid wood. The strength from these fibers make solid hardwood ideal for cabinets dining tables and dressers. Hardwood’s unique qualities Hardwood is beautiful. It simply is. It is solid and dependable, yes, but the first thing you notice when you look at a beautiful piece of Oak furniture is it’s intricate outer layers, its straight wood grain patterns and polish. You can tell that it is high quality. Because of that stability, it’s beauty will never diminish. Also, hardwood can be shaped into intricate shapes that bring out it’s grain. Plywood by nature cannot do that. Hardwood has the added bonus of saving you money by being durable. If your furniture never breaks, it never needs to be replaced. It can be repaired and last for generations. Pricing The beauty of hardwood is that it ends up being cheaper than plywood in the long run. Since hardwood is more durable you can expect it to last for decades, outlasting your average plywood. While solid wood furniture might be more expensive upfront, it is …

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Plywood or solid wood: which is better?

Customers often ask – is plywood or solid wood better? When buying a new piece of furniture, customers want to know if natural wood is actually worth it. The short answer is: YES! Solid wood is simply superior to plywood. Not only does it look better and last longer, but real wood will save you money in the long term.

What is the difference between plywood and solid wood?

solid wood vs plywood

Plywood is a manufactured product made from thin layers of wood (plies) sandwiched together with binders and preservatives, then compressed and heated. The result is a large sheet of material that has a very good strength to weight ratio and can often be lower in cost that a solid wood equivalent. Plywood is ideal for cabinet sides and backs, interior shelves and other surfaces that are not commonly seen during everyday use.

It’s important to keep in mind that the binders, adhesives and preservatives used in plywood often contain chemicals that offgas toxic fumes for months or years. If you are sensitive to formaldehyde or other preventives, you may want to avoid plywood in your home, or at the very least make sure it is sealed very well.

If you are sensitive to chemical offgas, insist on furniture made from solid wood with a low VOC finish such as Tung Oil.

Why is plywood used?

Now, this is not to say that good quality plywood is useless. Plywood is great for areas that need lightweight strength while not being seen. At Solid Custom Heirlooms we use high quality plywood for things such as drawer bottoms, cabinet backs and some interior bed pieces that are hidden from view during day to day use.

We use plywood for these applications items because of its strength to weight ratio. For example, to use hardwood for the unseen back of a dresser, we would need to use a 1 inch thick panel. Compare this with a 1/4 inch thick piece of plywood which has similar strength while being significantly lower in weight and consumes less space. This not only creates a design that is better, but it reduces shipping costs by reducing weight.

Not all plywood is created equal

Before we continue, we must point out that not all plywood is created equal.

We only use very high quality plywood made in the US. This plywood is usually made from real wood veneers glued together with resin, and then pressed under thousands of pounds of pressure. This creates thin sheets of a highly dense and durable material that is very good for retaining heavy loads over long periods of time.

But, this is for very high quality plywood. It is similar to marine grade plywood, but marine plywood is treated with waterproof glue. Ours is finish grade plywood.

However, your average “big box store” piece of furniture is not made with this material. Rather, it is made with a low cost type of plywood also known as particle board – a sheet material made from wood scraps, chemicals and glue. You can learn more about the disadvantages of particle board here.

Often the manufacturer will put a sheet of wood veneer made out of natural solid wood over particle board to make it look nice, but it will come apart under any serious pressure.

You are in essence buying the wood version of Spam. Put too many books on a shelf made with that stuff and it will snap in half. So much for the decorative veneer!

Why is solid wood better than plywood?

At this point, many of you will ask, “this American plywood sounds pretty good. It seems stronger. Why not make everything out of this laminated plywood?” Well, there are things that good quality solid wood can do that engineered wood simply cannot.

First, strength is not the same as durability. And second, there are qualities of real wood that plywood is simply incapable of matching.

Strength of plywood vs solid wood

Have you ever seen a professional weight lifter? They are really strong at certain motions. However, try to make them stretch in ways that they do not usually do. What happens?

They get really stiff or hurt. Plywood is the power lifter of the woods we use. They are really good at holding heavy things.

However, if you knock them against something, those strips of veneer will come unstuck from each other. Plywood gets chipped. The plywood strength is often not compromised, but it starts to not look very good. It gets damaged.

Real wood is durable

However, natural wood is durable and gets better over time. It is elastic. It pops back. It is like a scrappy endurance athlete. It may not be able to lift twice it’s body weight. But it can take the same movements again and again, while staying the same. It is simply more durable.

This is partly due to the wood fibers in solid wood. The strength from these fibers make solid hardwood ideal for cabinets dining tables and dressers.

Hardwood’s unique qualities

Hardwood is beautiful. It simply is. It is solid and dependable, yes, but the first thing you notice when you look at a beautiful piece of Oak furniture is it’s intricate outer layers, its straight wood grain patterns and polish. You can tell that it is high quality.

Because of that stability, it’s beauty will never diminish. Also, hardwood can be shaped into intricate shapes that bring out it’s grain. Plywood by nature cannot do that.

Hardwood has the added bonus of saving you money by being durable. If your furniture never breaks, it never needs to be replaced. It can be repaired and last for generations.

walnut wood with Tung Oil finish
white oak with a plain finish

Pricing

The beauty of hardwood is that it ends up being cheaper than plywood in the long run. Since hardwood is more durable you can expect it to last for decades, outlasting your average plywood. While solid wood furniture might be more expensive upfront, it is worth the cost in the long term.

5 disadvantages of plywood

    1. The edges of plywood show the induvial ply layers and must be covered or painted
    2. Plywood is difficult to refinish and repair if damaged
    3. Plywood is not moisture resistant, and can warp or separate if exposed to water or high humidity climates
    4. Plywood is made with chemicals and adhesives that can offgas toxic fumes for months if not years
    5. Solid wood simply looks better than plywood

Wrapping Up

Simply, both plywood and solid wood furniture have different advantages. Those advantages often complement each other, which is why we use both when making furniture.

Plywood is great for strength, and hardwood is great for durability and beauty.

Simply, an engineered product simply cannot match a product that comes straight from nature.

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]]> https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/solid-wood-vs-plywood/feed/ 1 253232 What are the disadvantages of particle board? https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/disadvantages-of-particle-board/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=disadvantages-of-particle-board https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/disadvantages-of-particle-board/#comments Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:23:28 +0000 https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/?p=252402 The temptation of cheap furniture We’ve all been there. We need a piece of furniture, don’t want to spend a lot of money, and find ourselves at Ikea or browsing Amazon, pondering a low cost piece of furniture and thinking “I know it’s cheap, but how bad can it be?” After many years of helping customers design, build and repair furniture of all different grades and types, we are here to answer that question: How bad can it be? … well, honestly… pretty bad! The reality is that low-cost furniture is low in cost because it is made with materials that simply won’t last no matter how careful you are with them. And the primary culprit? Particle board. Particle board, also known as particleboard, chipboard or low-density fiberboard, is an engineered wood product manufactured from sawmill shavings, wood pieces, Urea-Formaldehyde, synthetic binders and resins used as bonding agents. This mix is exposed to high heat, then pressed and extruded into dimensional shapes. Veneer is a thin layer of wood or synthetic material that is glued to particle board to give a finished surface. Some veneer can be real wood, while most is made from melamine which is a type of plastic. Plastic veneer can be very realistic with wood texture stamped into the materials and color variations that look very real at first glance. Laminated particle board and melamine particle board are types of veneered particleboard. The Honest Carpenter gives a very good explanation of the disadvantages of particle board on his YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrmsu2-iWzE What are the risks of particle board? Particle board swells when exposed to moisture The primary disadvantage of particle board is that exposure to even small amounts of moisture will cause board to swell. Because it is made from wood chips and sawmill shavings, once swelling occurs there is no way to make it return to its original shape. Minor swelling can be unsightly while more significant swelling can cause the veneer layer to warp and crack, cabinet doors to stop closing and shelves to not fit properly. This photo shows a particle board with melamine veneer cabinet shelf that was damaged by everyday use. Veneered particle board chips and peels easily Another issue is that the surface can be easily damaged during normal use. This is because particle boards typically have very thin melamine (plastic) veneer layers that simply break or crack when exposed to everyday use. Furniture corners are especially susceptible to this issue as well as any surface that receives regular use. Particle board contains 12.4% Formaldehyde If you are concerned about Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs – in building materials for your home, it is best to avoid particle board furniture, cabinetry and shelving. According to the Website My Chemical Free House, most particle board is made with 12.4% Urea-formaldehyde (UF). For this reason manufacturers highly recommend that all exposed surfaces be sealed either by the covering with thin layers of glued veneer or the application of a sealing agent such as a specialized  sealing product. A disadvantage of particle board is that unsealed material will release or “outgas” formaldehyde primarily in the first 2 months of life, and will continue to outgas for up to 5-10 years depending on the thickness of the material and exposed unsealed surface area. It is a good idea to have new particle board products rest in an open space such as a garage or even outside for 2 or more months before bringing it inside the house. How can you tell if wood is real or particle board? Look at the end grain of the wood. If you see real wood grain you have real wood. If you see layers of compressed materials you have particle board or plywood. One of the disadvantages of particle board is that this compressed material can separate over time or when exposed to moisture. Feel the grain of the wood. Real wood has a natural grain pattern that never repeats or has seams. Veneered particle board can be “too perfect” to be real, or lack any texture or grain. Look for seams or cracks at the edges. Veneer is glued to a particle board base and therefore a seam will always be able to be observed under close inspection. Small cracking is also very common, even on brand new pieces of furniture. Look at parts that are not covered with wood veneer first. If you have a cabinet or bookshelf, one trick is to look at the small holes where the shelf supports insert into the material. With a paper clip or small knife, scrape the inside of the hole and observe what material comes out. If it looks like sawdust you have particle board material, if you have wood chips or shavings you likely have solid wood or plywood. Check the price. Particle board furniture is generally lower in cost vs real wood. If the price of a piece of furniture seems to good to be true, it may be. Particle board vs. solid wood furniture – why we don’t use particle board! 5 reasons we use solid wood instead of veneered particleboard. Solid wood is durable. Particle board is not. Most particle board furniture ends up in the trash. Solid wood is water resistant. Spill a glass of water, cup of coffee or other liquid and properly finished wood furniture will not be ruined. Solid wood can be repaired if damaged. Particle board is almost impossible to repair once it begins to swell or bubble. Real solid wood can be repaired in a variety of ways from a simple re-application of finish to a more in-depth process of sanding, filling and refinishing the damaged area. Solid wood looks better than veneered particleboard. There is nothing that compares to the color, luster and grain patterns of real solid wood. Solid wood products will last for generations. Purchasing furniture that is made from quality materials is an investment that will stand the test of time. Solid Walnut Dresser …

Continue reading "What are the disadvantages of particle board?"

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The temptation of cheap furniture

We’ve all been there. We need a piece of furniture, don’t want to spend a lot of money, and find ourselves at Ikea or browsing Amazon, pondering a low cost piece of furniture and thinking “I know it’s cheap, but how bad can it be?”

After many years of helping customers design, build and repair furniture of all different grades and types, we are here to answer that question: How bad can it be? … well, honestly… pretty bad! The reality is that low-cost furniture is low in cost because it is made with materials that simply won’t last no matter how careful you are with them. And the primary culprit? Particle board.

Particle board, also known as particleboard, chipboard or low-density fiberboard, is an engineered wood product manufactured from sawmill shavings, wood pieces, Urea-Formaldehyde, synthetic binders and resins used as bonding agents. This mix is exposed to high heat, then pressed and extruded into dimensional shapes.

Veneer is a thin layer of wood or synthetic material that is glued to particle board to give a finished surface. Some veneer can be real wood, while most is made from melamine which is a type of plastic. Plastic veneer can be very realistic with wood texture stamped into the materials and color variations that look very real at first glance. Laminated particle board and melamine particle board are types of veneered particleboard.

The Honest Carpenter gives a very good explanation of the disadvantages of particle board on his YouTube channel.

What are the risks of particle board?

Particle board swells when exposed to moisture

The primary disadvantage of particle board is that exposure to even small amounts of moisture will cause board to swell. Because it is made from wood chips and sawmill shavings, once swelling occurs there is no way to make it return to its original shape. Minor swelling can be unsightly while more significant swelling can cause the veneer layer to warp and crack, cabinet doors to stop closing and shelves to not fit properly.

This photo shows a particle board with melamine veneer cabinet shelf that was damaged by everyday use.

disadvantage of particle board
damaged shelf corner

Veneered particle board chips and peels easily

Another issue is that the surface can be easily damaged during normal use. This is because particle boards typically have very thin melamine (plastic) veneer layers that simply break or crack when exposed to everyday use. Furniture corners are especially susceptible to this issue as well as any surface that receives regular use.

Particle board contains 12.4% Formaldehyde

If you are concerned about Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs – in building materials for your home, it is best to avoid particle board furniture, cabinetry and shelving.

According to the Website My Chemical Free House, most particle board is made with 12.4% Urea-formaldehyde (UF). For this reason manufacturers highly recommend that all exposed surfaces be sealed either by the covering with thin layers of glued veneer or the application of a sealing agent such as a specialized  sealing product.

A disadvantage of particle board is that unsealed material will release or “outgas” formaldehyde primarily in the first 2 months of life, and will continue to outgas for up to 5-10 years depending on the thickness of the material and exposed unsealed surface area. It is a good idea to have new particle board products rest in an open space such as a garage or even outside for 2 or more months before bringing it inside the house.

How can you tell if wood is real or particle board?

Look at the end grain of the wood. If you see real wood grain you have real wood. If you see layers of compressed materials you have particle board or plywood. One of the disadvantages of particle board is that this compressed material can separate over time or when exposed to moisture.

Feel the grain of the wood. Real wood has a natural grain pattern that never repeats or has seams. Veneered particle board can be “too perfect” to be real, or lack any texture or grain.

particle board vs solid wood
veneer away from peeling particle board

Look for seams or cracks at the edges. Veneer is glued to a particle board base and therefore a seam will always be able to be observed under close inspection. Small cracking is also very common, even on brand new pieces of furniture.

Look at parts that are not covered with wood veneer first. If you have a cabinet or bookshelf, one trick is to look at the small holes where the shelf supports insert into the material. With a paper clip or small knife, scrape the inside of the hole and observe what material comes out. If it looks like sawdust you have particle board material, if you have wood chips or shavings you likely have solid wood or plywood.

Check the price. Particle board furniture is generally lower in cost vs real wood. If the price of a piece of furniture seems to good to be true, it may be.

Particle board vs. solid wood furniture – why we don’t use particle board!

5 reasons we use solid wood instead of veneered particleboard.

Solid wood is durable. Particle board is not. Most particle board furniture ends up in the trash.

Solid wood is water resistant. Spill a glass of water, cup of coffee or other liquid and properly finished wood furniture will not be ruined.

Solid wood can be repaired if damaged. Particle board is almost impossible to repair once it begins to swell or bubble. Real solid wood can be repaired in a variety of ways from a simple re-application of finish to a more in-depth process of sanding, filling and refinishing the damaged area.

Solid wood looks better than veneered particleboard. There is nothing that compares to the color, luster and grain patterns of real solid wood.

Solid wood products will last for generations. Purchasing furniture that is made from quality materials is an investment that will stand the test of time.

Solid Walnut wood dresser
Solid Walnut Dresser

Solid wood furniture made in the USA

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that handmade wood furniture should be accessible to anyone. Whether you want a simple platform bed for your queen size mattress or a elaborate canopy bed, we are here to help. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of furniture hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or type of bed, please contact us and we would love to help!

angled view Storage Bed with 4 drawers, recessed frame headboard and toe kick
no particle board nightstand
no particle board dresser

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]]> https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/disadvantages-of-particle-board/feed/ 1 252402 Cherry vs. Maple wood color https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/cherry-vs-maple-wood-color/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cherry-vs-maple-wood-color https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/cherry-vs-maple-wood-color/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:27:27 +0000 https://staging.solidcustomheirlooms.com/?p=252288 cherry vs maple wood color Comparing Cherry vs. Maple color tones At Solid Custom Heirlooms we are privileged to build furniture from the finest raw materials in the world: Appalachian grown hardwoods. All of our lumber, including Cherry and Maple, is harvested from the United States and in many cases comes from mills within a short drive from our shop. Our 7 wood choices each have their own distinct color and grain pattern that impart a distinct character to the finished piece of furniture. With so many great options, choosing the wood species that is right for your décor takes some thought. We do our best to show photos of our furniture in a wide variety of wood options and stain choices, as well as offer wood samples so that you can see, touch and feel your options at home. Is Cherry or Maple the best? Cherry and Maple wood are both popular domestic hardwoods when looking for a light wood color, warm overtones and a clear straight grain. Both species are high quality furniture hardwoods that are known to be smooth when finished and will last for generations. Cherry and Maple each have their own unique grain patterns and characteristics. Let’s dive into the Cherry vs Maple discussion to find out what wood is best for your project! Cherry wood characteristics Cherry is darker in color than Maple, featuring red to brown coloration that increases over time. Cherry is a premium furniture-grade American hardwood valued for its deep reddish brown hues, smooth grain pattern and buttery-smooth finished surface. Cherry comes from the American Black Cherry tree, Prunus Serotina, that grows primarily in the Appalachian Forest region of the United States. Cherry wood (not cherrywood) has long been one of the most distinctly American hardwoods used in furniture making, cabinetry, flooring and even musical instruments. Vintage Early American, Amish and Shaker furniture were often made from Cherry wood. Cherry storage bed Cherry dressers How can you tell if wood is Cherry? The best way to identify Cherry wood is color. Cherry wood typically has a reddish-brown color that darkens over time as it is exposed to light. The heartwood (the darker, inner part of the tree) is usually a deeper reddish-brown than the sapwood (the lighter, outer part of the tree). Another good way to identify Cherry wood is the grain. Cherry wood has a distinct, fine grain pattern that is often described as “peppered” in appearance. The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or curly in some pieces. Cherry wood darkens over time The color of Cherry wood is unique in that it darkens over time – starting out a light pink color and aging to a darker red to brown color. This color transition is a natural process that is a result of exposure to sunlight. The process starts immediately after the lumber receives its final sanding and finish and can take 6 to 12 months to complete. Cherry wood, not aged Cherry wood, aged 6 months Is Cherry a toxic wood? Cherry is non-toxic and food safe which makes it very popular for cutting boards and kitchen accessories. Cherry is also popular for smoking meats! Please note that some woodworkers find Cherry wood sawdust to be a minor irritant. Cherry furniture with wood stain Cherry stains nicely as the warm base tones of the wood enhance almost any stain color. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Cherry Stain Guide that shows how different stain colors look on Cherry wood. One our our favorite Cherry wood stains is Dark Walnut, which gives a smooth, warm color that is very close in color to natural Walnut wood. If you are looking for a very consistent grain pattern with Walnut color this can be a very good option. Cherry dresser with Dark Walnut stain Cherry platform bed with Antique Cherry stain Maple wood characteristics Maple is an exceptionally strong hardwood known for its light cream color, subtle grain pattern and smooth finish. Maple wood is very heavy, dense and durable, well known to resist scratching from daily use. Maple is white to yellow in color, sometimes with darker grey or brown streaks. Furniture makers typically use hard maple wood, Acer saccharum, which is also known as Rock Maple, Hard Rock Maple or Sugar Maple when in tree form. Yes, the same maple trees used for lumber also produce the sap that makes maple syrup! Unlike other furniture hardwoods, the light, creamy colors of Maple come from the sapwood of the tree rather than the heartwood which is darker in color. Most Maple wood furniture is made from the lighter colored Maple sapwood. Maple platform bed with tall headboard Maple nightstands with 2 drawers Maple is a very durable wood! Maple is one of the hardest and most durable American hardwood species. In addition to furniture and cabinetry, Maple lumber has such tightly knit grain that it has long been prized for gyms, dance floors, baseball bats, bowling alleys, butcher blocks and other applications where a super-hard surface is desired. Does Maple change color over time? All hardwood darkens over time and maple is no exception. While the transformation is not as dramatic as Cherry, Maple does darken from a very light creamy color to a deeper honey color in about 6-12 months. The best stain colors for maple wood Maple takes all types of stain very evenly and because of its light, neutral base tones, will let the colors of the stain show through. For a true gray, blue or red stain, Maple wood is the ideal choice. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Maple stain guide that shows how different stain colors look when applied to the wood. Maple dresser with whitewash stain Maple dresser with gray stain Maple wood samples with gray stain options How to decide between Cherry and Maple furniture? How to choose between Cherry vs. Maple wood furniture? After years of working with both materials here are our suggestions. Maple wood is heavier …

Continue reading "Cherry vs. Maple wood color"

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cherry vs maple wood color

Comparing Cherry vs. Maple color tones

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we are privileged to build furniture from the finest raw materials in the world: Appalachian grown hardwoods. All of our lumber, including Cherry and Maple, is harvested from the United States and in many cases comes from mills within a short drive from our shop. Our 7 wood choices each have their own distinct color and grain pattern that impart a distinct character to the finished piece of furniture.

With so many great options, choosing the wood species that is right for your décor takes some thought. We do our best to show photos of our furniture in a wide variety of wood options and stain choices, as well as offer wood samples so that you can see, touch and feel your options at home.

Is Cherry or Maple the best?

Cherry and Maple wood are both popular domestic hardwoods when looking for a light wood color, warm overtones and a clear straight grain. Both species are high quality furniture hardwoods that are known to be smooth when finished and will last for generations. Cherry and Maple each have their own unique grain patterns and characteristics. Let’s dive into the Cherry vs Maple discussion to find out what wood is best for your project!

Cherry Sample
Maple Sample

Cherry wood characteristics

Cherry is darker in color than Maple, featuring red to brown coloration that increases over time.

Cherry is a premium furniture-grade American hardwood valued for its deep reddish brown hues, smooth grain pattern and buttery-smooth finished surface. Cherry comes from the American Black Cherry tree, Prunus Serotina, that grows primarily in the Appalachian Forest region of the United States.

Cherry wood (not cherrywood) has long been one of the most distinctly American hardwoods used in furniture making, cabinetry, flooring and even musical instruments. Vintage Early American, Amish and Shaker furniture were often made from Cherry wood.

Cherry storage bed
Cherry storage bed
3 drawer nightstand
Cherry dressers

How can you tell if wood is Cherry?

The best way to identify Cherry wood is color. Cherry wood typically has a reddish-brown color that darkens over time as it is exposed to light. The heartwood (the darker, inner part of the tree) is usually a deeper reddish-brown than the sapwood (the lighter, outer part of the tree).

Another good way to identify Cherry wood is the grain. Cherry wood has a distinct, fine grain pattern that is often described as “peppered” in appearance. The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or curly in some pieces.

Cherry wood darkens over time

The color of Cherry wood is unique in that it darkens over time – starting out a light pink color and aging to a darker red to brown color. This color transition is a natural process that is a result of exposure to sunlight. The process starts immediately after the lumber receives its final sanding and finish and can take 6 to 12 months to complete.

cherry wood
Cherry wood, not aged
Cherry wood
Cherry wood, aged 6 months

Is Cherry a toxic wood?

Cherry is non-toxic and food safe which makes it very popular for cutting boards and kitchen accessories. Cherry is also popular for smoking meats! Please note that some woodworkers find Cherry wood sawdust to be a minor irritant.

Cherry furniture with wood stain

Cherry stains nicely as the warm base tones of the wood enhance almost any stain color. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Cherry Stain Guide that shows how different stain colors look on Cherry wood.

One our our favorite Cherry wood stains is Dark Walnut, which gives a smooth, warm color that is very close in color to natural Walnut wood. If you are looking for a very consistent grain pattern with Walnut color this can be a very good option.

Cherry dresser with Dark Walnut stain
Cherry dresser with Dark Walnut stain
Mid century platform bed
Cherry platform bed with Antique Cherry stain

Maple wood characteristics

Maple is an exceptionally strong hardwood known for its light cream color, subtle grain pattern and smooth finish. Maple wood is very heavy, dense and durable, well known to resist scratching from daily use. Maple is white to yellow in color, sometimes with darker grey or brown streaks.

Furniture makers typically use hard maple wood, Acer saccharum, which is also known as Rock Maple, Hard Rock Maple or Sugar Maple when in tree form. Yes, the same maple trees used for lumber also produce the sap that makes maple syrup!

Unlike other furniture hardwoods, the light, creamy colors of Maple come from the sapwood of the tree rather than the heartwood which is darker in color. Most Maple wood furniture is made from the lighter colored Maple sapwood.

maple with no stain, plain finish
cantilever storage bed
Maple platform bed with tall headboard
two maple nightstands
Maple nightstands with 2 drawers

Maple is a very durable wood!

Maple is one of the hardest and most durable American hardwood species. In addition to furniture and cabinetry, Maple lumber has such tightly knit grain that it has long been prized for gyms, dance floors, baseball bats, bowling alleys, butcher blocks and other applications where a super-hard surface is desired.

Does Maple change color over time?

All hardwood darkens over time and maple is no exception. While the transformation is not as dramatic as Cherry, Maple does darken from a very light creamy color to a deeper honey color in about 6-12 months.

The best stain colors for maple wood

Maple takes all types of stain very evenly and because of its light, neutral base tones, will let the colors of the stain show through. For a true gray, blue or red stain, Maple wood is the ideal choice. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Maple stain guide that shows how different stain colors look when applied to the wood.

Maple dresser with white stain
Maple dresser with whitewash stain
gray stain 10 drawer mid century modern dresser
Maple dresser with gray stain

Maple wood samples with gray stain options

maple with a light grey finish
maple with a dark grey finish
maple with a black stain
maple with a blue finish

How to decide between Cherry and Maple furniture?

How to choose between Cherry vs. Maple wood furniture? After years of working with both materials here are our suggestions.

Maple wood is heavier and more durable than Cherry. If your new furniture is going to receive extremely heavy use, such as a desktop for children, Maple wood will provide the maximum durability.

Maple wood is more neutral in color than Cherry. If you are decorating with neutrals, Maple’s low key creamy, honey tones will be a good fit.

Cherry wood has more natural warmth of color vs. Maple. Cherry’s rich red to brown coloration and warm tones will always stand out in a room.

Maple wood is best for gray, black and blue stains. Because of its almost white color, Maple does not alter the color of a applied stain finish. When customers ask for a true gray color we always suggest a Maple wood base.

Cherry darkens in color in time more than Maple. While all natural hardwood darkens over time, Cherry will be the most dramatic change, starting with light pink tones and aging to a rich red-brown color, whereas Maple will yellow slightly to a honey color over time.

Both Cherry and Maple are premium American grown furniture hardwoods and are very similar in cost.

American Hardwood Furniture from Solid Custom Heirlooms

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think Cherry and Maple are both excellent choices. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of furniture designs that work well with any of the hardwoods that we offer. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or wood color, please contact us and we would be glad to discuss your ideas in detail.

loft bed with desk and shelves
Cherry loft bed
loft bed with storage
Maple loft bed

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