| When you start shopping for kitchen cabinets, the | | | | Cabinets, because it is grows abundantly in |
| type of wood used is just as important as the | | | | Northern China and most RTA cabinets come |
| overall look or finish of the cabinets. Depending on | | | | from China. There are also more than 10 species |
| whether you are buying RTA | | | | of Maple that come out of the US, so there is a |
| (ready-to-assemble), stock, semi-custom, or | | | | wide variety of grains. Most maple is very easy |
| custom cabinets will have a big impact on the | | | | to work with and will accept stain easily. Maple |
| types of woods that are available for you to | | | | finishes well in any color- from a Honey Finish to a |
| select from. Custom cabinets will offer the largest | | | | Chestnut Glaze. |
| selections of wood types, but you will also pay | | | | Cherry |
| significantly more for them. Here is a list of wood | | | | Cherry is typically used in the mid-priced to higher |
| types that you may come across in your search | | | | end cabinets. The unique feature about Cherry is |
| for kitchen cabinets (listed in order of price) | | | | that with a light stain applied, it will actually get |
| Paint Grade | | | | darker with time. As the wood ages and is |
| Paint Grade wood can really consist of a wide | | | | exposed to sunlight, it will change to the reddish |
| range of wood types. Most stock and | | | | brown color most people associate with antique |
| semi-custom cabinet companies that apply a | | | | cherry furniture. |
| painted finish may even use MDF or Particleboard | | | | Bamboo |
| instead of wood. The most common paint grade | | | | With the push towards becoming eco-friendly, |
| woods will be Birch, Poplar, or Maple. | | | | more and more cabinets are being designed using |
| Oak | | | | Bamboo. Bamboo is a hearty plant that grows |
| Oak is probably the most widely used wood for | | | | rapidly. The biggest drawback to bamboo is that it |
| cabinets. Most contractor grade cabinets, and | | | | has to be veneered over another wood, since |
| more economically priced cabinets will be made of | | | | Bamboo plants do not grow thick enough to cut |
| Oak. Oak is available in over 200 different species | | | | into planks. Right now, you will only find Bamboo |
| and is grown all around the world. The most | | | | being used by custom shops primarily on the |
| common finish for Oak cabinets is just a natural | | | | West Coast |
| or honey finish. Oak is a strong, dense wood that | | | | Mahogany |
| will hold up to everyday use and can accept stain | | | | Mahogany creates a very rich look, and the wood |
| well. | | | | itself is reddish-brown. Aside from exotic woods, |
| Pine | | | | this is going to be one of the most expensive |
| Pine comes in three different versions- white, | | | | options in the common wood types. Mahogany |
| yellow, or ponderosa. White pine can be very | | | | accepts stain very well, but is not an overly |
| easy to work with and will accept stain easily, | | | | strong wood. |
| while ponderosa will require some special attention | | | | Whether you are building a high end kitchen, or |
| because of the resin that may still be | | | | just updating a rental unit, there are a wide |
| concentrated in the wood. Pine is great for | | | | variety of wood types to select from. Selecting a |
| creating a rustic feel for your home. | | | | wood type that will hold up to the amount of use |
| Maple | | | | and abuse it will incurr is just as important as how |
| Maple is another widely used wood type and can | | | | the finished product will look, so keep that in mind |
| be found in a wide variety of species. This is | | | | when shopping for kitchen cabinets. |
| probably the most common wood found in RTA | | | | |