Equally as important as a door's design is the material used to build it. I use woods that offer strength, stability, durability, and beauty. Each wood has its own unique grain patterns, colors, and textures, and there is a perfect wood for each application.

The majority of the woods used come from right here in North America, whether it's softwoods from the Pacific Northwest or hardwoods from the eastern United States and Canada. Exterior doors are made from Honduran or African mahogany, Douglas fir, white oak, sapele, and cherry, and interior doors can be made from virtually any wood species. All the lumber used comes from well-managed forests or from recycled and reclaimed sources. More information on these woods is given below.




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Honduran Mahogany

Swietenia macrophylla, also known as genuine mahogany or Honduran mahogany, has long been considered the premier material for door construction. It is remarkably stable and resistant to decay, and it has a beautiful, rich color with subtle figure.
All Honduran mahogany that I use is sourced from well managed FSC certified forests.

African Mahogany

Khaya ivorensis, also known as Khaya mahogany, has become a more popular wood for doors as the price for Honduran mahogany has gone up. Khaya is a little harder, denser, and heavier than Honduran, and it has a more reddish color with more pronounced figure. 

Sapele

Entandrophragma cylindricum, also known as sapele, is also a member of the Meliaceae family of mahogany species. It is another excellent cost effective alternative to Honduran mahogany. It is a little harder and denser than Khaya, with a more brown color and more consistent figure. Sapele has become a very popular material for exterior doors and windows, being very strong and decay resistent.

Vertical Grain Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menzeisli, also known as coast Douglas fir, has been one of the most important wood species in the door industry for a long time. It is incredibly strong for it's weight, is very stable, and is moderately resistant to decay. Vertical grain Douglas fir can have very tight growth rings, though this is becoming harder to come by and the price has been steadily increasing. The price for vertical grain fir is now roughly in line with that of African mahogany and sapele.

Quartersawn White Oak

Quercus alba, also known as white oak, is one of the most widely celebrated hardwoods in North America. Quartersawn oak furniture, paneling, and millwork are hallmarks of the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century. The prominent crossgrain medulary rays give a very unique look to this incredibly hard, stable, and decay resistant wood. 

Rift White Oak

More recently, rift white oak has become more popular for doors and millwork. A rift cut is very similar to a quartersawn cut in that the grain is generally straight and vertical, though without the crossgrain medulary rays. This gives a very consistent and clean look, for a more modern appeal.

Cherry

Prunus serotina, also known as black cherry, is a prized material for fine woodworking and cabinetry, and makes a beautiful door. The natural red-brown color deepens and darkens with age, and a subtle iridescent figure is common. Cherry is a very stable and rot resistant wood, making it an excellent choice for exterior doors, though since the color is more effected by  ultraviolet light, it is best to protect it with a good exterior finish with UV inhibitors, if it will be getting any direct sunlight.

Walnut

Juglans nigra, also known as black walnut, is also a prized American hardwood for fine woodworking, and the rich, dark brown color of the heartwood makes a gorgeous door. Like cherry, walnut's color will change over time if exposed to sunlight, but unlike cherry, it's color will fade instead of deepen. Therefore, the exterior face of a walnut door must be well protected from the sun, either with a deep overhang or with added stains.

Maple

Acer saccharum, also known as hard maple, sugar maple, or rock maple, is an incredibly dense, smooth, and lustrous wood. With a bright and clean appearance, a maple door can be an excellent choice for a more modern feel. It is not as stable or decay resistant as other options for an exterior door, but when laminated onto a mahogany core, it makes a durable, beautiful choice.

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