I INTHODUCTIDN Since the first settlers cleared the land and built log cabins, American families have been surrounded by woods. Wood is an important part of the roof over our heads, the walls around us, the floors under our feet, and the furniture that provides for our comfort. Wood will continue to be used for home interiors be­ cause of its warmth, comfort, and beauty. A knowledge of woods, their characteristics and limitations, and an ability to recognize them can be both profitable and satisfying. II CHARACTERISTICS Of WOOD A. Hardwoods-Softwoods Woods are divided into two general classes, soft­ woods and hardwoods. Softwoods come from conifers, the cone-bearing trees, such as pine, fir, cedar, spruce, and hemlock. The hardwoods are deciduous; some hardwood trees shed their leaves annually. Among the hardwoods are ash, oak, elm, beech, maple, cherry, hickory, and walnut. The terms hard and softwoods can be misleading, as some "hardwoods" are actually softer than some "softwoods." Oak is one of the most durable woods used in homes for finish work, trim, and furniture. Oak's dura­ bility makes it highly desirable for flooring and furni­ ture that must withstand heavy use. Other less expen­ sive woods such as pine and fir are used where strength is relatively less important. 3 B. Wood Colors and Porosity moisture. In summer when humidity is high, moisture Woods may be identified by observing three char­ content in woods may increase to 10 to 12 percent. acteristics-color, porosity, and density (degree of Though protective coatings of paint, varnish, or hardness). Woods having open pores or coarse grain, enamel retard the moisture absorption rate of woods such as chestnut, oak, ash, mahogany, and walnut finishes do not reduce the amount absorbed over ~ appear to have fine thumbnail dents running with the long period of time. Warping occurs when finishes lengthwise grain. Of the open-grained woods, walnut are applied only to one side of a wood surface because has the finest grain; oak has the coarsest. the unfinished side absorbs moisture more readily. Among the close- or fine-grained woods are cherry, One Yery common reaction of wood to moisture oc­ maple, birch,. beech, redwood, gum, poplar, pine, fir, curs when doors and drawers are swollen with mois­ and syca~ore. The close-grained woods need only be ture. They tend to stick and are difficult to close. smoothe.d by sanding before protective coatings are applied. Before finishing, the pores of coarse woods D. Patterns and Figures in Wood can be closed by application of a paste/wood filler made of ground quartz, linseed oil or varnish, and Wood from the same tree varies considerably in paint drier. When the open-grained appearance is pattern depending on its location in the tree and the desired, no filler is applied. way it is cut. Design develops as the tree grows. Redwood and some mahoganies are reddish­ Crotch wood, taken from the fork, has a pattern of orange. Beech, birch, and maple are all light yellow. figures and circles. Burls-gnarled, wart-like growths Red oak has a decidedly pink or reddish cast. Some on the trunk-yield bizarre patterns. Maple sometimes woods vary in color in a single plank. As the tree ages, has bird's-eye spots and markings resembling bird's color deepens at the heart in cherry, walnut, and red­ eyes. Butt figure, an elusive pattern of light and dark, wood, while the outer wood remains considerably is found in the base of walnut trees just above ground. lighter. Birch may have streaks of dark brown. Eastern Some woods have distinct annual growth rings that cedar is sometimes streaked with white. Although yield a variety of designs when cut by different color variation is an inherent characteristic of wood, methods. Rotary slicing results in thin rolls of wood some people prefer evenly colored wood for furniture. obtained by mounting the log lengthwise in a mill lathe and turning it against the blade. In quarter slic­ C. Reaction to Moisture ing a log is cut into pie-shaped wedges, then cut Woods respond to variations in weather, expanding across the growth rings. In plain or flat slicing, length­ with moisture and contracting with dryness. In heated wise cuts are made through the log, from one side to buildings, woods may have as low as 5 to 6 percent the other. Finish...... Warping ... Unfinished 4 cross-band and horizontal veneer on the bottom. These Ill FURNITURE WOODS plies and core, glued with moisture-resisting glues, are bonded by heat and pressure. Cross-banding controls A. Kinds moisture-caused expansion of veneers. Manufacturers Maple, walnut, cherry, mahogany, pecan, teak, and prefer veneer to solid wood hecansc veneer defies rosewood are the most prized woods for furniture. warping in any direction. There is little or no differ­ Oak and pine are commonly used but are less luxuri­ ence in the overall production and marketing costs of ous. Historically, certain woods have held first place, solids and veneers, and both types occupy the same only to be replaced by others as fashions and tastes price brackets. Veneers have the advantage of more change. Walnut is widely used in contemporary furni­ grain interest in matched face veneers cut from various ture. Craftsmen from Scandinavia use teak extensively. scarce or exotic woods. Veneer's greatest contribution Hosewood, popular during the Victorian era, is now to us is to make the rarest woods cheap enough for used in modern styles. Maple and birch, often used anybody. in French provincial styles, are usually finished a light Solid wood furniture is made of one piece of wood tan and called fruitwood. Oak has recently heen en­ without plies of veneer. Solid wood can be carved joying a return to popularity. Mahogany has been very with ease and, when worn clown by use, can he planed, popular since its use by the famous furniture maker, sanded, and refinished without peeling. If worn or Chippendale. Bleached mahogany was the most popu­ damaged, solid wood does not change in appearance, lar wood used for modern furniture about 15 years grain, or figure. ago. Maple is now used extensively in early American style furniture. Cherry woods are used in medium­ and high-priced furniture. IV WOODS FOH FLOORS B. Solid Versus Veneer Oak and maple are the most common hardwoods Though many people today prefer solid wood used for flooring. Douglas fir, western larch, and south­ furniture, most furniture is veneered. The develop­ ern pine are softwoods often used for flooring. Most ment of better glues has eliminated the possibility of lumberyards stock at least one softwood and two veneers peeling in humid weather. Veneered furniture hardwoods. Tongue and groove and end-matched has tops, fronts, end panels, and headboards made hardwood flooring is commonly furnished. Square­ from particle board and lumber core. Veneered furni­ edged and square-end strip flooring is also available, ture usually has a five-ply construction of a center as well as parquetry flooring suitable for laying on a core, with cross-band and face veneer on top, and mastic base on an ordinary subfloor. Matching Veneers Herringbone Chippendale Four·way 5 Vertical grain ( qqarter-sawed) flooring shrinks and swells less than flat grain (plain-sawed) flooring, wears VP UNG evenly, is more uniform in texture, and remains closed at the joints. The silver or flaked grain of quarter­ . Homeowners often_ cho~se natu~·al wood paneling sawed flooriug is usually preferred to the figure of for walls. \Vood panelmg grves ordmary rooms an air plain-sawed material. You should carefully consider of warmth, and natural wood is easy to maintain. the advantages and disadvantages of various types of Plywood paneling, available in 4- by 8-foot and 2- wood when you want special decorating effects. Beech, by 8-foot sheets and other sizes on order, can be in­ birch, mahogany, and walnut may he used as floorings stalled by homeowners for from $100 to $175 a room to attain unusual decorating effects. Today many floor­ Cost of plywood paneling varies from 20 to 60 cent~ ings are prefinished. per square foot. Hegularity in plywood veneer panel­ ing cannot be matched in solid paneling. Flawless B. Flooring Grades solid boards in amounts and lengths needed for panel~ Oak flooring, quarter-sawed, has three grades-clear, ing an entire room are difficult to find, and it is even sap clear, and select. Plain-sawed flooring has four more difficult to match large quantities of wood in grades: clear, select, number 1 common, and number color and figure. Panel boards need not be flawless. 2 common. Knotty pine, pecky fir, streaks in birch, and wormy Softwood flooring is usually available in B and better chestnut all have surface interest. grade, C select, or D select. Plywood paneling comes unfinished or finished Maple flooring is sold under first, second, and third and most dealers stock a variety so you can choos~ grades. from birch, mahogany, walnut, oak, or cherry. Unusual Grade specifications for flooring are useful guides and exotic woods can be custom ordered from all over the world-teak from Burma and Thailand, korina and when selecting various types of wood because these mahogany from Africa, and Brazilian mahogany and specifications state allowable imperfections in color rosewood from South America. and grain and indicate service expected. Some cloth-backed veneers can be used around C. Plywood Flooring curves or wrapped around pillars. Plywood and other wood products such as fiber­ hoard and pressed hoard are often used for floors VI fACT CHAHIS under wall-to-wall carpet. These materials are also The charts on the following pages list alpha­ used as an underlayment for smooth surface, resilient betically the most cOmmonly used woods, with their flooring materials in new homes and over old uneven origin, common uses, color, grain, density, and other floors.