Builders and manufacturers alike know how cabinets can make or break a new build or renovation. Cabinetry is more of a craft than simply a manufacturing process. Cabinet makers take careful consideration to ensure that the wood species is appropriate to match the home's aesthetic and can also be finished to spec. Cabinet makers need top-quality lumber that is also milled to tight tolerances to ensure proper fitment. 

Cabinetmaking as an industry is a fast-growing one, an industry that is projected to grow from $148 billion to nearly $190 billion by the end of this decade. This growth is due to a boom in urban apartment construction along with the DIY remodeling culture that has popped up over the last few decades. All in all, cabinetmaking is not going anywhere. 

Hardwoods For Cabinets

Because of this explosion in growth across cabinet manufacturing, hardwood lumber is in much higher demand than it has been previously. This is especially true for markets across the country, as well as the world. States such as California, Texas, and North Carolina are all growing rapidly, and manufacturers in Vietnam and China are constantly looking for more hardwood lumber to keep up with demand. 

One way in which companies keep up with demand is to use cheaper, lower-quality manufactured or pressed wood rather than true hardwood lumber. While this may be an alternative, it often lasts for a much shorter amount of time than something that is made to last the test of time. 

Working with high-quality raw materials to start with can ensure that cabinets will be around for generations. At Select Hardwoods, we source, mill,  and market high-quality hardwood lumber across the US and internationally.

Some of our favorite hardwood species that we like to work with include:

• Red Oak: Red oak offers a prominent grain pattern and warm reddish-brown color, making it a classic choice for traditional cabinetry. Its strength and availability make it well suited for cabinet doors, face frames, panels, and other visible components.
• White Oak: Known for its durability, tight grain, and distinctive appearance, white oak is widely used in both traditional and contemporary cabinetry. It is an excellent choice for cabinet doors, face frames, panels, and high-end custom cabinets.
• Hard Maple (Sugar Maple): Hard maple has a light color, fine grain, and smooth texture that works well in clean, modern cabinet designs. Its hardness and durability make it suitable for cabinet doors, drawer fronts, face frames, and countertops.
• Soft Maple: Soft maple offers a smooth texture and subtle grain while being easier to machine than hard maple. It is commonly used for cabinet doors, drawer fronts, face frames, interior components, and painted cabinetry.
• Hickory: Hickory's dramatic color variation and bold grain create a distinctive appearance for cabinetry. Its exceptional strength makes it a popular choice for rustic, farmhouse, and character-grade cabinet designs.
• Ash: Ash has a straight, open grain and light color that can complement a variety of cabinet styles. It machines well and can be used for cabinet doors, face frames, panels, and other custom cabinetry components.
• Cherry: Cherry is a premium hardwood with a fine grain and rich color that deepens over time. Its smooth texture and excellent finishing qualities make it ideal for high-end custom cabinets, doors, drawer fronts, and architectural millwork.
• Black Walnut: Walnut is prized for its rich brown color and distinctive grain, making it a popular choice for luxury and custom cabinetry. It is commonly used for cabinet doors, drawer fronts, face frames, panels, and decorative accents.
• Yellow Poplar: Yellow poplar is stable, easy to machine, and accepts paint well, making it an excellent material for painted cabinetry. It is often used for cabinet boxes, face frames, doors, drawer components, and other interior parts.
• American Beech: Beech has a fine, tight grain and smooth texture that provides a clean, consistent appearance. It can be used for cabinet doors, drawer fronts, furniture-style cabinetry, and other machined components.
• Birch (Yellow or Sweet Birch): Birch has a fine, even grain and appearance similar to maple, making it a versatile choice for cabinetry. It is commonly used for cabinet doors, panels, drawer fronts, plywood, and furniture components.
• Sycamore: Sycamore features a distinctive grain that can produce attractive figuring, especially when quartersawn. It is often used in specialty cabinetry, decorative panels, custom furniture, and architectural millwork where its unique appearance can stand out.

Select Hardwoods Supplies the World With Premium Quality Hardwood Lumber

While much of our business is domestic, we often export lumber to countries such as Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, all of which use our lumber in downstream manufacturing for a multitude of products. In some cases, such as cabinetry, it is just as likely to stay in the country as it is to make it back to the US as a finished product.

As demand for Appalachian hardwoods grows across the world, we pride ourselves in supplying some of the most sought-after timber in the world. Our region's unique growing conditions support slow, steady growth, producing tight-grained wood prized for its strength, stability, and longevity. 

Our diverse offering of hardwoods offers a broad spectrum of species that can meet nearly any manufacturing requirement. This allows our mills to supply everything from heavy-duty structural lumber to appearance-grade boards for cabinet doors and exteriors.

Select Hardwoods Offers Hardwood Lumber for Cabinets Across the World

If you are a cabinet manufacturer or craftsman, look no further than Select Hardwoods for the highest quality hardwoods for export. We provide kiln-dried, premium hardwoods perfect for millwork and cabinetry, along with other applications such as furniture and flooring. 

Our Sawmill features a 400,000 board-foot kiln capacity, allowing us to dry, equalize, and condition lumber to precise specifications for the best performance and stability. Once dried, each board is carefully evaluated and sorted by quality and species. 

Select Hardwoods serves both domestic and international orders, ensuring that our rigorous quality standards are met and providing quality hardwoods with dependable, on-time delivery to our customers. Contact our team today to discuss your hardwood needs and see why cabinet makers worldwide trust Select Hardwoods for premium hardwood lumber.