What Type Of Wood Is Best For Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

Once you have decided to remodel your kitchen

, the biggest question you are going to face is what type of new cabinets to install. Today, there are many more options available than when your old kitchen cabinets were made. There are hundreds of door styles to choose from, a myriad of stain options and finishes plus different types of wood which each have their own unique features.

There are five basic types of wood used in cabinet construction. Cherry, Oak, Soft Maple, Hard Maple and Hickory. Oak is the type of wood that you probably most associate with cabinetry, it is very durable and abundant. The grain in oak is a little more pronounced than the other woods and the color will range from a light tan to dark brown. Cherry has also been used for years in producing high end cabinets and furniture. It isn't as hard as oak but is still strong and stiff and easy to work with. The grain in cherry wood is finer than oak and it can range in color from almost white to reddish brown.

As homeowners looked for new options to get away from Oak or Cherry, Maple and Hickory have become increasingly popular in recent years. Maple comes in two varieties soft and hard. The soft maple from the Red Maple tree or Silver Maple has the consistency and weight of cherry while hard maple from the Sugar Maple or Black Maple tree is harder and stronger like oak. Both of the maples have a very fine grain and tend to be lighter in color than oak or cherry. The hard maple will be a little bit darker than the soft maple.

Hickory is also growing in popularity in the kitchen. Cabinets made of this wood are very strong and durable. The hickory wood comes from the Shagbark and Butternut trees and provides a great deal of color options ranging from almost white to dark brown. Hickory takes to staining very well which will show off the grain patterns and texture. With Hickory you are also getting the sturdiest wood in America, the stuff that the pioneers built their wagons out of.

When choosing the type of wood for your cabinets, remember that even with each individual type there can be a great deal of variation in color and grain pattern. If you have a large kitchen, you might want to go with a darker wood or stain but if it is a small room then a lighter color of cabinets will make the area seem more open. The great thing about choosing wood cabinets is that they are very easy to maintain. Simply wipe them down occasionally with a damp cloth and dry. Do not use too much water because the moisture can damage the wood. Ask your manufacturer for an extra quart of the stain that was used on the cabinets in case you have to do some touch up work later on.

by: Shawn Hickman

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