Premium Wood
Your choice of materials...
The ultimate look, feel, and function of your installation depends heavily on two critical choices:
Which wood should be used, and how should it be finished?
These are not two separate questions, but are linked because some materials dictate the use of specific finishes and some finishes dictate the use of specific materials. If you are looking for a more natural look with rich knotty features, alder, hickory, cherry and oak are for you. Specialty woods are also available upon request, please contact us if you have any questions. To read about Oak Ridge Cabinets' custom finishes, click here.
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African Mahogany
 African Mahogany is another woodworker's favorite because it is extremely stable, durable, and easy to machine, finishes beautifully, and is timeless in its natural elegance. Its deep red color is not for everybody but can make a bold statement when used for its contrast.
African Mahogany Finishes |
Oak
 Oak is presently the most popular exterior material for residential cabinets. Oak and oak veneers are readily available and are cost effective. Oak machines and sands nicely, is hard and relatively "dent proof." Most pieces of oak contain areas of open grain and areas of "close" grain. When stained, the areas of open grain absorb more pigment deeper into the wood while the areas of close grain are more immune to coloration. This is what gives oak its characteristic contrast within each piece. Usually the darker the stain, the more pronounced this effect.
Those who may feel that oak is "too dark" should consider a natural finish with no stain, which is surprisingly light-colored and free of the "zebra stripes" that some find objectionable.
Oak Finishes |
Cherry
 Most who think of cherry think of dark reds, but cherry with lighter or no stain is increasing in popularity.
Cherrywood with a natural or light finish has a warm luster and beauty in its fine grain coloring that the deep red stains often hide. Cherry has become a popular choice for the cozy, country kitchen.
Cherry Finishes |
Pine
 Knotty pine was once chosen because it was affordable and accessible practically anywhere. Although still popular for the cabin in the mountains, pine is now at home anywhere. Recent advances in finish materials that barely yellow can keep pine looking fresh and bright for many years.
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Red Birch
 Red Birch solid stock for both frames and panels is a truly beautiful and durable choice. There is no substitute for the rosy "pink" color of natural red birch. Unfortunately, solid red birch is in short supply, driving the cost of this choice upward. If you plan to use stain, birch/alder cabinets are a good alternative.
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Alder
 Alder is a very popular wood choice. As long as the stain is not too dark, this wood finishes beautifully. Alder does not evolve in color or darken when exposed to light or heat as other woods do, and takes stains and finishes well. This material offers a cost-effective alternative for those who like some variety in the grain of their cabinets without a lot of contrast.
Alder Finishes |
Hickory
 Hickory has many of the same characteristics as maple, except its grain structure or "figure" is naturally bold and full of contrast. As the hickory tree grows, its wood is colored by whatever minerals its roots happen to be picking up at the time. The appearance of unstained hickory can change radically during a day depending on lighting conditions. This wood is a favorite among woodworkers and others who appreciate the results of Mother Nature at work.
Hickory Finishes |
Maple
 Maple is enjoying resurgence in popularity, which it richly deserves. Maple is very hard and dense, making it a good choice for cabinets that might suffer some abuse. It also machines very nicely producing crisp, long-lasting details.
Maple's greatest asset is the understated elegance of its grain structure that is best appreciated unstained or with a very light stain.
Maple Finishes |
Painted Wood
 For painted cabinets, we at Oak Ridge like to use a combination of poplar and MDF. Poplar is a durable hardwood that machines with sharp detail. Because it usually has areas with a green tint, it is unacceptable as a stain grade material but perfect as a surface for paint. MDF is very dense hardboard made with fine wood particles under extreme pressure. MDF can be machined with crisp, durable details and is an almost perfect painting surface.
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Interior Finishes
 We use melamine, a durable coating over fiberboard that is less susceptible to water damage and provides a smooth, bright, easy to clean interior. Oak Ridge Cabinets offers 3/4" melamine wood grain available in many colors. For those who prefer the old-fashioned integrity of plywood, Oak Ridge offers the interior option of 3/4" maple plywood with a natural finish. Although this material doesn't offer the easy maintenance of melamine, it is extremely strong and durable.
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