Domestic lumber choices
Poplar, red oak, ash, maple, cherry, white oak and walnut appear frequently on domestic hardwood price sheets. They are not interchangeable purely because one rate is lower. Paint-grade work, wear surfaces, visible cabinetry and outdoor assemblies impose different requirements. Match the species to the use first, then compare the same thickness, grade and drying condition. Hard maple and soft maple should remain separate rows, as should red and white oak.
Exotics need precise names
Trade names can encompass different woods. A quote for African mahogany should not silently replace a quote for genuine mahogany; Sapele should remain identified even when a retailer groups it under a mahogany heading. For Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Tigerwood, Massaranduba or Red Balau, ask for the exact supplied product, profile and length schedule. A furniture-lumber BF listing is not a ready-made decking price.
Figure and matching change the scope
Curly, quilted, birdseye, ambrosia, spalted and crotch descriptions address appearance but do not by themselves define uniformity or structural condition. A general figured-lumber price may cover unselected stock. Heavy figure, matching color, bookmatching, instrument suitability and sets from one log require their own confirmation. Keep photographs and selection criteria with the quote.
A species comparison that helps purchasing
| Group | Common purchasing questions | Price comparison trap |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar and paint-grade stock | Will the surface be painted? What defects are acceptable? | Paying for appearance that will be concealed |
| Red and white oak | Which species, sawing pattern and clear lengths? | Treating all oak as equivalent |
| Hard and soft maple | Which maple, color selection and figure? | Using a generic maple listing |
| Cherry | Heartwood, sapwood, gum and color selection? | Assuming natural variation is a defect |
| Walnut | Grade rules, steaming, sapwood and matching? | Assuming every board has uniform dark color |
| Imported hardwood | Exact species, source documentation and machining? | Comparing unrelated trade names |
| Figured and slab stock | Piece photos, consistency, checks and usable dimensions? | Assuming the lowest posted rate buys a selected piece |
Wide stock, slabs and very thick boards
Price a slab as an individual component when its outline, defects and figure determine usefulness. Maximum width is not average usable width. Request both faces, measured thickness, length, a scale reference and a defect map. Include flattening and any proposed stabilization in the budget. A photograph alone cannot establish moisture condition or the amount of sound material remaining after machining.
For thick lumber, ask what finished thickness the supplier expects after flattening rather than assuming that 8/4 always finishes to a fixed dimension. Bow, cup, drying and the required machining change yield. If the design allows a built-up assembly or narrower parts, compare those alternatives explicitly rather than treating them as identical construction.
Use the sources without overstating coverage
Country Concepts and CR Muterspaw illustrate domestic, exotic and figured categories. Hearne Hardwoods makes width and selection qualifications especially visible. Their catalogs represent individual businesses, not the full market. Many specialty lines require direct contact.
The best next step is a short list of acceptable species with one common finished scope. Ask for each option separately, including the same quantities, milling and destination. Review suitability with the project designer or installer before choosing solely by cost.
A PURCHASING CALCULATION
A purchasing calculation
A hypothetical buyer compares a $10/BF unselected figured board with a $14/BF selected matching set. The correct question is how many matching finished parts each purchase can actually produce, including any rejected pieces.
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