Whether you're a design or building professional, or are working with one, here's where you'll find in-depth information on everything from the secrets of smart specifying to selecting a finishing system. This section can help you learn more about sustainable American hardwood products, better understand your choices and enforce the importance to specify American hardwoods.

What is the key to smart, cost-effective and successful specifying of hardwood products? It's understanding both the unique physical characteristics of hardwoods, and how hardwood species naturally occur in North American forests.

Smart specifiers understand that some hardwood species are more abundant than others in the forest. They realize this relates directly to their commercial availability and relative affordability.
Smart specifiers know:

• Why some species are harder than others.
• Why species take stains differently.
• Why some species can be finished to resemble other species.

They know why hardwood products come in a variety of dimensions and a full range of grades. Most important, smart and successful specifiers apply their knowledge and understanding of hardwoods to their projects.

How dry should hardwood products be?

Source: USDA Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook #72

How much dimensional change should you expect?

These figures represent possible width change in 12 inches of lumber when moisture content is reduced from 10 percent to 5 percent. Figures are for plain-sawn unless indicated otherwise.

Species Ash Basswood Beech Butternut Cherry Hard maple Hickory Oak, Red and White plain-sawn Oak, Red and White quarter-sawn Oak, Red and White rift-sawn Pecan Soft Maple Walnut Yellow Birch Yellow Poplar

Dimension Change 10/64" 10/64" 14/64" 8/64" 9/64" 12/64" 11/64" 11/64" 7/64" 7/64" 11/64" 9/64" 10/64" 12/64" 9/64"

Source: Architectural Woodwork Institute, Architectural Woodwork Quality Standards, 6th Edition, p. 36

Lumber Grades

You can use accepted industry standards and grading systems to describe the look you and your customer want, and the best way to achieve it within the budget.

Hardwood lumber grades and grading rules have been established and are governed by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA).

The NHLA grading system, which is used by buyers and sellers of hardwood lumber, describes the amount of "usable" clear material in a board. The highest grade boards are long, wide and free of defects.

Boards featuring character marks are not premium grade, but they are preferred for built-ins and many other applications because they add character and visual interest. They're also a great choice for applications where wood will be painted or not be visible. Higher grades of lumber, which have few, if any, character marks, generally are preferred for applications such as fine tabletops and cabinet doors.

For a built-in desk and bookcase, for example, specify upper-grade hardwoods for visible areas, such as the desktop and cabinet doors. Build non-visible areas - sides and interior shelves - from a variety of species in No. 1 Common, a lower-cost, intermediate grade priced less than FAS.

See 22 Species in 4 Virtual Stains in our Species Guide.

Craftsmanship Standards

The Architectural Woodwork Institute sets standards for appearance, engineering, fabrication, finishing and installation. Builders and architects need to be aware of three AWI grades when specifying work to be done:

• Premium
• Custom
• Economy

Most architectural woodwork is custom grade, with premium grade reserved for special projects or focal points, and economy representing the minimum expectation of quality, workmanship, materials and installation.

For example, in custom grade millwork, the gap between doors, drawers or panels and frames must be 1/16" or less. In premium grade work, the tolerance is 1/32"; in economy, 3/32" is acceptable.