In Experts in Wood, we are passionate about the natural material par excellence: wood.
By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to identify the most used American wood in carpentry and construction (and the trees from which they are extracted), thus you’ll know which wood to choose for any project you propose, from building a table to a house.
Most commonly used American wood in any carpentry or construction project
First of all, let’s clarify a few things:
In the American continent, daily hundreds of varieties of wood are used, many of them brought by the European settlers on their arrival to the “New World”, since they didn’t know how to work well with the native species.
So, by American species, we are referring to species that may or may not be of European origin or from other continents, but that have subspecies thriving in America.
Moreover, this top is not hierarchical since it depends on what you need the wood for. Therefore, the best American wood is the one that best suits the project you want to undertake.
So let’s talk about the American woods that are essential for any job.
But first, we recommend you visit our blog about the basics of wood.
1. Canadian Yellow Birch Wood (Betula alleghaniensis)

Characteristics of the Canada Yellow Birch Tree
Location | Yellow birch is native to eastern North America, from Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern Quebec) to the United States (eastern Minnesota, and south into the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia). |
Height | 20 meters high. |
Tree diameter | About 80 centimeters. |
Flowers | Pendants in yellow or green tones. |
Leaves | Simple closed, rhomboidal from 3 to 6 cm. |
Branches | Flexible and with a whitish rind. |
Habitat | It’s most prevalent in eastern Canada, especially in the province of Quebec, where it is a symbol. This tree grows best in sunny and humid places, resists pollution well and does not need too many nutrients from the soil. It reproduces by seed or through the use of cuttings (pieces of the stem of an adult tree planted in the ground). |
Service life | In nature, a birch tree can exceed 100 years of age, but in plantations intended for timber purposes, it usually does not exceed 40 years. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), this tree is not threatened. |
Although there are other birch species in America, only the yellow birch is harvested for timber; the others are used for medicinal purposes.
Most of the birch wood sold in North America comes from this tree.
Characteristics of yellow birch wood
Here we’ll give you the most important characteristics to keep in mind when looking for wood of any kind.
Overview and applications
Birch is a heavy wood; it doesn’t crack or corrode. Its main use is in:
Age of felling or cutting
Between 35 and 40 years for maximum wood production, but diameters of 30 to 35 cm are obtained with ages of 40 – 45 years. It is not recommended to extend the cutting age beyond 40 years as this increases the probability of wood rotting while the tree is still alive.
Color
Sapwood
Whitish color.
Heartwood
Ivory-pinkish color.
Characteristic defects
Small knots and sometimes rots easily.
Fiber
Straight, with occasional undulations.
Grain
Fine.
Density
Approximate density of 650kg/m3. Which makes it a semi-heavy wood.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with a Monnin test result of 3.1.
Durability
It is susceptible to attack by fungi and insects, so its use outdoors is not recommended.
Dimensional Stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.38% wood somewhat nervous.
Impregnability
Between impregnable and slightly impregnable.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
526 kg/cm2
Static flexural strength
1,548 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
170,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
No problems.
Drying
Fast, although with some risk of deformation.
Brushing
No problems.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
A drill (pre-drilled) should be used first to avoid cracking and splintering of the wood.
Finishing
Finishes with varnish or paints have no problems. Stains may take irregular shapes.
Maple Wood
There are more than 20 species of maple. However, many of them aren’t used for their wood since they are more profitable in extracting syrups for cooking.
Have you ever tried maple syrup? There you go, now you know where such a delicacy comes from.
So here we’ll talk about the 2 main woody varieties in America, the Acer rubrum and the Acer nigrum.
2. Acer rubrum

Characteristics of the Maple rubrum tree
Location | It is found mostly in Canada and the United States. But it can also be found in Europe and Japan. |
Height | Maple can reach an average height of 30 meters. |
Tree diameter | Entre 50 centímetros y 2 metros. |
Flowers | They are red and have 5 very small petals. |
Leaves | Red maple leaves are typically 5-10 cm long and the same width with 3-5 irregularly toothed lobes and become even redder in the fall. |
Branches | Red to grayish-brown and hairless. |
Habitat | This is a very adaptable species; it tolerates various types of climatic conditions. You can find this tree in places such as swamps as well as in arid or more humid lands. |
Service life | This tree can live more than 200 years in the wild. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | Non-threatened species. |
Maple rubrum wood characteristics
Overview and applications
Acer rubrum wood is a softwood used indoors as it is not as strong as Acer nigrum.
So, we have that the timber uses of Acer rubrum are:
- Gymnasium floor construction.
- Shoe heels.
- Pieces for pianos.
- Turnery.
- Carpentry for bathrooms.
Age of felling or cutting
Generally, for all species of maple, it is advisable not to cut the tree before 50 years of age.
Color
Sapwood
Almost white, with reddish tints.
Heartwood
Heartwood pale red.
Characteristic defects
None in particular.
Fiber
Straight and wavy.
Grain
Fine.
Density
Acer rubrum wood is semi-heavy with an approximate density of 590 kg/m3 at 12% humidity.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with 3.2 in the Monnin test.
Durability
Very durable in interiors that have not been attacked by woodworm (an insect pest). It resists well against fungi.
Dimensional stability
Volumetric shrinkage coefficient
0.41% wood between slightly and moderately nervous.
Impregnability
The sapwood of soft Maple is impregnable. In contrast, its heartwood is practically not.
Mechanical Properties
Compression resistance
450 kg/cm2.
Flexural static strength
920 kg/cm2.
Modulus of elasticity
113,000 kg/cm2.
Workability
Sawing
No problems.
Drying
Quick drying.
Brushing
No problems.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
No problems.
3. Acer nigrum

Acer nigrum tree characteristics
Location | This tree is predominantly found in the midwestern United States and southern Canada, although it is also present in Mexico. |
Height | Between 20 and 30 meters approximately. |
Tree diameter | An average of 30 to 50 centimeters. |
Flowers | Small, yellowish-green. |
Leaves | Large, 13 centimeters long and approximately the same in diameter. |
Branches | Lobular and green, although they may turn yellow or reddish in autumn. |
Habitat | This tree is characterized by its resistance to pollution, rapid growth and the need for moist soils to survive. It reproduces by cuttings or by planting seeds. |
Service life | It can exceed 100 years in the wild. In commercial plantations, it is harvested over parts of 30 years. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | Non-threatened species. |
Acer nigrum wood characteristics
Overview and applications
Acer nigrum has hardwood that is harder and more resistant than Acer rubrum and therefore is used more outdoors. In addition, among the most common uses of this wood we have:
- Construction of dance floors.
- Construction of gymnasium floors.
- Tool handles.
- Bodywork.
- Construction.
Age of felling or cutting
For all maple species, it is generally recommended that the tree not be felled before 50 years of age.
Color
Sapwood
Almost white, but with brown tints.
Heartwood
Heartwood brown.
Characteristic Defects
None in particular.
Fiber
Straight and wavy.
Grain
Fine.
Density
Approximately 700 kg/m3 at 12% humidity, so it is a semi-heavy wood.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with a Monnin score of 4.5.
Durability
Long-lasting in interiors that have not been previously attacked by woodworm (an insect pest). Resists well against fungi.
Impregnability
Sapwood is impregnable, heartwood is not.
Structural stability
Coefficient of volumetric contraction
0.49% wood between somewhat and moderately nervous.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
540 kg/cm2
Static bending strength
1,090 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
126,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
No problems.
Drying
Quick drying.
Planing
No problems.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
No problems.
4. Douglas Fir or Oregon pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

It is not an actual spruce, but a very similar species. Douglas firs are also grown as ornamental plants and common Christmas trees in North America.
If you want to know more about this tree, we recommend our blog on 6 types of pine wood most commonly used in carpentry.
5. American Red Oak Wood (Quercus rubra)

Oaks are among the longest-lived, hardest, and most disease-resistant trees. Many of them exceed 500 years. Hence, you may have heard ” that person is like an oak tree“, in comparison to this tree’s trait.
It’s key to keep in mind that there are three different types of oak: The European oak, the sessile oak (mainly European) and the American oak.
In America, wood is usually taken from red oak and white oak.
Finally, keep in mind that, although American red oak and American white oak are the same species, we are going to address them separately; depending on their location, they are more or less used in carpentry. That is to say, in your country, only one of the two varieties may be used, either for logistic reasons or simply because one of them is better suited for certain jobs.
For example, in Central and South America, you are more likely to find white oak, while in North America both varieties are readily available.
Characteristics of the American Red Oak tree
Location | This species is native to the central and east coast of North America, although specimens have been found in northeastern and central Mexico. It produces bitter whales. |
Height | Fast-growing, it ranges from 35 to 43 meters. |
Tree diameter | Its trunk has an average length of 1 to 2 meters. |
Flowers | Rojas, pequeñas, agrupadas en pares, ovoides. |
Leaves | Flexible, lobed, ending in a variable number of points. |
Branches | Straight-angled relative to the root. |
Habitat | It tolerates different types of soils. However, it grows best near streams. It needs to be near water sources such as lakes. It reproduces by seed collection. |
Service life | In general, they are incredibly long-lived, in nature, and in good conditions a specimen can live 500 years or more. It reproduces mainly by planting cuttings. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | Non-threatened species. |
Characteristics of American Red Oak wood
Overview and applications
Its wood is the strongest, stiffest and most durable but also very heavy and hard. As a distinctive feature, the American red oak is the only tree of its kind with shiny stripes all over the trunk.
Oak wood is very popular among woodworkers because of its high quality and good appearance.
It is used in the following applications:
- Cooperage.
- Elaboration of floors.
- General carpentry.
Age of felling or cutting
In the case of this species, it is necessary to wait from 80 to 250 years to extract good wood. That is to say, those who plant an oak tree may not live to see it mature.
Color
The wood is pale reddish brown.
Sapwood
Dark reddish red.
Heartwood
Between red and pale brown.
Characteristic defects
None in particular.
Density
Semi-heavy wood with an approximate density of 710 kg/m3 at 12% humidity.
Fiber
Straight.
Grain
Intermediate.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with a score of 4.8 on the Monnin test.
Durability
It is wood resistant to humidity, but not so much to insects.
Impregnability
The sapwood is impregnable; the heartwood is not very impregnable.
Dimensional stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.44% wood moderately nervous.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
450 kg/cm2
Static bending strength
960 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
113,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
No problems, except for its hardness. It requires good saws at the time of felling.
Drying
Slow.
Brushing
No problems.
Gluing
There are problems with the pH of the glues since, if they are too acidic or too alkaline, they can damage the wood.
Nailing and screwing
Pre-drilling required.
Finishing
No problems.
6. American White Oak Wood (Quercus alba)

Characteristics of the American White Oak tree
Location | Native to eastern Canada and the northern United States but also common in Florida and Texas. Unlike red oak, this tree produces acorns with a sweet flavor. |
Height | Specimens usually have an average height between 25 and 30 meters. However, specimens up to 44 meters have been found; usually, the width of this tree is related to its height. |
Tree diameter | 1 to 2 meters. |
Flowers | Bright yellow. |
Leaves | Rounded, grouped in clusters. |
Branches | Leafy and parallel to the ground. |
Habitat | Like the red oak, it grows in a variety of terrains, either in lowlands, or dry or humid areas, and specimens have even been found at 1600 meters of altitude in the Appalachian Mountains in northeastern North America. |
Service life | The truth is that most oak species tend to live a long time, if they are not felled, seriously affected by pests, or face drastic changes in their environment; they can perfectly live up to 500 years. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | Non-threatened species. |
American white oak wood characteristics
Overview and applications
This tree is widely known and appreciated in carpentry because it provides resistant wood, which is reliable to work with and generally of good quality.
In addition, thanks to its hardness, strength, and durability, its wood is highly prized in:
- Carpentry and joinery.
- Shipbuilding.
- Elaboration of railroads.
- Barrels or casks for different types of liquors.
Age of felling or cutting
In the case of this tree species, it is necessary to wait 80 to 250 years to extract good wood, that is to say, those who plant an oak may not live to see it in maturity.
Color
Sapwood
It comprises colors from brown to white.
Heartwood
Heartwood Pale brown.
Characteristic defects
None in particular
Density
Semi-heavy wood, approximately 740 kg/m3 at 12% humidity.
Fiber
Straight.
Grain
Intermediate.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with a score of 5.1 on the Monnin test.
Durability
Medium, resistant to humidity, but not so much to insects.
Impregnability
Sapwood is impregnable, medium to slightly impregnable.
Dimensional stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.43% wood moderately nervous.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
513 kg/cm2
Flexural static strength
1,050 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
123,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
No problems, although its wood is quite hard.
Drying
Slow.
Brushing
No problems.
Gluing
Problems with alkaline and acid glues.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
No problems.
7. Mahogany wood (Swietenia macrophylla)

Characteristics of the mahogany tree
Location | Native to South America, especially Venezuela and Brazil, although it can be found in Central America in countries such as Costa Rica. |
Height | It ranges from 35 to 50 meters, but on some occasions, it can exceed them. |
Tree diameter | Its trunk is between 10 and 35 decimeters in favorable conditions. |
Flowers | Greenish yellowish. |
Leaves | Large, green, rounded at the base and pointed at the end. |
Branches | Sparse, thick and ascending. |
Habitat | It grows in tropical areas. It needs a lot of sunlight to grow properly. It also grows in savannas but can be found in jungle environments, so it needs moisture in the soil to survive. It reproduces by sowing its seeds. |
Service life | Depending on its location, the mahogany tree can be more than 100 years old, although in practical terms this almost never happens because of its commercial value. They even begin to cut it down before it is 10 years old when it is for illegal trafficking. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | It is an endangered species. It is protected, which means that logging is illegal unless there are governmental authorizations. However, it has not ceased to be traded on the black market. |
This tree is widely known and appreciated in carpentry because it provides strong, reliable and generally good-quality wood.
Unfortunately, this has been of no help to the tree, and for precisely these reasons it has been brought to the brink of extinction: The S. macrophylla species is the main source of mahogany and is threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation.
Mahogany wood characteristics
Overview and applications
Given its high resistance to shocks, humidity and its beauty, mahogany wood is very desirable in:
- Carpentry and especially joinery.
- Luxury furniture.
- Musical instrument making.
- Shipbuilding (formerly used)
In addition, it is a versatile and high-quality wood so it offers a guarantee of exclusivity in the works developed with it.
Age of felling or cutting
Relative; In natural environments, i.e. in a forest, mahogany trees require between 60 and 100 years to reach commercial size. In contrast, in plantations and agroforestry systems they can reach “maturity” between 30 and 50 years, even so, in many areas they are felled at 10 years of age, greatly diminishing their quality.
Color
The shades of the wood range from reddish to brown.
From salmon tones near the bark, we find darker tones as we go deeper. Mahogany wood also darkens over time until it reaches its characteristic brown tones. The sapwood is clearly differentiated from the heartwood.
Sapwood
It is narrow, and red-whitish in color.
Heartwood
Brown-tan or pinkish brown.
Characteristic defects
None in particular.
Density
Semi-heavy wood, with a density of approximately 570-600 kg/m³.
Fiber
Straight.
Grain
Intermediate to fine.
Hardness
It is a semi-soft wood, with a score of 2.7 on the Chalais-Meudon test, also known as the Monnin test.
Durability
Resistant to rot, and humidity, and almost not attacked by insects and fungi, which makes it useful in various environments.
Impregnability
Sapwood is moderately impregnable, and heartwood not impregnable.
Structural stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.22 % wood is not very nervous.
Mechanical properties
Flexural static strength
830 kg/cm2.
Modulus of elasticity
89,000 kg/cm2.
Compressive strength
450 kg/cm2.
Workability
Sawing
No problems.
Drying
No problems.
Planing
No problems.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
No problems.
8. Teak or Teca wood (Tectona grandis)

Teak tree characteristics
Location | This species is native to Southeast Asia but there are plantations in the Americas in countries such as Trinidad, Panama, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua and Belize. |
Height | 30 meters on average. |
Tree diameter | 80 to 90 centimeters. |
Flowers | Small white, usually with 6 petals. |
Leaves | Oval, green, 11 to 50 cm long and 6 to 37 cm wide; slightly hairy on both sides, although they can be smooth. |
Branches | Between 150 and 250 centimeters in nature, and up to 80 centimeters in plantations. |
Habitat | Introduced and naturalized in Puerto Rico but widely cultivated in the tropics throughout the world. Its natural distribution is at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1,300 meters. It does not thrive in soils prone to flooding because they need good filtering of wastewater, which is why almost all teak forests are located in mountainous terrain. Reproduction is by seed cultivation. |
Service life | In the wild, teak can last 80 years or more. In plantations, the cutting time varies greatly, usually at 20 years but sometimes at 12 years. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | This species is not threatened by excessive logging but climate change may pose a danger as it does for all other species. |
This tree is not American native; its origin is Asian. However, as its wood has unique features, it has become so demand that, in the last 3 centuries, a process to introduce the species in several parts of the world, such as Africa and Central and South America among others, has occurred in order to increase its world supply.
Characteristics of Teak wood
Overview and applications
Teak wood is oily to the touch due to its natural oil which helps the wood to preserve much better. In fact, Teak improves its coloration as it ages thanks to its oils.
Teak wood is mainly used in:
- High-quality joinery.
- Shipbuilding in the manufacture of boats and docks (remember how well it resists humidity).
- Interior and exterior carpentry: flooring, friezes, cladding, windows.
- Lathing.
- Facade cladding.
- Cooperage.
Age of felling or cutting
Teak is a fast-growing tree species, growing at about 8 m3 per year; the volume increase culminates after approximately 15 to 20 years.
Color
Sapwood
It has a yellow color and the heartwood has brown and golden tones.
Heartwood
It has a brown color with golden shades.
Characteristic defects
Residues of oil, but nothing serious.
Density
Approximately 690 Kg/m3. Which makes it a semi-heavy wood.
Fiber
Straight and wavy.
Grain
Coarse or coarse.
Hardness
Monnin test of 4.2, thus it is a semi-hardwood.
Durability
Thanks to its natural oils, Teak wood is very resistant to humidity and attacks from different pests such as fungi, insects and bacteria. However, there is a difference between a cultivated teak (i.e. the one grown on a plantation for commercial use) and one grown in nature, because the latter has a higher quality.
Impregnability
Sapwood is not very impregnable, and heartwood is not impregnable.
Dimensional Stability
Dimensional stability coefficient
0,34%. Teak wood is not very nervous.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
570 kg/cm2
Static bending strength
1000 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
140,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
Teak has a lot of silica (a mineral substance present in the soil where it grows) that prevents the saw blades from sliding well over the wood. Therefore, it is necessary to cut with more force.
Drying
It dries slowly, but there are almost never any problems with the wood.
Planing
No problems.
Gluing
Always clean the surfaces of the wood, since the natural oils of teak can interfere with the action of the glues.
Nailing and screwing
A drill should be used beforehand.
Finishing
There may be oil residue at the end of the process.
9. Cedar Wood (Cedrela odorata)

Characteristics of the Cedar tree
Location | It is native to southern North America, Central America and northern South America, so it is found in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, the American Caribbean coast, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Panama. |
Height | 40 meters on average. |
Tree diameter | 60 to 90 centimeters, although depending on the conditions it may exceed 150 centimeters. |
Flowers | Greenish cream color, 6 to 9 millimeters long with 5 petals. |
Leaves | Dark green color, between 30 and 70 centimeters long. |
Branches | From 1 to 2 meters. |
Habitat | It is found in tropical forests at altitudes up to 1200 meters above sea level. Reproduction is by very light seeds that are dispersed by the wind on an annual and abundant basis. |
Service life | Some specimens have exceeded 2000 years in the wild. For commercial use, however, it does not usually exceed 20 years. |
Conservation status (IUCN) | Threatened species. Its commercial use is controlled due to overexploitation. However, part of the supply comes from the black market. |
This tree belongs to the large family Meliaceae, natural trees of tropical, subtropical, rainforest and even semi-desert regions. There are several species of cedar, each with its own particularities but in terms of timber, the most used is the American cedar (even in Europe).
It is native to southern North America, Central America and northern South America.
Characteristics of Cedarwood
Overview and applications
The wood is light (not very dense), easy to work, and has a distinctive fragrance as it releases resin from its interior.
American cedar wood can be used in:
- Manufacturing of luxury interior furniture such as beds, tables, etc.
- Exterior carpentry, given its great resistance to pests, makes it the number one choice for these purposes.
- Interior carpentry such as doors
- In North America, it is used in the construction of houses.
- Musical instruments manufacturing.
- Boat building.
Finally, we must clarify that although it is difficult to obtain, cedar wood can be legally acquired. It will be increasingly difficult though since most of the species are endangered and it must first go through a supervised export and import process to be sold, which increases their commercial price.
Age of felling or cutting
It should not be felled before 25 years of age if it is expected to extract good quality timber.
Color
The wood has reddish tones.
Sapwood
The color can be whitish with pinkish tones, which makes it look pinkish.
Heartwood
Yellow to brown.
Characteristic defects
None in particular.
Density
Light, between 490-520 kg/m3 at 12% humidity.
Fiber
Straight in most cases.
Hardness
It is a softwood.
Durability
Thanks to its resin, it resists well to fungi and insects.
Impregnability
The sapwood of cedar is moderately impregnable, however, its non-heartwood is not very impregnable.
Dimensional Stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.34% wood somewhat nervous.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
415 kg/cm2
Static bending strength
753 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
90,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
Without problems.
Drying
Slow drying.
Planing
No problems most of the time, but it is difficult if the fiber is intertwined.
Gluing
Problems can occur if the wood exudes too much resin but is uncommon.
Finishing
Again, hardly ever problems, except for resin derivatives, but not common.
These are the 9 most popular American kinds of wood and therefore, the ones that every carpenter or builder should count on when doing any job.
We hope you liked this content, so we encourage you to continue exploring all our blogs about the fascinating and vast world of wood, not only in America but in the rest of the world. Until next time.