Most Common Woods We Work in Central Texas
Elm
Elm is a ring porous wood like oak and ash. It has an open, coarse grain with an uneven texture. It’s common to find very irregular and wild grains. Elm has a softer wood than other hardwoods. Grain is interlocked, which helps it in its resistance to splitting. Species are usually light to medium reddish brown.
Pecan
The heartwood of pecans tends to be light to medium brown, with a slight reddish hue. Sapwood is a lighter, yellowish brown. The textures is medium, with a low natural luster. Grain is usually straight, though occasionally wavy. The strength of pecan is partially influenced by the spacing of its growth rings. Large rings are indicative of a faster growing tree.
Oak
There are more than 24 related species of oak. Heartwood is light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is not always demarcated from the heartwood. Color alone is not a distinguishing feature among the types of oak. This type of wood produces good results with hand and machine tools. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
The most common types of wood in Central Texas for specialty projects include pecan, elm, American elm, and walnut. Customers also have black walnut, mesquite, live oak, and others.
