According to legend, America’s first president, George Washington, couldn’t bring himself to lie about cutting down that cherry tree, and when it comes to American cherry wood, we can’t lie, either – it’s one of the most rugged, reliable and easy-to-source hardwoods available in the American marketplace today. According to legend, America’s first president, George Washington, couldn’t bring himself to lie about cutting down that cherry tree, and when it comes to American cherry wood, we can’t lie, either – it’s one of the most rugged, reliable and easy-to-source hardwoods available in the American marketplace today.
It also offers considerable aesthetic appeal, thanks to its smooth grain, elegant appearance and reddish-brown coloring that sometimes takes on hints of gold or pink. So, why is American cherry wood used so widely when it comes to furniture, flooring and home construction projects?
• It comes in a variety of shades ranging from light to rich hues.
• It’s plentiful and fast-growing, particularly in areas that lie east of the Mississippi River – meaning it’s also relatively affordable.
• It offers easy workability and a rot-resistant texture.
• It’s a sustainable building material, which is also due to its widespread availability.
Cherry wood floors also tend to darken as time passes, and exposure to light exacerbates the process. When covered with a coating, cherry wood can become about 25 percent darker as it ages.
American Cherry Wood: A Top Choice for Stairs
Now that you know that American cherry is an immensely popular choice for your floors and furniture, you can probably see why it’s also a great option for stairs. Stairs and staircases are almost always subject to heavy usage, so it’s important for builders, homebuyers and designers to utilize hardwoods that can sustain heavy traffic.
An additional benefit of American cherry wood lies in the fact that, unlike many wood species, its appearance can improve over time. Rather than becoming dull, cherry wood’s color can darken and deepen, and it’s not something you have to rush or fake – it’ll happen on its own, and most woodworkers will attest – it’s well worth the wait.
Take Your Stairs to the Next Level
To put it simply, quality of craftsmanship matters when it comes to stairs, and you want to make sure you’re investing in something that will hold up over time. American cherry wood does exactly that.
NOTE: We’ve updated a previous version of this article that was published in December 2015.