Due to its premium quality, unique beauty and durability, walnut is considered a high-end wood. In fact, walnut is considered one of the most luxurious non-exotic woods available for home furniture. Walnut is highly desired for its rich, chocolate-brown color, and lends a feeling of luxury to any space.
Walnut is much more expensive relative to other wood types like oak, maple, and mahogany, but it's not the most expensive wood in the world.
Following are the reasons why Walnut wood is expensive.
The tree takes around 50 years to mature, it is longer than most other trees. It is in high demand due to its desired characteristics such as durability, strength or aesthetic making it one of the best wood species around.
Walnut and oak, while both premier cabinet wood species, can come at significantly different price points. Walnut will almost always be more expensive than oak. That's because walnut is not as populous, which results in it being harder to source and more expensive.
Walnut is rated at a 1010 on the Janka Hardness Scale. European Oak is a 1360 on the same scale. This means that Oak is more durable than Walnut and will stand up better against constant use and daily wear and tear.
It's prized by woodworkers for its strength, grain and color. It polishes to a very smooth finish, and the color ranges from creamy white in the sapwood to a dark chocolate in the heartwood. Over the years, natural walnut wood develops a lustrous patina.
Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.
African Blackwood
It is considered as the most expensive wood in the world because not only it is challenging to work with hand or machine tools, its trees are already near-threatened. But as expensive as it may seem, African Blackwood is worth the price.
At the time of writing this article in 2022, the price of black walnut per board foot ranges from $5 to $10.
Pure stands of black walnut are rare, but can occur as small groves at the edge of a forest. Young black walnut trees are intolerant of shade and are seldom found under dense canopies of trees. Because of heavy use and wasteful cutting over many years, choice black walnut trees are scarce.
Maple will almost always be less expensive than walnut. That's because maple trees are grown all over North America and are much easier to source. Conversely, walnut is not as populous, which results in it being harder to source and more expensive.
It has a solid grain and it's strong making it an ideal choice for dining room tables. It is very easy to repair if damaged, the table can easily be re-sanded and oiled. Walnut is moderately dense and can and will hold up to whatever you throw at it.
Grade: First and Seconds (FAS)
Above grade Walnut can be found in wide and long boards, but you will pay a premium for it. This is the highest grade, and NHLA states for all lumber the following: 83.3% clear of defect on both faces.
This is a wood that while rising in popularity has always remained among the top choices of wood species. It's unique and durable characteristics make it a great option for those who wish their pieces to last a lifetime and charm to remain timeless.
Teakwood is one of the hardest and most durable of all natural woods. It is resistant to rotting, sunlight, rain, frost, and snow, making it suitable for outdoor construction and furniture. However, it is expensive and sometimes hard to find.
Perhaps no wood is as expensive as bocote wood, however.
The grains of this wood also emit a nice smell. The location, type, and demand of bocote come together to make the material the most expensive on the market (though bocote furniture is certainly worth it if it's in your budget).
They are packed with essential fats, antioxidants, fiber, and plant compounds that improve overall health. However, one must also be aware of the side effects of walnuts. Overconsumption of walnuts may cause digestive issues and allergies, lead to weight gain and choking in children, and aggravate ulcers.
Harder woods like White Oak will be more resistant to dents, dings, and scratches while softer woods like Walnut will tend to show wear more easily.
A: Walnut flooring can show scratches, scuffs and dents over time due to its relatively soft nature as a hardwood. Proper maintenance and cleaning will help keep your floors looking new.
Walnut is lovely wood, especially when carefully air dried so as to preserve the rich chocolate, purple and black tones in the best of it. HOWEVER, It fades like mad in sunlight. Furniture is touched by sunlight. Therefore, the lovely colors of the walnut go away — and it doesn't take centuries.
Walnut is more expensive than oak due to its scarcity, slower growth rate, and greater demand for its unique qualities such as its rich color and distinctive grain patterns.
Walnut Is Durable
Walnut is a moderately dense wood, which means that it'll be heavy but not so dense that you wouldn't be able to move it or add extension boards easily. Walnut's durability is one of the reasons why it's remained one of the most popular furniture options for furniture makers and homeowners.