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.
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.
The wood of walnut is regarded to be as one of the most valuable wood in the world for furniture and joinery. From the Renaissance times the walnut wood has been used for classical furniture of high quality (Vassiliou and Aidinidis, 2004).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Compared to the most common and used wood types today, walnut wood is expensive and high in demand. For its price, it has higher quality due to its strength and versatility.
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.
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.
Walnut wood has been the first choice of north american woodworkers since the 1700's. It is the only rich and dark wood that is naturally found in the americas. Walnut is very commonly found in mid century modern furniture for it's classic timeless look.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Walnut isn't the best flooring choice for high-traffic areas of the home.
At the beginning of the 18th century, during the Queen Anne period and into the early Georgian period, walnut was the most highly prized wood for making fine furniture.
Black walnut wood is coveted for its colors and striations as much as its heartiness and durability. A black walnut piece of furniture will last for decades to come (if taken care of). But black walnuts aren't just pretty as furnishings. The trees themselves are beautiful and larger than life.
When it comes to overall strength and durability, maple triumphs. Maple is a significantly stronger hardwood product than walnut. In fact, maple is one of the strongest and most durable natural wood options available. It holds up well resisting significant dents or dings.
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.
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.
Yes, there are several woods that resemble walnut but are more affordable for woodworking. Some popular alternatives include cherry, mahogany, and even some varieties of ash and maple that have been stained to mimic the dark color and grain pattern of walnut.
Well known for its characteristic dark coloured wood with attractive grain patterns, Walnut is a dense and strong wood that is highly desired for expensive furniture and carpentry. Uses: Walnut is commonly used for furniture, musical instruments, carvings, trims and veneers.