Species & Finishes

Like all natural materials, variations in color, texture and grain occur in wood ceilings. The selection of species is the single biggest factor in determining your design aesthetic. Understanding the differences between softwood and hardwood, solid and veneer, mixed grain and vertical grain, or certified wood and non-certified wood can greatly impact not only your design, but also your budget. You can read more about color variation in this article.

The complexities of these factors can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. 9Wood will help guide you to the right species for your design intent, application, and budget. All the species options below are selected for their availability within the supply chain. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with a few different categories of species.

Download our FSC® Certificate.
Download our PEFC Certificate.

Standard Species
Standard Stains
Reclaimed
Engineered Veneers
Veneer Cuts

Solid Wood Species
Inventory may not be readily available for many species. If you would like to specify a species not listed, please get in touch with us to make sure it’s reliably available. We are typically able to source nearly any species not CITES-listed.

*Exterior option not available in Fast>Track

Alder
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Anegre (Figured)
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Anegre (Non-figured)
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Blue and Buggy Pine
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Cherry
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Explore All Fast>Track Combinations

Douglas Fir
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: Yes
FSC®: Veneer
PEFC: Solid

English Sycamore
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $$$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

European Beech
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Khaya African Mahogany
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Knotty Pine
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Natural Ash
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Natural Birch
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Natural Maple
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Red Oak
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Redwood
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Sapele
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: Yes
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Teak
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$$
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: Yes
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Walnut
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Explore All Fast>Track Combinations

Western Hemlock
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Solid

Explore All Fast>Track Combinations

Western Red Cedar*
Standard Wood Species

Variation: High
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes
FSC®: No
PEFC: Solid

*HIGHLY Recommended to check for availability

White Ash
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

White Birch
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

White Maple
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Explore All Fast>Track Combinations

White Oak
Standard Wood Species

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Explore All Fast>Track Combinations

Standard Stains
Stains are a great way to get the look of premium species on a tighter budget. Stains also help mitigate color and grain variation. 9Wood offers both standard and custom stains on solid wood and veneer. All of the images below are standard stains applied to either solid Western Hemlock or Cherry veneer. (Stains are in stacked pairs to show each color applied to the natural grain of both wood species.) Please bear in mind that stains can be applied to any species, but they take to each one differently. If your project requires a custom stain, please send us a color control and we will match it.

*Exterior option not available in Fast>Track

Cherry Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Cherry Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Driftwood Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Driftwood Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Ebony Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Ebony Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Fir Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Fir Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Mahogany Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Mahogany Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Maple Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Maple Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Oak Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Oak Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Teak Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Teak Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Walnut Stain
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: Yes*
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Walnut Stain
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Black Opaque Finish
Western Hemlock

Variation: Low
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Black Opaque Finish
White Maple Veneer

Variation: Low
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: No

Pickle Finish
Western Hemlock

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

Pickle Finish
Cherry Veneer

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: No

White Opaque Finish
Western Hemlock

Variation: Low
Fast>Track: Yes
Solid Cost: $
Veneer Cost: N/A
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: Yes

White Opaque Finish
White Maple Veneer

Variation: Low
Fast>Track: Veneer
Solid Cost: $$$
Veneer Cost: $
Exterior: No
FSC®: No
PEFC: No

Engineered Veneers
Engineered veneers are real wood veneers dyed to look like other species. They allow a designer to exercise more control over color range and variation. Another benefit is they can replicate the look of endangered species such as Rosewood, Wenge, and Zebrawood. All engineered veneers are available as FSC®-certified.

Engineered Cherry (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Douglas Fir (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Gun Metal Ebony (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Teak (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Vintage Oak (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Walnut (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Weathered Oak (Plain Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Wenge (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered White Maple (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered White Oak (Rift Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Engineered Zebrawood (Quarter Sliced Veneer)
Engineered Veneers

Variation: Medium
Fast>Track: No
Solid Cost: N/A
Veneer Cost: $$
Exterior: No
FSC®: Yes
PEFC: No

Veneer Cuts

Rotary Sliced

Rotary sliced veneer is created by mounting a log centrally in a lathe and turning against a blade, like unwinding a roll of paper. Because this slice follows the log’s annular growth rings, a bold variegated grain marking is produced. Rotary-sliced veneer can be exceptionally wide.

Plain (flat) Sliced

Plain (or flat) sliced veneer is created by mounting a half log with the heart side floating against the guide plate of a slicer. The slicing is done parallel to a line through the center of the log, producing a variegated figure.

Quarter Sliced

Quarter sliced veneer is created by mounting a quarter log on a guide plate so that the growth rings of the log strike the blade at approximately right angles, producing a series of stripes that are straight in some woods and varied in others. In Oak, this slicing can produce unlimited amounts of medullary ray.

Rift Sliced

Rift sliced veneer is unique to various species of Oak. The rift or comb grain effect is obtained by slicing perpendicular to the Oak’s medullary rays on either a lathe or a slicer. Medullary ray cells are distinct characteristics of Oak that radiate from the center of the log like the curved spokes of a wheel. Rift slicing limits the appearance of the medullary ray flake and produces a rather straight grain. Comb grain is a further hybrid selected from the rift slice.

*Veneer descriptions above taken from Architectural Woodwork Standards, Edition 1. Illustrations from AWI Quality Standards, 8th Edition and used with permission