What is Appalachian?

What is Appalachian?

The rolling hills and gentle mountains of the Appalachian Mountain chain are a beauty to view. But beneath the pleasant hues of green and blue is an inner beauty that provides the best quality raw materials for an increasingly demanding nation and world. That raw material is wood and manufacturers have learned during the past seven decades that the finest lumber in the world comes from the Appalachian Mountains of the United States.

Thousands of years ago, an ice shelf in the form of a glacier covered much of the northeastern part of the United States. This glacier extended to the southern boundary of Pennsylvania but left unscathed the remainder to the mountain chain known as the southern Appalachians.

As the glacier receded, this garden spot of plant growth was the source of regeneration for surrounding areas that had been covered by the glacier. It was also a fine timber supply for a fast-growing and changing nation.

It did not take manufacturers long to learn the benefits of Appalachian hardwoods. Strength and durability were the chief attributes. Furniture manufacturers sought that, but then discovered clarity and consistency in grain patterns of similar species that were capable of producing beautiful home furnishings.

The region provided what seemed to be an endless supply. Millions of acres of trees covered the landscape and two generations of trees could be harvested from a tract in a landowner's lifetime. All of these factors are the result of a complex scientific formula required to produce top species of hardwoods. The formula can be broken down into simpler terms by understanding the three needs of all plant life: soil, moisture and climate.

The soil in the Appalachian Mountain region is composed of a beneficial blend of minerals and nutrients that feed hardwood trees. Rainfall throughout the region reaches adequate levels annually and the terrain allows unnecessary moisture to drain away from the tree's roots.

The climate, however, may be the top component. This mountain region has warm summers to assist growth and development of trees but cool spring and fall seasons and cold winters to allow this growth to be gradual. Slow maturity means tight growth rings, strong fibers and consistent grains that lead to strength, durability and beauty.

Hardwood species from the Appalachian Mountain region of the eastern United States guarantee any buyer of one thing: superior quality. Since the 1920s when hardwood from this region began to make a name for itself, Appalachian has meant a consistency that is unmatched. This tradition continues seven decades later as Appalachian oaks, cherry, maple, poplar, ash, beech, basswood, birch, hickory and walnut set the standard for thousands of products and materials across the world.

Specify Appalachian
Consistently awarded the highest grade and quality rating, Appalachian Hardwoods are the lumber of choice for those who choose the best. No matter your needs, Appalachian Hardwoods make a difference in the stability and quality of your products. After all, it goes with the territory.