Your home build projects are only as good as the lumber you choose
(From top to bottom) American chestnut, black cherry, tigerwood, and snakewood. (Jonathon Kambouris/)Experienced artisans can fashion almost anything from wood—as long as they have the right material. These four options offer them increasing levels of hardness.American chestnutCarpenters once used this hardwood for everything from construction to furniture. That changed in the early 1900s, when a fungus decimated the native population—but you can still find choice boards that have been reclaimed from old buildings or fallen trees.Black cherryCabinetmakers prize black cherry as one of the finest all-around materials for the job because of its durability and innate beauty. It starts off as a light pinkish color and darkens to a deep reddish-brown over time. Many craftspeople finish it with a simple layer of clear coat.TigerwoodThe strength of this strikingly striped lumber makes it great for decking and other outdoor applications. It’s naturally resistant to rot, so you don’t have to stain...