SPECIES
WHITEBEAM – APPEARANCE
Whitebeam, a versatile option for hardwood countertops, butcher block islands, bar tops, and hardwood table tops, displays a contrast of white sapwood and brown-reddish to chocolate-brown heartwood, featuring a fine, smooth grain with occasional curly or wavy patterns. Its striking contrast between heartwood and sapwood makes it an excellent alternative to hickory, adding character to interiors or serving as a focal point in bold kitchen designs. Embracing rustic charm, whitebeam seamlessly blends into various home décors where light and dark elements coexist, often used as farmhouse countertops and farmhouse island tops to create a rustic ambiance.
WHITEBEAM – PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
In terms of physical properties, whitebeam impresses with its exceptional hardness, scoring 1820 on the Janka scale, despite its relatively light weight. Renowned for its stability and minimal shrinkage rate, whitebeam hardwood
countertop withstands friction while maintaining a smooth surface, boasting high resilience, shock resistance, and durability.
WHITEBEAM – WORKING PROPERTIES
Working with whitebeam presents challenges due to its hardness, quickly dulling tools, but yielding smooth cuts characteristic of one of the hardest hardwood in the Northern Hemisphere. While sanding and polishing result in a glass-like smooth finish, the white sapwood is prone to burn marks, necessitating careful handling. Pre-drilling holes for screws and nails is essential to prevent splintering.
TRIVIA
An interesting trivia about whitebeam lies in its high mineral content, rendering it notoriously difficult to burn, earning it the nickname "the wood that doesn't burn-quot; However, this flaw became a sought-after quality, leading to its extensive use in marking boundaries across Europe's countryside. Adorned with bright-red berries throughout winter, whitebeam served as a visible marker while deterring potential trespassers from using it as firewood, showcasing its unique blend of practicality and natural beauty. Moreover, our whitebeam butcher blocks countertops, farmhouse kitchen island tops, farmhouse table tops and edge glued panels are sourced from FSC certified hardwood forests, ensuring its sustainability and responsible forestry practices, adding an eco-conscious dimension to its appeal.
