Hardwood Lumber: Oak, Mixed Hardwood, & Green Lumber
Riephoff Sawmill works with oak and mixed hardwood lumber for a wide range of industrial and custom-sawn products. Our lumber is generally supplied green, untreated and not kiln-dried unless otherwise specified.
The hardwood species used for a particular order depend on the product, required dimensions, intended application, customer specifications and available timber. If your project requires a specific species, contact us before ordering so we can discuss availability and requirements.
Oak and Mixed Hardwood Lumber
Many Riephoff Sawmill products are available in either oak or mixed hardwood.
When an order specifies oak, the material is produced from oak lumber appropriate for the dimensions and application. A mixed hardwood order, by contrast, may use more than one hardwood species rather than requiring a single species throughout the order.
Mixed hardwood can be a practical option for industrial applications where function, dimensions and performance are more important than maintaining one specific species throughout the finished product.
What Is Mixed Hardwood?
Mixed hardwood is lumber produced from a combination of hardwood species rather than one specifically designated species. The exact mix can vary depending on timber availability, the dimensions being produced and the requirements of the finished product.
Riephoff Sawmill has historically processed Northeastern hardwood species including oak, maple, gum, poplar, sycamore, sassafras, black locust, beech and birch. Not every species is necessarily available for every order, and the species used in a mixed-hardwood product may vary.
Hardwood Species We Work With
Different hardwoods have different densities, grain characteristics, working properties and wear characteristics. The appropriate material depends on how the lumber will be used.
| Hardwood Species | General Characteristics | Common Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Oak | Dense, strong and wear-resistant hardwood. | Commonly selected for demanding industrial products, heavy timbers and applications where strength and durability are important. |
| Maple | Hard, dense hardwood with good wear resistance. | Can be suitable for applications where hardness and surface durability are useful. |
| Gum | Hardwood with interlocking grain and good toughness. | May be used as part of mixed-hardwood industrial products where species matching is not required. |
| Poplar | Generally lighter and softer than many dense hardwoods. | Useful for applications where extreme density is not required and may be included in mixed-hardwood production. |
| Beech | Dense, hard hardwood with good wear resistance. | Can be suitable for heavy-duty wood components and industrial applications. |
| Other Regional Hardwoods | Riephoff Sawmill has also historically processed species such as sycamore, sassafras, black locust and birch. | Availability varies. Contact us when a project requires a particular species. |
Need a specific hardwood species? Contact Riephoff Sawmill to discuss current availability and your project requirements.
What Is Green Lumber?
Most lumber produced by Riephoff Sawmill is green lumber. Green lumber is wood that has been sawn while it still contains a relatively high amount of its natural moisture and has not been kiln-dried.
This is common for many heavy industrial hardwood products where the lumber is being used for its dimensions, mass and structural function rather than for furniture-grade moisture content or finish.
Because green wood continues to lose moisture after sawing, natural changes can occur as it dries. Depending on the species, dimensions and drying conditions, these changes may include shrinkage, checking, warping or other movement in the wood.
Is Riephoff Sawmill Lumber Kiln-Dried?
Unless specifically stated otherwise, our lumber is not kiln-dried.
Our mill primarily produces custom and industrial hardwood products such as crane mats, blocking, dunnage, trailer decking, wedges, chocks, ramps and other heavy timber products. These applications often have very different material requirements from finished cabinetry, interior millwork or other products that commonly require controlled kiln-dried lumber.
If moisture content is important to your application, please discuss that requirement with us before placing an order.
Is Our Lumber Pressure Treated?
Our lumber is generally supplied untreated unless otherwise specified.
Untreated lumber has not been pressure treated with chemical preservatives. Customers should consider the expected environment, exposure conditions, service life and project specifications when determining whether untreated hardwood is appropriate for a particular application.
If your project requires treated material or has a specific preservation requirement, contact us before ordering so the requirement can be reviewed.
Oak vs. Mixed Hardwood: Which Should I Order?
The right choice depends on the product and its intended use. Some customers or project specifications require oak or another specific species. Other industrial applications may allow mixed hardwood when the important factors are dimensions, strength, durability and function rather than a uniform species.
When requesting a quote, let us know about any species requirements, dimensions, quantities and intended application. We can help determine whether oak, mixed hardwood or another available material is appropriate for the order.
Products Made from Our Hardwood Lumber
Riephoff Sawmill uses hardwood lumber for a variety of custom and industrial products, including:
- Crane mats
- Transition mats and ramps
- Hardwood trailer decking
- Blocking and dunnage
- Wedges and chocks
- Outrigger pads
- Shoring timbers
- Tree stakes
- Custom-sawn hardwood products
Request Hardwood Lumber or Custom-Sawn Products
For pricing and availability, provide as much information as possible about the material you need, including species requirements, thickness, width, length, quantity and intended use.