Cherry

Cherry trees are sensitive. They are highly susceptible to insects and diseases that can weaken them and diminish the quality of wood they produce, and ultimately destroy them. For this reason, Vermont Plank Flooring works exclusively with FSC-certified woodlot owners who tend to their trees with sustainable management practices and a lot of love. By doing so, we can guarantee that we harvest wood from only the healthiest, fully mature specimens—trees that enable us to mill the most impressive cherry planks anywhere; up to 12 inches wide and 12 feet long.

Each wood species has a unique cellular structure that determines its physical properties, and by extension, its suitability for different uses. For flooring, the critical factor is the density of the wood. The higher the density, the harder the wood and the more capable it is of standing up to denting, scratching, and general wear. In Cherry’s case, its moderate density makes it one of the softer hardwoods, so if you’ve got packs of kids and pets roaming your house, you’ll need to be prepared for some impact. Of course, a good finish can help offset that, and Vermont Plank Flooring’s custom finish sampling shop can help you determine the options most capable of providing protection. Also, well-placed rugs and runners can do wonders.

If the color red symbolizes love and affection, then cherry is at a distinct advantage over other woods in the quest for people’s hearts. Its deep, rich, red hues are simultaneously comforting and elegant. And more so than other hardwoods, cherry matures and evolves over time. Exposure to air and light prompts a darkening with age to a lustrous auburn tone. Add to this cherry’s gently swirling heartwood patterns, graceful cathedral graining, and satiny texture, and it’s hard not to fall head over heels.

Many people opt for transparent finishes, such as simple tung oil, to allow the cherry’s natural beauty and character to shine through.

Aesthetically, cherry suits any room in the house. Like a fireplace or woodstove on a winter’s night, our wide plank boards provide living rooms, dining rooms, and family rooms with a warmth and glow. And bedrooms and kitchens will feel graceful and refined.

Cherry’s relative softness suggests either a degree of care or a carefree attitude if you opt for high traffic areas—walk softly or accept the changing patina with open arms. Cherry’s heartwood is relatively rot-resistant and capable of weathering some degree of wetness. But for locations with a high probability of standing water or moisture, such as bathrooms, basements, or any location where the planks will be laid directly on concrete, we suggest our engineered wide plank cherry for its stability and moisture resistance.

Cherry wood comes from the black cherry tree, which is widespread in the United States, growing throughout the midwestern and eastern parts of the country. It is a pioneer species, among the first to take root in a fallow field due to its prolific fruit production and the widespread distribution of the seeds by birds and mammals. Once established, it is fast-growing, reaching a fully mature height of 50—80 feet.

Cherry is a favorite of woodworkers and craftsmen. Its fine, diffuse, porous texture makes it a joy to saw, turn, chisel, and plane. Its workability in consort with its subtle, elegant grain and auburn tones results in gallery-grade furniture and interior design magazine-worthy kitchen cabinetry. It is also used for paneling, millwork, carvings, boat interiors, musical instruments, and of course, beautiful wide-width hardwood flooring.