Shelves are an excellent addition to any house since they can be used to store books and other objects. It not only saves you money, but it also maximises your display area!
However, building it from scratch will be difficult if you have no knowledge what kind of appropriate wood for bookshelves to choose. However, the good news is that there are various sorts of woods to consider, including:
- The walnut
Walnut woods are ideal for those seeking a more serious appearance on their shelves since they do not need treatment or painting. However, it should be noted that this material is often pricey and is generally unavailable in most hardware shops, necessitating pre-ordering.
Despite this, the grain and depth of this wood are adequate to compensate for the time and money spent obtaining it.
The nicest thing about them is that they’re sturdy enough that stacking big items on them won’t mar the shelves’ attractive look. As a result, you can generally use the hardwood’s distinctive yellowish-brown colour in many colours visible on each board as an extra décor to your house and by mostly resorting to adding a finish so that it blends nicely with its backdrop.
Aside from that, walnut wood is often used to make mantels for shelves because the rays of sunshine that enter the board readily emphasise its light chocolate tones, making it look richer in colour than its contemporaries.
However, if you want to add some unique touches to the design, walnut wood may support this demand since it is capable of tolerating any kind of saw and the delicate carving methods. Some experts even claim that this wood is trouble-free and far less expensive to install.
Unfortunately, this proved to be an issue as well. The material is heavy, usually weighing 38 pounds, making it difficult to carry from one area to another and posing problems throughout the installation procedure for novices.
More significantly, it has a high value of around $10 per foot, albeit these costs might be reduced by utilising walnut-trimmed plywoods. Finally, due to its low weather resistance, furniture manufactured of this material often suffers wood scratches and wears fast. As a consequence, most builders will not advocate putting these goods outside for an extended period of time.
- Fir
In contrast to Western Red Cedar, pine woods are often accessible in the United States. And it’s not unexpected that since these woods are inexpensive and have a softer feel, cutting them will be a piece of cake for you.
Second, it has a pleasing grain and a superb polish, which gives it a naturally appealing look. As a result, pinewood has become a well-known choice for shelves that accommodate lightweight items.
Fortunately, a shorter pinewood shelf can carry heavier goods if extra supports and thicker boards are used to boost its load-bearing capability.
Furthermore, it is popular among novice builders since pinewood can be easily painted and complements any colour palette or style. Aside from that, it has a yellowish-white picture that is often scored with brown knots for a more rustic feel.
Even though it is an excellent material on its own, pine is prone to ripping and damage over time. Expect multiple scrapes and dings on this case, which may worsen if youngsters are regularly around.
3. Douglas Fir
If you like softwoods but are dissatisfied with pinewoods, why not check into Douglas Fir? These wood boards are native to the Pacific Northwest and are available for purchase across the United States.
Despite its name, Douglas Fir is not actually a fir. Still, being a cousin of pinewoods, it should come as no surprise that they share many similarities with a few distinguishing characteristics, such as its Janka hardness of 660 and modest resilience to other variables.
Nonetheless, it will be most woodworkers’ first choice for light to medium-weight cabinets, DIYs, and shelving projects. Its adaptability led to its appeal as a trustworthy wood, and it has earned a reputation as a go-to material in the building sector.
Even though it has the same dark hardwood look as oak, you may still paint it to match the colour palette you choose. We suppose you could say it’s the beauty of hardwoods that you can enjoy at a much lower cost.
Final Words
However, keep in mind that these wood pieces may be expensive for those residing on the East Coast, and they are prone to decay due to insect infestations.
Overall, there is no conventional wood material available for making shelves from scratch. In truth, it is mostly determined by the size and importance of the project to the person in charge.
As a result, before making a final selection, we recommend that you carefully examine the various woods in the shops and analyse their benefits and downsides.