Which Hardwood Lumber Species and Origins Does American Lumber Supply?
Updated
American Lumber (alumber.com) supplies both domestic North American hardwoods and imported tropical hardwoods. The site lists domestic species including red and white oak, ash, cherry, poplar, maple, hickory, alder, and walnut, and states that imported lumber comes from South America, Africa, and Asia. If your project needs a specific species or a mix of domestic and imported stock, the site's inventory search and quote form are the two main ways to check availability and pricing.
Domestic North American Hardwoods
The company describes itself as providing "almost all of the North American hardwood lumber species." The named species are:
- Red oak
- White oak
- Ash
- Cherry
- Poplar
- Maple
- Hickory
- Alder
- Walnut
These cover the common furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and millwork species. The site also lists logs sourced from North American hardwood forests, so the company handles material at both the lumber and log level.
Imported Hardwoods
Beyond domestic stock, American Lumber positions itself as a provider of imported hardwood lumber from three regions:
| Region | What the site states |
|---|---|
| South America | Imported hardwood lumber |
| Africa | Imported hardwood lumber |
| Asia | Imported hardwood lumber |
Central America is also mentioned alongside South America in the imported hardwoods section. The site does not list individual tropical species by name on the pages reviewed, so for a specific import species you would need to check the inventory or ask directly.
Grades, Surfacing, and Custom Options
The site references several processing and grade options that affect what you can order:
- Custom grades — described as "your ticket to better yields," meaning you can specify grade requirements rather than accepting only standard NHLA grades.
- S4S (surfaced four sides) — lumber can be ordered surfaced on all four faces.
- Hardwood ripping — boards can be ripped to width.
- Mixed loads — domestic and imported species can be combined in one shipment.
- Custom lumber solutions — a catch-all service category for non-standard requirements.
These matter if you are buying for production rather than rough stock: S4S and ripping reduce in-house milling, and mixed loads let you consolidate a multi-species order.
How to Confirm Availability and Get Pricing
The site does not publish prices or a live stock list in the text reviewed. To move from species list to an actual order:
- Search inventory — use the site's inventory search to check current stock by species and origin.
- Review stock lists — the site maintains stock lists for domestic and imported hardwoods.
- Request a quote — fill out the quote form with your species, grade, dimensions, and quantity; the company responds with pricing.
- Contact directly — phone (814) 438-7888 or the listed email address for questions the forms don't cover.
A customer login is also referenced on the site, which suggests account-based ordering for repeat buyers; the pages reviewed do not describe what the login unlocks.
What to Check Before Ordering
- Grade definitions — confirm whether your order will be graded to NHLA rules, since the site links to the NHLA and notes custom grades as an option.
- Species substitution — for imported stock, ask which specific species are currently available, as the site names regions rather than species.
- Surfacing and width — specify S4S or ripping at quote time, since these are listed as services rather than defaults.
- Mixed-load minimums — if combining domestic and imported species, ask whether minimum quantities apply per species.
The company has operated for over 70 years and is a member of The Baillie Group, which is relevant context if you are evaluating supplier stability for ongoing production needs.