A domestic wood species refers to an indigenous tree species growing in a specific geographical area. The specific area can be broadly defined as for example, the continent of America, but can also be specific to a region, like Southern Quebec. Take the example of bamboo. This wood species is domestic to people living in China, while it is exotic to people in Canada, as the tree does not grow on Canadian soil. To buy exotic wood, overseas transport, as well as export and import activities, must have taken place beforehand in order to bring the wood from a third country to ours.

What is the geographical area of domestic wood species in Quebec?

It is in the south of Quebec, in the mixed forest composed between 25% and 75% of deciduous trees that we find the species of deciduous wood, commonly called hardwood species. This forest overlaps those of New Brunswick and those of Northeastern United States. For the people of Quebec, the trees growing in this area refer to domestic species.

Why choose material made of domestic wood?

Choosing domestic hardwood species when building a staircase, for example, remains the best way to ensure that we buy wood materials from local sources, that is to say, from forests in our geographical area. Consumers sometimes buys exotic species for a simple reason of color. If that is the case, it is possible to overcome this problem by opting for a light color wood and apply an ecological stain of a similar color to the desired look. Not to mention the cost savings that will be made there.

By validating the type of wood species used during a construction project, it is possible to know whether the species comes from a nearby forest. If we opt for cherry wood stairs, for example, we can conclude that the tree comes from the forests of Quebec or New Brunswick since this species grows there in abundance. At the same time, we opt for a product with a limited carbon trace! At Menuiserox, our hardwood supplies come from forests within a 600 km radius.

What are the species found in Eastern North America?

According to the popular work of Michael D. Williams entitled “Trees of Quebec and Eastern North America”, there are 170 species of trees in Quebec and the Eastern United States.

Some of the most popular domestic hardwood species include the following:

• Yellow birch (cherry tree)
• Sugar maple (hard maple)
• Black walnut
• Red ash
• White ash
• Butternut
• Red oak
• White oak
• Cottonwood
• Tulip tree (commonly known as the poplar)

These hardwood species are often used in the manufacturing of finishing materials such as flooring, handrails, or stair treads. To learn more about the types of trees found in Southern Quebec, the website of Canadian Wood Council is an excellent source of information.