What Is Spalted Wood?
Spalted wood is extremely desirable for woodworkers. It has black wavy streaks that are eye-catching and add a level of detail to any piece of hardwood. The spalted areas of the lumber have a black marble pattern.
Spalted maple is the most common, though it is still extremely difficult to find. We also see the spalted grain pattern on sycamore slabs, oak, and many other hardwoods.
Spalted Wood Picture Gallery
What Causes Spalting On Maple & Other Woods?
Spalted maple is caused by the natural decay of the wood. Fungus leaves the black spalted areas. It's typically caused in blonder woods such as maple, sycamore, beech, poplar, basswood, and more. However, most of these woods rot too quickly so you rarely can use them for something like a slab dining table. Spalted maple however can still be used.
It's also worth noting that just because there is black on the maple you have, doesn't mean it's spalted. Ambrosia maple can also have black on it from the beetle damage.
Spalted maple is extremely desirable. It's hard to find for larger slabs. You typically only see it on the ends and not throughout the entire slab like you would with ambrosia maple.
What Does Spalted Lumber Cost?
Spalted lumber typically costs more than lumber without spalting. Although this will vary from supplier to supplier, we charge $1 more per board foot for spalted maple slabs when compared to our regular maple slabs.
If you're interested in shopping our inventory for spalted maple slabs, click the button below. If you have any questions, simply drop them in the comment box!
We received some decorative molding to put on top & botttom of kitchen cabinets and this is what it looks like. Is this good or should we return? Not sure about the black streaks though it.
If it’s spalting, that’s highly desirable. However, sometimes black streaks can appear on wood from moisture too, which is not desirable.
Have spalted table. Finish looks worn off in places. can we sand with 600 grit and finish with poly?
Spalted wood should remain with the same figure for the most part regardless of finish and sanding. We have spalted slabs that get sanded and finished daily!