Atlantic Hardwoods

About Atlantic Hardwoods — Hardwood Lumber in Portland

Atlantic Hardwoods has been Portland’s premier hardwood lumber supplier, serving furniture makers, cabinetmakers, contractors, and fine woodworking enthusiasts throughout Maine and New England. Located on St John Street, this specialized lumber yard focuses exclusively on quality hardwood materials and professional-grade milling services.

The extensive inventory includes domestic species like maple, oak, cherry, and walnut, plus exotic hardwoods from around the world. Lumber is available in rough, S2S, or S4S formats, with grades ranging from FAS to #1 Common, all properly kiln-dried and stored to maintain optimal moisture content.

Unlike big box stores that carry limited selections of construction lumber, Atlantic Hardwoods specializes in the figured woods, grain patterns, and board dimensions that serious woodworkers demand. Their knowledgeable staff understands wood grading standards and can help select the right species and grade for each project’s requirements.

Portland’s thriving arts scene and historic architecture create strong demand for quality hardwood lumber. From restoring Victorian-era homes to crafting contemporary furniture, local artisans rely on specialized suppliers who understand the difference between construction-grade and fine woodworking materials.

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Location & Directions

What to Expect When You Visit

Visiting a specialized hardwood lumber yard like Atlantic Hardwoods is quite different from shopping at a typical home improvement store. You’ll find carefully organized stacks of lumber sorted by species, grade, and dimensions, with boards stored on edge to prevent warping and allow proper air circulation.

Staff members can walk you through the grading process, explaining the difference between FAS (Firsts and Seconds) and Select grades, and help calculate board footage for your project. Many lumber yards also offer on-site milling services, so you can have boards planed, ripped, or edge-glued to your specifications before taking them home.

Products & Materials

Atlantic Hardwoods stocks an impressive selection of domestic hardwoods including hard maple, red oak, white oak, cherry, walnut, ash, hickory, and birch. Their exotic wood selection features species like mahogany, teak, padauk, purpleheart, and various tropical hardwoods prized for their unique colors and grain patterns.

All lumber is available in multiple formats: rough-sawn for maximum thickness and custom milling, S2S (surfaced two sides) for consistent thickness, or S4S (surfaced four sides) for ready-to-use applications. Board grades include FAS for the highest quality cuts, Select grade for fine furniture work, and #1 Common for cabinets and millwork where some character marks are acceptable.

Custom milling services allow customers to specify exact dimensions, edge treatments, and surface preparations. The facility can handle everything from simple planing operations to complex molding profiles, helping woodworkers achieve professional results without investing in expensive shop equipment.

Who Shops Here

Atlantic Hardwoods serves a diverse community of wood professionals and enthusiasts, from master cabinetmakers crafting custom kitchens to weekend hobbyists building furniture in their garage workshops. Commercial customers include flooring contractors, stair builders, and restoration specialists working on historic properties throughout Portland and coastal Maine.

Serving the Portland, Maine Area

Portland’s vibrant maker community and historic architecture create strong demand for quality hardwood lumber. The city’s Old Port district features numerous galleries and studios where local artisans showcase handcrafted furniture, while ongoing restoration projects in neighborhoods like the West End require period-appropriate millwork and flooring materials that only specialized suppliers can provide.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

• Bring project plans and a cutting list to help staff calculate accurate board footage requirements
• Learn basic grading standards – FAS grade yields 83% clear cuts, while #1 Common allows more character marks
• Check moisture content with a meter if possible – kiln-dried lumber should be 6-8% for interior projects
• Examine grain patterns carefully, especially for panels where boards will be glued edge-to-edge
• Ask about custom milling services to save time and ensure consistent dimensions
• Consider purchasing slightly more material than calculated to account for defects and mistakes

Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Portland, Maine

The Maine Woodturners, a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, serves the greater Portland area with regular meetings and demonstrations for turning enthusiasts. Southern Maine Community College in South Portland offers woodworking courses through their continuing education program, providing hands-on instruction in furniture making and cabinetry. The Portland area also benefits from Woodcraft stores in nearby New Hampshire, and local makerspaces like the Portland Community Squash Club occasionally host woodworking workshops and tool sharing opportunities.

Find a local woodworking guild →  ·  Find an AAW chapter →

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