Oaks Unlimited, Inc.

About Oaks Unlimited, Inc. — Hardwood Lumber in Waynesville

Oaks Unlimited, Inc. serves as Waynesville’s premier destination for hardwood lumber, supplying furniture makers, cabinetmakers, woodworkers, hobbyists, and contractors with quality materials for their projects. Located on Jonathan Creek Road in the heart of Western North Carolina’s woodworking community, this specialized lumber store focuses exclusively on hardwood species and custom milling services.

The inventory spans both domestic favorites like oak, cherry, walnut, and maple, alongside exotic species for specialty projects. Available in rough-sawn, S2S (surfaced two sides), or S4S (surfaced four sides) formats, lumber is sold by the board foot with transparent grading from FAS (Firsts and Seconds) down to #1 Common, ensuring customers get exactly what their project demands.

Unlike big box stores that carry limited species in standard dimensions, Oaks Unlimited offers the expertise and inventory depth that serious woodworkers require. Knowledgeable staff can discuss moisture content, grain patterns, and figure matching, while custom milling services allow for specific thicknesses and profiles that simply aren’t available at general retailers.

Western North Carolina’s rich forestry heritage and active woodworking community make Waynesville an ideal location for specialized hardwood suppliers. The region’s furniture making traditions and growing artisan movement create steady demand for quality materials, supporting local businesses that understand the unique requirements of fine woodworking projects.

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Location & Directions

What to Expect When You Visit

Walking into a specialized hardwood lumber supplier offers a completely different experience than visiting a typical home center. You’ll find carefully stacked boards organized by species and grade, with knowledgeable staff who can discuss the characteristics of different woods, help calculate board feet for your project, and guide you toward the best material for your specific application.

Expect to spend time hand-selecting boards, examining grain patterns, and discussing your project requirements. Many customers bring project plans or samples to ensure color and grain matching, and staff can often provide advice on working properties, finishing characteristics, and potential challenges with specific species.

Products & Materials

Oaks Unlimited specializes in hardwood boards sold by the board foot, offering both kiln-dried domestic species and imported exotics. Domestic inventory typically includes red oak, white oak, cherry, walnut, hard maple, soft maple, ash, hickory, and poplar in various thicknesses from 4/4 through 8/4 and beyond. Each species is available in different grades including FAS (the highest grade with minimal defects), Select, and #1 Common grades.

Exotic species selection varies based on availability but commonly includes mahogany, teak, padauk, purpleheart, and various tropical hardwoods for specialty applications. Custom milling services can transform rough lumber into specific dimensions, create matching profiles, or surface boards to precise thicknesses for project consistency.

Figured woods like curly maple, quilted maple, bird’s eye maple, and crotch walnut are often available for customers seeking distinctive grain patterns for featured project elements. All lumber is properly stored and dried to appropriate moisture levels for interior use.

Who Shops Here

The customer base includes professional furniture makers and cabinetmakers who require consistent quality and specific grades, serious hobbyist woodworkers building heirloom pieces, contractors specializing in custom millwork and built-ins, and artists creating sculptural pieces. Many customers are repeat buyers who develop relationships with staff and rely on their expertise for material selection and project planning advice.

Serving the Waynesville, North Carolina Area

Waynesville sits in the heart of Western North Carolina’s woodworking region, where Appalachian furniture making traditions blend with modern artisan movements. The area’s proximity to both hardwood forests and craft schools like Penland creates an active community of professional and amateur woodworkers who demand quality materials, making specialized suppliers like Oaks Unlimited essential resources for the local creative economy.

Tips for First-Time Buyers

• Bring project plans or dimensions to help staff calculate board feet accurately and suggest appropriate grades
• Allow extra time for board selection, especially for projects requiring grain or color matching
• Ask about moisture content and acclimation time needed before machining your lumber
• Inquire about custom milling services for non-standard thicknesses or profiles
• Consider buying 10-15% extra material to account for defects and waste during processing
• Learn the differences between lumber grades to avoid paying for higher quality than your project requires

Woodworking Clubs & Resources near Waynesville, North Carolina

The Western North Carolina Woodturners Association serves the greater Asheville area including Waynesville, offering monthly meetings and workshops for turning enthusiasts. Haywood Community College in nearby Clyde provides woodworking courses and has well-equipped shops for both beginners and advanced craftspeople. The closest Woodcraft store is located in Asheville, about 30 miles east of Waynesville, providing tools, supplies, and classes for the regional woodworking community.

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

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