White Oak lumber collection
Open-grain domestic alternative with strong furniture and millwork demand.
View optionRed Elm Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Red Elm is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameUlmus rubra
Janka hardness860 lbf
Average dried weight38 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Red Elm?
Red Elm is a domestic hardwood species. Grows from the eastern to the midwestern United States. Common uses include furniture, veneer, baskets, boxes, hockey sticks, wood pulp and papermaking.
Scientific nameUlmus rubra
DistributionGrows from the eastern to the midwestern United States
ShrinkageRadial: 4.9%, Tangential: 8.9%, Volumetric: 13.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilityElm is non-durable and prone to insect attack.
Red Elm colour, grain, and figure
The heartwood is a light to mid-toned reddish brown; the paler sapwood is normally distinct.
The grain is interlocked, which makes the wood very resistant to splitting. Texture is somewhat coarse and uneven.
Working notes
Interlocked grain makes elm a challenge to work, particularly on quartersawn faces. Planing may leave tearout or a fuzzy surface.
Elms in the Ulmus genus are reported sensitizers, although severe reactions are rare.
Red Elm should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Red Elm
Best projects
Common uses include furniture, veneer, baskets, boxes, hockey sticks, wood pulp and papermaking.
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Red Elm from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Black Ash lumber collection
Closest Kingma ash-family shopping path where available.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Red Elm FAQ
What is Red Elm best used for?
Common uses include furniture, veneer, baskets, boxes, hockey sticks, wood pulp and papermaking. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Red Elm beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Red Elm?
The buying section on this page links to any Red Elm Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.