At Manchester Wood, we buy all of our lumber under grading rules set forth by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA Grading Guide (PDF)). The NHLA has specific guidelines for each grade of wood based on things like the amount and size of knots, wane, color, sap, length and width of board, etc. These guidelines are used by foresters at sawmills to grade wood as it is cut. Manchester Wood buys NHLA #1 common and #2 common graded wood for all of our home and office furniture. This wood comes from Northeastern Forests in States such as Vermont and New York. The American hardwoods that we use for our furniture are White Ash, Soft Maple (also known as Red Maple), and Red Oak. These species produce beautiful wood that is ideal for manufacturing quality furniture.

Once the wood arrives at Manchester Wood, we inspect it even further and remove knots and other blemishes before it is ready for use. Use of NHLA grading rules ensures that all of our furniture is built out of high quality wood that will last your family for years. In addition to using durable, quality materials, we take care to manufacture our wood furniture to high standards: each piece of furniture is worked and finished with precision and attention to detail. Our workers have years of experience manufacturing wood furniture and we believe it shows in the quality of our final products. This is why we at Manchester Wood stand behind all of our wood furniture with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.

Our wood furniture is truly all American: not only is it made in the USA, but it is also all constructed out of timber from American hardwood forests. One of the primary advantages of using American-grown timber is the fact that it is better for the environment. American forests are sustainably managed and timber is harvested with environmentally aware techniques. All of the lumber we buy is certified to be green or eco friendly by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Strict SFI standards include auditable monitoring of timber/wood flows, product labeling, and prohibition of any timber that is illegally harvested.

On the other hand, international timber is rarely eco-friendly. Sustainable forestry is unheard of in many countries, which means that a good deal of lumber is harvested without taking the environmental consequences into consideration. This is why forests in other countries are disappearing, while woodland in America is actually expanding. The problem is not always that other countries fail to take their forests into account, but that they do not always have the resources to enforce their rules and regulations. Without enforcement, timber smugglers are able to operate. Harvesting the most valuable trees from old-growth forests, smugglers do irreparable damage to the environment and deprive countries of a vital resource. The United States is fortunate to have not only the resources to manage its forests sustainably, but also a number of timber associations, such as the NHLA, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, the Hardwood Forest Foundation and the Hardwood Federation that provide important information and resources for American furniture makers and consumers.

Buying American made wood furniture from Manchester Wood instead of imported furniture has many advantages. All of our home and office furniture is constructed out of NHLA graded wood to ensure quality and durability. It is manufactured by American workers with years of experience. Our furniture will outlast cheap, knockoff imports by years and in buying it you will also be supporting American workers. Besides the quality and economic benefits of buying Manchester Wood’s American furniture is the fact that our furniture is better for our planet and our environment. Buying cheap imported furniture may save you a dollar or two in the short run, but it is no substitute for our American made furniture. Wood furniture made by Manchester Wood will last many generations as heirloom pieces that can handed down within a family. Please take some time to browse our website or come visit us at our store in Granville, New York.