The maple tree can be easily identified by it characteristic three to five lobed leaf. It is also well known for it's "helicopter" seeds. Important commercial products include maple syrup and furniture (including butcher block). There are over 200 species of maple trees in the world most of them in the northern temperate zone of the United States, Canada and Europe. Sugar Maple or Hard Maple only grows naturally in a tight range from the western Great Lakes to Nova Scotia, Canada down through Pennsylvania and Ohio. Northern Hard Maple is the best wood for Butcher Block because of its density, hardness and tight grain structure. The further north a Maple tree grows the more dense or strong it generally becomes. Butcher Block was first known for its "tree"mendous strength. Today it is also valued for its good looks.

Butcher Block is sometimes referred to as Edge Grain Construction. It also is referred to as face glued. While furniture manufacturers for years have prized the "cathedraling" of face grain, butcher block was always edge grain construction. The reason for this is that by turning each lamination 90 degrees as it comes off the gang saw we take advantage of the strongest part of the wood. For years this was and still is very important to the food service and manufacturing industries due to the exceedingly high durability of the butcher block top. However over the years great appeal has grown for butcher block as a beautiful addition to the home. Perhaps for the tradition and history behind butcher block and perhaps because so much of our homes have become plastic many homeowners are looking for the warmth, honesty and character of butcher block.