International Wood International Wood 2005 | Page 33

mahogany is used on sailboats and yachts; if it can stand
up to that, there’s a pretty good chance an entry door is
going to hold up for the next 50 or 100 years.
“Its weatherability is a main reason the architects like
this species, but it also provides them the look they want.
We just completed a project where the exterior doors
and a matching screened porch were all stain-grade
Honduran mahogany, chosen by the architect because
the red tone matched the stonework on the home.”
Carter Lee also works with other imported species
in lesser volumes.
“Brazilian cherry, also called jatoba, is mainly a flooring
wood for us, along with stair treads, handrails, and other
mouldings for stair products. We’re also doing more Ipé
decking these days, but the custom millwork in Honduran
mahogany is the majority of our millwork business.”
Welch says the company’s new president, Dave
Carter, considers the mill to be his “secret weapon.” He
plans to start marketing its capabilities to draw in more
walk-in traffic as well as more high-end builders. The
company already works regularly with one of three top
builders of high-end homes in the state...which leads us
back to the $42,000 entry mentioned at the beginning
of the story.
“That entry is 12 feet tall, seven feet wide and three
inches thick, with carved mouldings. It’s absolutely
IW
beautiful.”
“Its weatherability is a main reason the
architects like mahogany, but it also
provides them the look they want.”
CARTER LEE
IMPORTED WOOD
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