Home For Architects Wood products. Practical design, submittal, fabrication, and coordination guidance for custom countertops, decorative box beams, and solid wood stair treads.
Book a Free Consultation ↗︎ Custom fabrication · Nationwide delivery Basis of design
Custom woodwork without avoidable surprises. Use this page for early design and project-manual coordination. J. Aaron confirms project-specific dimensions, materials, fabrication details, finish systems, samples, lead time, and warranty terms in the proposal and approved shop drawings.
01 / WOOD COUNTERTOPS
01 · Wood countertops
Specify the surface, fabrication, and finish. Order Samples See the species, texture, and finish in your own light before you write the spec.
Specification basis Suggested CSI location: Division 06 or 12. Coordinate under Architectural Wood Casework or Countertops based on the project’s procurement structure.
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Plans, dimensions, cutout templates, species, construction, thickness, edge profile, texture, finish inspiration, quantity, delivery location, and target date. View Countertops ↗︎ Materials & appearance Identify species, grade, desired character, sapwood expectations, and grain direction Select wide-plank or edge-grain construction Specify smooth, hand-scraped, distressed, or approved custom texture Expect natural color, grain, and board-to-board variation Dimensions & fabrication Show length, width, thickness, exposed edges, overhangs, radii, notches, joints, and field seams Plank tops are generally available to 1-5/8 in.; walnut, hard maple, and sapele may be available to 2-1/4 in. Edge-grain butcher block may be fabricated up to 5-1/2 in. thick Use built-up edges for thicker visual profiles Provide manufacturer templates for sinks, faucets, cooktops, outlets, and accessories Edges, finish & use Indicate edge profile and all exposed edge locations Select a professional topical finish, Rubio Monocoat oil, or food-grade mineral-oil system State color direction, sheen, and approved control sample Undermount sinks are permitted when fabrication, sealing, and installation requirements are followed Direct cutting is appropriate only on mineral-oil-maintained surfaces; use trivets for hot cookware Submittals & installation Require product data, shop drawings, physical finish sample, cutout templates, and final field dimensions Provide level, structurally adequate cabinets or supports Use fastening and clearances that permit seasonal movement across the grain Seal field cuts and penetrations; coordinate access, lifting, seams, and final assembly Provide finish-specific care instructions and confirm warranty terms with the proposal 02 / CUSTOM BOX BEAMS
02 · Box beams
Coordinate profile, clear interior, and support. Order Samples Check species, grade, texture, and stain against the ceiling and trim before you specify.
Specification basis Suggested CSI location: 06 20 00 Finish Carpentry. Decorative hollow box beams are nonstructural; coordinate with framing, ceilings, and adjacent millwork.
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Reflected ceiling plan, sections, beam schedule, exterior and clear-interior dimensions, lengths, joints, support conditions, species, grade, texture, finish, quantity, delivery location, and target date. View Box Beams ↗︎ Appearance & configuration Specify species, clear or rustic grade, and acceptable knots, checking, color variation, and character Select smooth, hand-scraped, hand-hewn, or vertical saw-blade texture Show exterior width, height, length, open-side orientation, and quantity Confirm clear inside dimensions around framing, blocking, or utilities Locate scarf joints, end caps, miters, intersections, columns, and exposed ends Finish & fabrication Typically three-sided hollow construction with precision corner joinery Specify unfinished, clear varnish, Rubio Monocoat oil, or custom stain State color, sheen, texture, distressing level, and approved sample Evaluate representative samples because wood and handmade textures vary Submittals & mockups Require product data, beam schedule, and project-specific shop drawings Show beam IDs, dimensions, seams, scarf joints, miters, ends, and mounting concept Require a species/grade/texture/finish sample Request a large or full-size mockup when corner, joint, or distressing appearance is critical Installation coordination Structural engineer or contractor designs and verifies support and attachment Provide straight, securely anchored blocking or cleats sized to the clear interior Coordinate slopes, penetrations, sprinklers, lighting, diffusers, and access panels Field-verify dimensions and clearances; plan lifting, sequence, touch-up, and protection Confirm care and warranty terms with the proposal 03 / SOLID WOOD STAIR TREADS
03 · Stair treads
Schedule every tread and special condition. Order Samples Match species and finish to the flooring and railings before the tread schedule goes out.
Specification basis Suggested CSI location: 06 43 13 Wood Stairs. Coordinate with stair structure, railings, guards, finish carpentry, and all applicable code requirements.
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Plans, sections, tread schedule, field dimensions, support details, nosing and return profiles, exposed faces, species, finish inspiration, quantity, delivery location, and target date. View Stair Treads ↗︎ Materials & schedule Identify species, grade, grain character, color range, sapwood expectations, and lamination pattern Assign a unique mark to every tread, landing, winder, and special condition Show length, depth, thickness, nosing, edge profile, returns, notches, holes, and underside machining Identify open- or closed-riser conditions and every exposed face Use field-verified dimensions and state required fabrication tolerance Finish & performance Specify clear finish, oil finish, or custom stain direction State color, sheen, slip-resistance expectations, and approved control sample Architect confirms applicable stair, egress, accessibility, and surface-performance requirements Coordinate finish with traffic, cleaning, maintenance, and adjacent flooring or millwork Submittals & samples Require product data, tread schedule, and project-specific shop drawings Provide species and finish sample showing expected color and grain range Request a full-size edge/nosing sample when profile or transition is critical Provide templates or digital files for notches, steel interfaces, and attachment locations Approve the complete schedule and finish sample before production Installation coordination Structural engineer or stair fabricator designs supports and attachment Verify stringers, pans, brackets, substrates, fastener clearances, and concealed attachment Coordinate tread thickness with finished riser-height uniformity Acclimate, install, and protect under project-appropriate environmental conditions Plan field fitting, touch-up, care, and replacement-piece responsibility; confirm warranty terms with the proposal Design-team workflow
A clear path from concept to fabrication. Bring J. Aaron in early enough to resolve material, fabrication, finish, access, and installation questions before they become changes in the field.
01 Early review Share drawings, intent, schedule, and unusual conditions for feasibility and budgeting guidance.
02 Samples & scope Confirm species, grade, texture, finish direction, deliverables, and pricing assumptions.
03 Shop drawings Review project-specific dimensions, fabrication details, joint locations, and approved samples.
04 Fabricate & deliver Release approved work for production, packaging, and coordinated nationwide delivery.
Material approval
See the wood, texture, and finish in your space. Order samples to evaluate color, grain, texture, and finish alongside the project’s other
materials.
Order Samples ↗︎ Downloads
Spec sheet, care guides, and the design binder. The same documents we send with proposals and finished tops. Drop the spec sheet into your
project manual and hand the care sheets to the owner.
Architect support
Review the specification before it goes out. Book a free 15-minute conversation to discuss feasibility, specification language, samples, budgets, lead times, or details that need to be resolved.
15 minutes · Phone call · Free Architect Specification Review Bring plans, a finish schedule, an outline specification, or an early design question.
No pressure. Just practical fabrication guidance. × 15 minutes · Phone call · Free Project Selection Call Tell us what you’re making and we’ll help you narrow the wood, construction, finish, and details into one confident design.
No pressure. Just useful, experienced guidance. 
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