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LIVING ON THE EDGE LIVE EDGE WOOD SLABS FOR HOME DÉCOR By Matt Weber
Live edge wood slabs can blend raw beauty with a refined appearance for countertops, shelves, tables and more. The term “live edge” refers to the natural edge that has been left uncut along the bark-side of a wood piece, preserving its unique look and character. SELECTING A SLAB You probably won’t find wood slabs at a “big box” home center. Local sawmills and lumber yards can supply them, but a kiln-dried slab will best reduce shrinking and swelling of the wood, so you might need to purchase from a hardwood supplier. You’ll also find many slab suppliers online and on social-media marketplaces. The required thickness of your slab will depend on how it will be used. Thicker slabs usually look more natural. Tables and countertops should be 3 to 4 inches thick, but shelving can be as thin as 1 to 2 inches, depending on how they’re fastened
Available from sawmills, lumber yards, and hardwood suppliers, live-edge slabs retain the natural outer edge of the tree on at least one side. The cherry slabs shown were purchased from City Hardwoods of Birmingham, Alabama. 26
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to the wall. Ask your lumber supplier to cut the slab, and choose as flat of a workpiece as possible, because slabs are often too large to fit into a planer. You’ll find a huge assortment of wood species available as slabs, and they vary greatly in appearance and price. Keep in mind that a hardwood species will better withstand scratches and dents than a softwood variety. Choices include Sweet/Red Gum, Eastern Red Cedar, Cypress, Sassafras, Walnut, Maple, Cherry, Red Oak, Poplar, White Oak and other species.
