Welcome to Exotic Lumber!

We are your premier specialty lumberyard with over 30 years of expertise and an inventory of more than 150 species of wood. Our mission has always been to provide an unparalleled selection of the finest lumber to meet the diverse needs of our customers—cabinetmakers, furniture designers, millwork shops, boat builders, luthiers, contractors, and hobbyists alike.

Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, founder and owner Bill van der Westhuizen earned his degree in architecture from Durban Technical College. After a few less-than-exciting ventures in property and hospitality, Bill saw potential in the business of importing timbers. With a background in carpentry and a $600 investment, he took a leap of faith and opened County Woods in 1988, starting from humble beginnings in a garage.

Country Woods flourished and became one of South Africa's largest specialty lumberyards, operating from two locations. In 1994, Bill and his family made the move to the United States, where Exotic Lumber first opened its doors in Annapolis, Maryland.

Today, we proudly offer the largest selection of wood species on the East Coast. Conveniently located in the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan area, we invite you to visit our showroom and explore our diverse inventory. For those who can't make it in person, our online store provides easy access to our products, with competitive shipping rates available across the United States.

No matter how you reach us, Exotic Lumber is committed to meeting all your lumber needs!

OCTOBER 2023:

NOW HIRING!! WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ENERGETIC & SELF MOTIVATED PERSON TO JOIN OUR TEAM. THE JOB INVOLVES UNLOADING TRUCKS AND LOADING LUMBER INTO RACKS. HELPING CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR ORDERS AND KEEPING THE WAREHOUSE TIDY. INTEREST IN WOODWORKING WOULD BE A PLUS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT SUZANNE AT 410.349.1705 OR EMAIL exoticlumber@comcast.net