Wood is available in different shapes and sizes. Since wood is made from trees and there are many different types of trees around the world, this amount of variety and beauty in wood is not surprising for building facades and construction projects.
Are softwoods weaker than hardwoods?
Contrary to popular belief, softwoods are not weaker than hardwoods. This type of wood is made from coniferous trees such as cypress, poplar tree, and pine. They are also somewhat yellow or reddish. Because most conifers grow fast and straight, softwoods are generally less expensive than hardwoods.
What are hardwoods like?
There are several types of hardwoods available to work with. Hardwood has many uses, so many choices of this type of wood can be considered for the project. Knowing the difference between hardwood and softwood will help you understand which one fits the budget and requirements of the project.
Uses and applications of softwood
Most softwoods are very strong and are commonly used in many different building applications, such as wood facades or interiors. Poplar trees, pines, and cypresses are in this category and they are usually used in framing the construction of new facades as well as the construction of light structures.
Many hardwoods and softwoods, especially those of the cypress family, are of good quality because of their ability to resist rot and insects. This makes them ideal for projects such as decoration and furniture.
What is the difference between Hardwood and softwood?
Contrary to popular belief, softwoods are not so-called simply because they are softer than other species. Although there are types of hardwoods that are stronger than softwoods, the difference between softwoods and hardwoods is not due to their softness and strength.
Hardwood and softwood types
Softwoods include lumber obtained from coniferous trees. Conifers are a type of evergreen tree whose seeds grow inside the cone and generally do not contain fruit or flowers. The most common types of softwood used in construction, wooden facades, pavilions, and furniture include pine, cypress, poplar tree, and redwood.
Cherry tree wood type
The most common type of cypress is the western red cypress. Western red cedar, as its name implies, is reddish. Between Hardwood and softwood, this type of wood is relatively soft, with a slightly fragrant odor. Western red cedar is mostly used for outdoor projects such as furniture, floors, and exteriors of buildings because it is not covered in humid environments. Western red cedar is also moderately priced.
Poplar tree
This wood, also known as Poplar Douglas, is reddish-brown. Poplar trees are cheap and can be used for some furniture. It is also better to use it only when you want to paint the final product.
Poplar Douglas is relatively strong and hard for softwood. This property tempts people to use this type in their work
Pine
In some areas, especially the southwestern United States, wood pine is widely used, and because most varieties are relatively soft, they are suitable for engraving.
Hardwood and softwood (redwood)
Like cedar, redwood is used for outdoor projects due to its greater moisture resistance. Redwood (California redwood) is relatively soft. As the name implies, its color is red. Redwood is easy to work with and reasonably priced.
Mahogany
Mahogany has a color from reddish-brown to dark red. It is relatively soft compared to other softwoods. Many wood professionals like to use it because of its beautiful appearance and easy workmanship. It is often used to make musical instruments such as pianos and guitars.
Cherries
Among Hardwood and softwood, cherry is a very popular type of wood that is easy to work with and easy to paint. The cherry wood is white and the wood inside is reddish-brown. Its hardness is like mahogany. You can often use cherry wood for architectural woodwork, furniture, and cabinets.
Types of hardwoods
Hardwood is made from non-coniferous and conical trees. These trees are more commonly known as deciduous trees and include leaves, seeds, and fruits.
Common hardwood species include oak, maple, cherry, mahogany, and walnut. These species are not necessarily harder than softwoods, however, they are known as hardwoods because of their beautiful and unique patterns.
In addition, some trees, although not deciduous, fall into the category of hardwood, such as bamboo and palm. These plants have many properties similar to hardwood and therefore fall into this category. Follow us to get more acquainted with Hardwood and softwood.
Oak
Oak is a hardwood that is not yet easy to work with. This wood is available in white and red colors because wood is more attractive, and its white color is more used for furniture. Between Hardwood and softwood, red oak is slightly softer than white oak.
Oak is also resistant to rot and with proper sealing and treatment can be used for outdoor projects. This wood has good durability. In addition to furniture, you can also use oak for floors and cabinets. But the oak constantly shrinks and swells against humidity and temperature.
Maple
Among hardwood and softwood, maple is a hardwood that comes in two main types: hard maple and soft maple. Soft maple is usually preferred to hard maple because it is easier to use. Both types of maple are harder than other woods and maple is relatively cheap compared to other hardwoods.
Maple is sometimes considered the best wood for furniture due to its greater stability and attractiveness of the grain. Because hard maple is harder to cut than soft maple, hard maple is used primarily for flooring. In contrast, soft maple is one of the best woods for furniture.
Birch
Among hardwood and softwood, birch is one of the hardwood types that have two colors, yellow and white. White birch is lighter in color and looks like maple. Yellow birch has a pale yellow appearance and its color is reddish-brown. Both types of birch are easy to make and not as expensive as other hardwoods. Birch is commonly used to make high-end furniture, toys, and toothpicks.
ASHWOOD
ASHWOOD is white to pale brown. Of the hardwoods and softwoods, this is one of the hardest woods and is very similar to oak. The big challenge of working with ASHWOOD is that it is gradually becoming harder to find. But it is usually offered at an affordable price. You can use ASHWOOD for various projects such as furniture, hockey sticks, curved parts, and toolboxes.
Walnut
The deep and dark brown color of walnut makes it a superior choice. Although it is one of the most expensive hardwoods, its beautiful appearance makes it worthwhile and not difficult to work with. Walnuts are also used to make furniture and musical instruments such as violins and guitars. This material is even used to make weapons.
Teak wood
Among Hardwood and softwood, Teak wood is one of the strongest hardwoods that has a golden brown color. It is in the middle in terms of difficulty, but if you use it regularly, you will have to change your blades. Teak wood is one of the most expensive woods due to its long growth cycle. Teak wood is often used to make outdoor furniture because it has very high weather resistance and an attractive appearance.
In the past, it was used to build boats, which is still used for this purpose. This wood has a natural oil coating that makes it sticky. Due to the presence of potentially irritating oils in the wood, Teak is not commonly used for dishes or other types of projects that have been in contact with people's skin for a long time.
Engineered wood
The third type includes engineered wood, which does not exist naturally and is produced instead.
Many of these boards are made of wood and offer special features. They are also known as composites and are obtained from the wood waste of lumber mills.
Engineered wood is often produced using chemicals or thermal processes to produce a wood product that can have certain sizes and is difficult to obtain in nature.
What are the best Hardwood and softwood to start with?
Choosing the best wood for you depends on your personal preference and the type of project you want to do. In general, if you are starting a carpentry business and you are likely to make a mistake, it is usually best to choose the cheapest wood, such as maple, poplar, and pine.