List Of Common Hardwoods And Softwoods

This happens to be generally true but there are exceptions such as in the cases of wood from yew trees a softwood that is relatively hard and wood from balsa trees a.
List of common hardwoods and softwoods. Also wood names can be misleading. Some common types of hardwoods include oak teak iroko and meranti. Here is a list of common hardwoods and softwoods used in the crafting of furniture. Common hardwoods and softwoods for furniture.
Types of wood comparing american hardwoods softwoods and tropical hardwoods. This is a list of woods most commonly used in the timber and lumber trade. Typically they grow slower and are thicker than softwoods. As the name may suggest softwood timber is not necessarily softer than hardwood timber across the board as there is a great variation in the physical toughness of both hardwoods and softwoods with some softwoods actually being harder than some hardwoods.
Hardwoods are trees which produces leaves and seeds. These trees are most commonly are known as deciduous trees more scientifically known as angiosperms. This means you re not contributing to the deforestation of the world and will always have a supply of wood for your projects. Yet in the context of everyday woods that most people in the united states or canada are likely to encounter the list of possible woods is usually much shorter.
Hardwoods are also stronger and more durable due to their more condensed and complex structure. Do note a wood s heartwood is harder than its sapwood. Following is a list of common softwood varieties and their characteristics. For example swietena mahagony south american mahogany and african mahogany are all marketed as mahogany but their.
Most common hardwoods unlike the conifers or softwood firs spruce and pines hardwood trees have evolved into a broad array of common species. Hardwoods are sourced from broad leaved trees. Common ash fraxinus excelsior green ash fraxinus. The wood from hardwood trees tends to be harder because the trees grow at a slower rate giving the wood its greater density.
Common hardwood species include oak maple cherry mahogany and walnut. It s also relatively easy to find sustainably grown softwoods woods grown on tree farms to ensure an endless supply of wood. This article is meant to act as sort of a cliffs notes to help address the most common and hopefully obvious questions of wood identification. Wood products are known for their natural beauty but when selecting a type of wood for your next cabinetry flooring furniture or millwork project it is important to also consider the level of durability by understanding the difference between wood types.