Types of wood and their use
Publication date: 19. december 2019
We all know spruce, larch, oak, and other types of trees. But when we are faced with wooden products and which material is best for a specific product, our knowledge falls short. In this article, we will explain the 3 basic types of wood and provide examples of what kinds of products they are suitable for. We will describe hardwood, softwood, and engineered wood.
TIP 1: Hardwood or hardwoods
Hardwood is found in all trees that do not have needles and cones. These are therefore trees that have leaves and seeds. The best-known representatives of this wood are oak, cherry, hazel, maple, etc. Although the name hardwood might suggest that these are woods with the hardest wood, this is not always true, as some types of softwood are much harder to work with.
This type of wood is known primarily for its exceptionally beautiful and unique patterns. Because of this, it is widely used in interior design. With it, we can build a beautiful wardrobe or lay unique parquet flooring. Due to its price, however, it is used less for construction purposes and outdoor furnishings.
TIP 2: Softwood or soft woods
Unlike our first type, softer wood is found in trees that have needles and cones. The most prominent representatives of this wood are pine, cedar, spruce, larch, etc.
This is wood that is more difficult to work with, but more suitable for outdoor furnishings and construction in general. This segment also includes the very familiar Siberian larch.
And Siberian larch has one exceptionally interesting characteristic. It is a softwood with the properties of hardwood. Although it belongs to the category of trees that are more difficult to process, Siberian larch is considerably more "soft" and therefore easier to work with. If we connect this with durability and the other properties of softwoods, we can see why it is such a popular and sought-after wood.
In addition to durability, this type of wood is more resistant to insects and is therefore truly suitable for various wooden structures and other outdoor wooden products.
TIP 3: Industrial wood
As we can already infer from the name, industrial wood is not found in nature, but is made by the hands of industry. Here, such wood is known as structural timber or also glued laminated timber. It is a type of wood that is built from various wooden elements, with the aim of greater strength. We use it for the construction of prefabricated houses, garden sheds, pergolas, canopies, wooden structural frames, etc. Such wood is also often chemically treated (impregnation) to achieve certain properties that are not found in nature. In addition, such wood cracks less and warps less. Although structural timber can be obtained from most tree species, spruce and larch are most often used because of their natural properties.
We hope that after reading this article you have gained a slightly better insight into the world of tree species and which type of wood is suitable for your project or wishes. If you still have any questions or an idea for your next garden project is already starting to form in your mind, then call one of our project managers, with whom you will arrange all the details from the initial development of the idea to the right choice of wood, and of course the execution of the project.
