Botanically trees are classified as Hardwoods and Softwoods. The below article briefs about the various types of Wood Species.

Hardwoods :

• Hardwoods are deciduous (broad leafed).
• Most common Hardwoods are Birch, Cherry, Oak, Maple, Walnut, Hickory, Ash wood, Poplar, etc.
• They are
• – Deciduous in temperate climates
• – Lose their leaves in autumn
• – Old leaves are replaced by new in tropical climates.

Softwoods :

• Softwoods are coniferous (needle shaped leaves).
• Common Softwoods are Pine, Western Red Cedar, Redwood, Cypress, etc.
• Softwood trees tend to grow more rapidly than hardwoods, also have larger less dense cells in the earlywood than hardwoods. The cell structure is less dense than hardwood, therefore a nail can be driven easily.
• – Mostly they are evergreen in various types of climates.

Types of Wood species

Common Hardwoods

The most commonly used distinct types of wood species in hardwoods are –

A. Birch

• Source : Yellow Birch Tree (Betuaalleghaniensis Britt)
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Cabinets, Flooring, Furniture, Veneer, Kitchen utensils, Toys
• Types : Yellow Birch, Orthern Birch, River Birch, Red Birch, American White Birch, Sweet Birch, etc.
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Yellow Birch – 1260
  • Sweet Birch – 1470
• Appearance:
  • Color : Creamy/Pale White to Reddish brown or Yellow
  • Grain Pattern : Straight grain with fine texture, tight pores
  • Sufficiently durable, stylish and attractive
• Finishing : Takes finishes well, but penetrating wood stains may produce blotching.

B. Cherry

• Source : American Black Cherry tree
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, Cabinetry, Crafts and toys, Interiors, Kitchen accessories, etc.
• Types : Black Cherry, Brazilian Cherry
• Janka Hardness scale :
  • Black cherry – 995
• Appearance :
  • Color : Light Pink to Rich Reddish Brown
  • Grain pattern: Fine grain pattern with Smooth Texture
  • Lustrous finish
• Finishing : Takes Stains and Finishes well.
• Cost : Expensive

C. Oak

• Source : The Genus Quercus of the Beech family, Fagaceae.
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, Cabinetry, Interiors, Doors, Veneer, Paneling
• Types : Red Oak, White Oak, Chestnut Oak, European Oak,
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Red Oak – 1290
  • White Oak – 1360
• Appearance :
  • Color : Tan to reddish pink in color
  • Grain Pattern : Straight wide grain pattern
  • old and classic look
  • Quartersawing reveals narrow medullary rays in red oak and wide medullary rays in white oak.
• Finishing : Takes Stains and finishes well, but pores will show through if painted unless they are filled.

D. Maple

• Source : Genus Acer
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, flooring, kitchen countertops, instruments, plywood and veneer.
• Types : Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, Norway Maple and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness Scale : 1450
• Appearance :
  • Color : Yellow to little reddish
  • Grain pattern : Straight wide grain with occasional curvy and wave pattern.
  • Durable and classic, stylish appearance
• Finishing : Takes clear finishes well, but staining may produce blotches.

E. Walnut

• Sources : Black walnut tree
  • Eastern United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, Cabinetry, Furniture, Doors and Windows, Interior decoration, Paneling
• Types : Also known as Black Walnut, Burmese Walnut, American Black Walnut, Brazilian Walnut
• Janka Hardness Scale :
  • Black Walnut – 1010
  • Brazilian Walnut – 3680
• Appearance :
  • Color : Pale brown to dark chocolate to purple or black
  • Grain pattern : Straight and fine grain
  • Uniform texture
• Finishing : Takes natural finishes beautifully
• Cost : Expensive

F. Hickory

• Source : Genus Carya
  • Southeastern United States
• Uses : Flooring, Cabinetry, Furniture, Tool Handles, Sporting good equipment, Plywood and Veneers.
• Types : Pecan Hickory, Shbbark Hickory, and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness Scale : 1820
• Appearance :
  • Color : Medium Tan to light red with yellow or gold
  • Grain pattern : Straight to wavy pattern and coarse texture.
• Excellent shock resistance.
• Finishing : Takes stains well and clear finishes well.

G.Ash Wood

• Source : Comes from the family of trees – Oleaceae – Olive tree family.
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, Flooring, Doors and windows, Interior decoration, Veneer, Interiors, Moulding, Kitchen cabinets.
• Types : White ash, American Bronze ash, Black ash, Oregon ash, Griffith ash, etc.
• Janka Hardness scale : 1320
• Appearance :
  • Color : White ash – Pale brown, greyish brown, light brown/pale yellow
    • American bronze ash – light and various shades of beige.
  • Grain pattern : Straight wide grain pattern with coarse texture.
• Excellent shock resistance
• Finishing : Takes stains well and clear finishes well.

H.Poplar

• Sources : Salicaceae
  • United States
• Uses : Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, veneer, light construction, moulding and millwork.
• Types : White poplar, Yellow poplar
• Janka Hardness scale : 2400
• Appearance :
  • Color : Tan to grey or green in color
  • Grain pattern : straight and wide grain pattern
  • Texture : medium
• Finishing : Better suited for painting than staining.

Common Softwoods

The most commonly used distinct types of wood species in softwoods are –

1.Pine

• Source : Pinus Sylvestris
  • United States and Canada
• Uses : Source of wood pulp for paper, manufacture, Interiors, flooring, roofing, furniture, window frames
• Types : Eastern white pine, white pine, Russian pine, Yellow pine, Red pine and many other varieties.
• Janka Hardness scale :
  • Eastern white pine – 380
  • White pine – 420
• Appearance :
  • Color : Light yellow to reddish brown
  • Grain pattern : Straight grain with even texture.
• Finishing : Takes clear finishes and paints well.

2.Western Red Cedar

• Source : United States and Canada
• Uses : Furniture, Millwork, and Siding
• Appearance :
  • Grain pattern : Straight and variable grain pattern
  • Coarse texture
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects and moisture.
• Finishing : Takes stains and clear finishes well, but oils in wood can bleed unless primer is applied.

3.Redwood

• Source : West coast of United States
• Uses : Outdoor furniture, decks and fences, siding
• Appearance :
  • Color : Reddish brown with cream-colored sapwood.
  • Grain pattern : straight fine grain with few knots
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects and moisture.
• Finishing : Takes stains and clear finishes well.
• Cost : Moderate to Expensive

4.Cypress

• Source : Mississippi delta region of the United States.
• Uses : Exterior siding, trim, beams, flooring, cabinetry, paneling, etc.
• Appearance :
  • Grain Pattern : Straight and even grain pattern.
• Resistant to deterioration from UV Sunlight, insects and moisture.
• Finishing : Takes stains and clear finishes well.
• Cost : Inexpensive where regionally available.

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