Types of Wood Species – Hardwoods And Softwoods
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).
- The most common Hardwoods are Birch, Cherry, Oak, Maple, Walnut, Hickory, Ashwood, Poplar, etc.
- They are
- – Deciduous in temperate climates
- – Lose their leaves in autumn
- – Old leaves are replaced by new ones 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 and 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 a 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.
- Color : White ash – Pale brown, greyish brown, light brown/pale yellow
- 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.