Furniture Choices: Hardwood or Softwood

You are probably mindful of the various types of wooden furniture; hardwood and softwood. It is not the hardness of the wood that distinguishes them apart when coming to select your furniture. The absolute difference is a bit more complex.

The names hardwood/softwood possibly come from logging camps, where it used to be given to wood types dependent on their stubbornness to sawing. Balsa wood, whilst very soft, is classed as a hardwood, this is an exception rather than the rule.¨

To find out whether a tree is classed as hard or soft, we have to go all the way back to its reproduction. A tree seed that has a covering on (angiosperm) are classed as hardwood, while seeds that have no covering (gymnosperm) are categorized as softwood. Softwoods retain their needles or leaves throughout the whole year and grow much quicker than hardwoods. More than 80% of the world’s timber generation comes from softwood trees, even though there many more variations of hardwood trees grown. Usual hardwoods are mahogany, maple, oak or teak, whilst softwood is typically represented by pine, cedar or redwood.

The most meaningful characteristic comes from the microscopic makeup. Pores which allow water transportation are prevalent in hardwoods but absent in softwoods. The distinction of the pertinent hard or soft wood is dependent on this. Hardwood furniture is generally considered to be of higher calibre than softwood furniture. Hardwoods provide longer lasting, heavier and studier furniture that is more scratch resistant than its softwood equivalent. Hardwood usually has patterns in the wood due to the way the cells are made up;formed; this makes it more attractive to possible buyers.

Even so, there are benefits to softwood. Due to the trees growing quicker, forest regeneration is quicker consequently more environmentally friendly. Dealing with softwood is easier therefore costs can be kept down, which passes on a saving to the consumer.

When you purchase softwood furniture, you need to understand that it does damage easier, thus you need to take care of it. On the other hand, with correct attention to detail, hardwood furniture can survive for centuries. Did you know, that the seats in your church may have been installed for hundreds of years – your great, great grandfather may have sat in the very spot as you.

Unfortunately there is an adversary of wood and that is humidity. This is notably the case for porous hardwood furniture, which may extend, shrink or crack as a result of altering humidity. In the near future we will be bringing out an article on the care of wooden furniture; if you would like to know how to look after and preserve this natural commodity keep an eye on our site.