Hardwood is a type of wood used for making sturdy products including furniture, flooring, musical instruments, and boats. Hardwood has key advantages and disadvantages when compared to another common wood material which is softwood.
What is Considered Hardwood?
Hardwood is wood that comes from angiosperms or flowering plants. The most common hardwoods are Oak, Teak, Sapele, Meranti, and Iroko. Hardwood makes for a sturdy and resilient material for a wide variety of products.
What is Hardwood Used For?
Below are the uses of hardwood.
- Flooring
- Cooking
- Charcoal
- Fuel
- Tools
- Construction
- Boats
- Musical instruments
- Furniture
- Barrels
What is the Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood?
Both hardwood and softwood are flexible materials used for the construction of a variety of products including furniture. Hardwood comes from angiosperm trees as opposed to softwood which comes from gymnosperms or seed-bearing plants. Hardwood is a denser and heavier material than softwood. Softwood is cheaper compared to hardwood but it is less durable.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Hardwood?
Hardwood is a versatile material used for residential and commercial products.
These are the advantages of hardwood.
- Long life span. Hardwood is used for high-quality products that need to last for a long time.
- Low maintenance. Hardwood is resistant to scratches and easy to clean. It is relatively easy to remedy dents on the hardwood.
- High strength. Hardwood has a dense structure that makes it a very sturdy material.
- Attractive appearance. Hardwood comes in varied colors and finishes that fit into any design or theme.
High fire resistance. Hardwood has a higher resistance to fire than softwood.
These are the disadvantages of softwood.
- Slow growth rate. Hardwood trees grow and dry slower than softwood.
- Difficult workability. It is harder to modify and carve hardwood than softwood.
- High cost. Hardwood is a more expensive material than softwood because of its inherent features.
