The timbre that comes from coniferous trees is called softwood and the wood from deciduous trees (that lose their trees in the Autumn) is called hardwood. Hardwoods are usually more dense than softwoods and generally of a superior level of strength and durability often at the cost of being more expensive. Whereas softwoods tend to be lighter and cheaper to buy because they’re faster to grow than hardwoods, which aren’t easily sourced, and therefore are cheaper and more sustainable to produce.
| Softwood | Physical Properties | Working properties |
|---|---|---|
| Pine wood | Pale coloured with aesthetically pleasing grain | Lightweight, easy to form, used for construction and decking |
| Spruce | Pale cream with an even grain | Easy to form, takes stain colour well, used for construction and furniture |
| Larch | Pale coloured with a contrasting darker grain and knotty | Durable, easy to machine, high sap content gives it good water resistance for exterior building and flooring |
| Hardwood | Physical Properties | Working properties |
|---|---|---|
| Ash | Pale coloured. narrow grain | Flexible and good for steam bending, is tough, used for sports equipment |
| Beech | Slight pink tint, close grain | Touch, durable and smooth to finish |
| Mahogany | Dark-reddish colour, very close grain | Cuts and polishes easily, gives a fine finish, used for high-quality furniture |
| Oka | Moderate-brown colour with unique and attractive grain markings | Tough and durable, polishes well, used for quality furniture |
| Balsa | Pale and wide-spaced grain due to it being a fast-growing hardwood | Very soft and easy to form, often used to make models |