Trees and wood have been an integral part of the development of our civilization. Different types of wood have been used from early Paleolithic times for constructing buildings, woodworking & DIY and manufacturing tools, construction equipment, weapons, and furniture. Since ancient times, the use of wood has been dependent on cost, quality, and availability.
Wood is a hard-fibrous material forming the trunk and branches of trees or shrubs. There are many structural and non-structural applications for the wood used in construction. As wood is a general term, it is important to understand its application in construction.
According to the tree experts at Burbank Tree Pros, wood is only second to stone in terms of its application in the world of construction. It is a widely preferred material when it comes to building houses, shelters, and boats. According to the Robert H. Faulk, a former general research engineer in the forest service department of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in the United States, somewhat more than half of the wood harvested from forests is used as building material in construction. The chemical properties of wood are inherently complex, but despite this challenge, we have successfully harnessed its unique characteristics to build a variety of composite structures. Let us understand why wood enjoys such popularity in the construction and home decor segments.
In case you are a student of the construction educational course and wonder “how to write my research paper about wood”, the article, which we prepared below, will be useful for you as well.
Different Types of Wood and their Uses
Wood can be broadly classified as softwood and hardwood. Density is a major determinant of the strength of wood. Hardwoods, being denser than softwoods, are stronger and more durable.
According to ‘Madan Mehta, Walter Scarborough & Diane Armpriest’ (Authors of Building Construction), the difference between hardwood and softwood is not only based on the density of the wood. This is because several hardwoods are lighter than softwoods. Generally, the distinction between these two types of woods is based on their botanical characteristics.
Let’s learn about the different types of wood used for furniture and in construction.
Different wood types available in nature possess different properties, colours, textures, and strengths. As a homeowner, it’s important to know the different types of wood in construction and their applications.
Softwood and Types of Softwood
Softwood comes from coniferous trees. These trees are also known as evergreen trees, as leaves do not fall until the new ones grow. Softwood usually grows in regions with a cold climate. Coniferous trees grow fast; hence, they are less expensive as compared to hardwood. They are more sustainable as it is easy to grow them. There are different types of softwood, as mentioned below:
01. Pine Wood
Pinewood is a soft, white, or light-yellow wood that is light in weight and straight-grained. It resists shrinkage, swelling, and warping. Pine is very easy to shape and stain. Pine decays easily when it encounters soil. It grows in most parts of the northern hemisphere. In India, you can find them in the western Himalayas, Assam, and Nagpur.
Uses
It is best suited for all kinds of indoor and outdoor furniture. It is also used to make frames for doors and windows, flooring, and paving materials. Knotty pine is often used for a decorative effect. It is also one of the sources of turpentine.
02. Cedar Wood
Cedarwood is a knotty softwood that has a red-brown colour with light lines. Cedar is soft as compared to other softwoods. The wood texture is uniform and highly resistant to decay and insects. One can find these aromatic trees in Kashmir, Assam, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. According to author H Panda, (Author of the book: Aromatic Plants Cultivation, Processing And Uses) in India, Kashmir has the largest plantation of Himalayan cedar wood.
Uses
It is one of the famous wood types used for lining drawers, chests, and boxes. Simple cases and storage closets are made from this wood.
03. Firwood
Firwood, also called Douglas Fir, has a straight grain and a reddish-brown colour. It is uniform in texture, non-resinous, and has poor resistance to decay. Fir is hard in comparison to other softwoods. It does not stain easily; hence, it’s generally used in the raw form or as a painted surface. Fir grows in North and Central America, North Africa, Europe, and Asia. In India, it is found in Himachal Pradesh.
Uses
It is used for furniture, doors, frames, windows, plywood, veneer, general millwork, and interior trim.
04. Spruce Wood
Spruce wood is strong and hard. It finishes well and has a low resistance to decay. It has moderate shrinkage and is lightweight. According to a report by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), the average weight of spruce wood is 460-500 kg/m3, which is considered light weight, when compared to other types of wood. One can find spruce in America, Europe, Asia, Alaska, and Canada. In India, it is found in the Western Himalaya and Sikkim.
Uses
It is commonly used for masts and spars of ships, aircraft, crates, boxes, paneling, cladding, general millwork, and ladders.
05. Hemlock Wood
Hemlock wood is light-weight and has moderate strength. It has a low resistance to decay and is non-resinous. It’s found in the United States, Canada, Alaska, England, and Eastern Asia. It is quite prone to shrinkage, like other softwoods like firwood.
Uses
It is used in the construction of lumber, planks, doors, boards, joinery, subflooring, and crates.
Hardwood and types of Hardwood
Hardwood comes from deciduous trees that have broad leaves, produce fruits or nuts, and are generally inactive in the winter. Hardwoods have a denser structure in comparison to softwoods. The different types of hardwood are described below:
06. Teakwood
Teakwood is one of the most popular types of hardwood. It is yellow to dark brown in colour and is extremely heavy, strong, durable, weather-resistant, warp-resistant, and does not decay. Often strongly figured, teak may show a straight grain pattern. The natural oils in teak make them termite and pest-resistant. Teak does not burn easily. It is quite expensive when compared to other wood types. It is generally found in central and southern India. According to Devendra Pandey and Chris Brown (Authors of the report – Teak: A global overview), India has the largest plantation of Teak among Asian countries. It is also one of the most preferred types of wood for furniture in India.
Uses
It is commonly used as a structural wood for wooden-framed houses, doors, windows, and partitions. It is an excellent choice for outdoor furniture like garden benches and lounge chairs. Most homeowners prefer teak for their indoor furniture, like beds and wardrobes. It is also used in veneer production.
Check out our detailed article on Teakwood, for more insights:
Beginners Guide to Teak Wood for Furniture Making!
07. Rosewood
Rosewood is very hard and has a dark reddish-brown colour. It has a unique fragrance. Rosewood is classified as Brazilian rosewood, East India rosewood, Honduran rosewood, Amazon rosewood, Madagascar rosewood, and others. East Indian rosewood is also known as Sheesham in Hindi. Rosewood is very valuable. In India, it is generally found mostly in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore, Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Orissa.
Uses
According to ‘Mamta Bhattacharya’, ‘Archana Singh’, ‘Chhaya Ramrakhyani’, (authors of the article “Dalbergia sissoo – An Important Medical Plant), rosewood is used in musical instruments, piano cases, tool handles, art projects, decorative veneers, and furniture. The extracts from Indian rosewood or Sheesham cures blood disorders, eye disorders, and leprosy, among other ailments.
08. Oak Wood
Oakwood is one of the most widely used types of hardwood. Oak can be distinguished into two basic varieties: white and red. The red variety is also known as black oak (a reference to its bark). It has a very distinct grain and finish. Oak is a heavy, strong, light-coloured hardwood. It is very easy to work on. It has good resistance to moisture, fungus, and yeast. Oak is found in different parts of America, Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Such types of hardwood trees are found in the north-eastern parts of India.
Uses
It is an excellent choice for household and office furniture like bookshelves and cabinets. It is also widely preferred for outdoor furniture. Due to its moisture-resistant property, it is also used in ships and boats. In modern times, interior decor experts are employing oak for flooring, timber-framed structures, and veneer production.
09. Maple Wood
Maple wood has a fine texture with great strength. It is hard and resistant to shocks. Hence, it is often used for constructing pathways. Maple is resistant to splitting, highly durable, and easy to clean. Maple is found in Asia, North America, North Africa, Europe, and Canada. In India, you can find maple trees in Ooty and other hilly regions.
Uses
It is extensively used in making household furniture like console tables, wall shelves, and bedside tables. Maple has a curly grain and is also used for the violin back.
10. Ash Wood
Ashwood is a hard, heavy, ring-porous wood. Ash is well-known for its elasticity and strength. It has a prominent grain that looks like oakwood and is white to light brown in colour. It is easy to work on using screws, nails, and glue. It gives an attractive finish. Ash is less popular than other hardwoods; therefore, it’s less expensive compared to other wood types.
Uses
Ash is widely used for structural frames and steam-bent furniture pieces. It is used in making guitars, drum shells, frames, sports equipment, ladders, and baseball bats. Decorative veneers are produced from ash due to its interesting grain.
11. Mango Wood
Mango wood is a dense and strong hardwood that comes with a distinctly attractive grain pattern. Its grain is unique as it embodies several tones and colours, ranging from light shades like dark brown with hints of light pink or green. It is lighter than other wood types and highly water-resistant.
Uses
It is best used for living room and bedroom furniture, nesting tables, kitchen cabinets, entertainment units, and bookshelves.
12. Mahogany Wood
Mahogany wood is also known as Honduras. The wood is reddish-brown in colour. It is strong, with a uniform pore structure and poorly defined annual rings. It is an excellent carving wood and finishes well. It takes stains very well, rendering a great finish to the piece of furniture. One of its many advantages is that it doesn’t warp, swell, or shrink. It can be used underwater too. According to ‘Vikash Kumar et al.’, (author of article: Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla King: a suitable timber species for agroforestry), in India, mahogany was planted in 1795 in the Royal Botanical Garden in Kolkata. It is now found all over India, particularly in Corbett National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Uses
It is most commonly used in fashion cabinets, nested tables, dining table sets, and other types of indoor furniture. Mahogany is also used in boat building, window frames, sills, and veneers.
13. Beech Wood
Beechwood is a hard, strong, and heavy wood with tiny pores. It is light pink in colour and relatively inexpensive. Beech is tough and yet dimensionally unstable. It is very easy to work with as it is highly resistant to splitting. Beech has less durability for prolonged exterior use. It is found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Uses
Beech is often used for frames and a variety of bent and turned parts. Quarter-sliced and half-round-cut beech veneers are commonly used. It is also used in flooring, plywood, and other household items. It is rarely used as a decorative veneer. It makes very good firewood.
14. Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is sometimes called fruitwood. It is light to reddish-brown in colour, hard, strong, warp-resistant, and closed-grained. It resists warping and checking. It is easy to carve and polish. Cherry is mostly found in Europe and Asia. These trees are found in the hilly regions of Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
Uses
It works well when used for decorative carving and for making solid furniture like cabinets, shelves, and tables.
15. Walnut Wood
Walnut wood is one of the most versatile and popular wood types, with a very fine texture. The wood is light to dark chocolate brown in colour with a straight grain in the trunk. Walnut is strong, hard, and durable without being excessively heavy and warp-resistant. It has excellent woodworking qualities and takes finishes well. It is very expensive compared to other types of hardwood. Walnut is found in Europe, America, and Asia. In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
Uses
It is an ideal wood choice for crafting dining table sets, coffee tables, veneer, musical instruments, gun stocks, and decoration.
Conclusion
Wood is an ancient building material, used as construction material much before cement came in. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, more than half of the wood types harvested in the forests are used as building materials in the United States.
The natural beauty and long-lasting nature of wood can bring warmth and beauty to the decor of our homes. Hence, wood is a common building material used in India.
Out of the many construction materials that we can choose from, wood stands out as a unique and amazingly versatile product. Its aesthetic appeal, strength, insulation qualities, and ease of fabrication make it an ideal choice for an extensive array of construction applications.
A homeowner must choose the type of wood depending upon its use and requirements and, if you’re bored while working at a jobsite, buy a loud jobsite radio. It will help pass the time while completing your project.
Are you considering installing hardwood flooring? Make sure to read our guide:
An Essential Guide to Choosing and Installing New Hardwood Flooring
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