Hardwood Timber

Hardwood trees typically have broad leaves that are shed in autumn. Their seeds are enclosed in protective fruits or nuts (e.g., acorns, cherries, or walnuts). Examples of hardwood trees used for lumber include white ash, red oak, white oak, and maple.

Softwood trees are usually evergreen, with needles or needle-like leaves and seeds enclosed in cones.

While hardwood lumber is often denser, heavier, and harder than softwood, there are exceptions. The hardness of a wood is measured with something called the Janka scale. White hard maple – one of the toughest hardwoods – has a Janka hardness score of 1450. Balsa wood is the softest commercially available lumber with a score of less than 100– but it comes from a hardwood tree.

What is the Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood Lumber?
There are several differences between hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwood comes from slow-growing deciduous trees that shed their leaves annually. Softwood lumber, on the other hand, is produced from fast-growing coniferous trees that do not shed their needle-like leaves when seasons change.

Although there are some exceptions, most hardwoods offer higher density, hardness, and durability than softwood. Hardwoods’ slow growth rate and more complex cell structure results in lumber with tightly spaced rings and more complex grain patterns, while softwood is typically lighter in color with a much more subtle grain pattern.

Due to their rapid growth and straight trunks, softwood species are ideal for commercial production and are the primary source of wood for rough construction. Hardwoods have numerous desirable qualities, but slow growth rates make them difficult to farm in the same manner as softwoods, creating scarcity that drives up prices.