Types of Wood used in the Construction Industry | Uses | Grown In | Wood Types Cost Chart - HOMESLIBRO

Different types of wood have been used since the early Paleolithic for building construction, carpentry and crafts, and making tools, weapons and furniture. From time immemorial, the use of wood has depended on quality, cost and availability.

Timber/wood is a hard fibrous material that forms the trunk and branches of trees or shrubs. The wood used in construction has many structural and non-structural applications. Since wood is a generic term, it is important to understand its use in construction.

Wood is second only to stone in terms of its use in the construction world. This is a widely preferred material when building houses, shelters and boats. The chemical properties of wood are inherently complex, but despite this challenge we have successfully used its unique properties to create a wide variety of composite structures. Let’s understand why wood is gaining such popularity in the construction and home decoration segment.

ADVANTAGES OF USING WOOD IN CONSTRUCTION

· It is a natural material which widely available in large quantities, and it is easy to work with, and comes in many varieties. Each type of wood can be used for specific purposes.

· It is lightweight and sturdy, plus it comes in a variety of patterns and looks natural.

· The material has been used since ancient times. Therefore, skilled workers with sufficient knowledge about different types of trees are easily available all over the world.

· Wood retains its thermal properties. Thus, it is highly resistant to high temperatures.

· The thermal conductivity of wood is low compared to materials such as aluminium, marble, steel or glass.

· It absorbs sound and echo and becomes a favorite material for creating offices and residential structures.

· Wood is the worst conductor of electric waves. Therefore, it is perfect for isolating a living or workspace.

· Wooden houses are cheaper to build and expand, and benefit from lower running and maintenance costs in the long run. However, this depends on the availability of wood in the area.

· Wood panels are especially popular for roofs, cover irregularities, reduce maintenance and make installation of lighting and ventilation systems easier.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WOOD AND THEIR USES

Wood can be broadly distinguished as softwood and hardwood. Density is the main factor determining the strength of a wood/timber. Hardwoods are stronger and more durable because they are denser than softwoods.

In this article, you can Learn about the different types of wood used in furniture and construction.

TYPES OF WOOD
SOFTWOOD	HARD WOOD
• Pine Wood	• Teak Wood
• Cedar Wood	• Rose Wood
• Fir Wood	• Maple Wood
• Spruce Wood	• Mango Wood
• Hemlock Wood	• Oak Wood
	• Ash Wood
	• Beach Wood
	• Walnut Wood
	• Cherry Wood
	• Mahogany Wood

THE BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO ARE AS FOLLOWS:

SOFTWOOD	HARDWOOD
Fast-growing	Slow-growing
Evergreen – usually from the conifer, fir, and spruce family	Broad-leaved flowering species
Needles instead of leaves	Deciduous varieties
Seeds are either uncovered or in a cone	Seeds are produced inside a shell (like a fruit or nut)
	Dense grain
Less expensive	Generally more expensive
Usually lighter in colour	Mostly darker in colour
High in sap content	Low in sap content
Loose grain	Close grain Good resistance to fire
Light in weight and density	Heavy in weight and density
Very poor resistance to fire	Good resistance to fire

Different types of wood available in nature have different properties, color, texture and strength. As a houseowner, it is important to know the different types of wood for building and construction and their uses.

(A) SOFTWOOD

Softwood comes from conifers. These trees are also known as evergreen trees because the leaves do not fall until new ones sprout. Softwood generally grows in areas with a cold climate. Conifers grow fast; therefore, they are cheaper than hardwood. They are more durable because they can be easily grown. There are different types of softwood as mentioned below:

1. Pine Wood

Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow, lightweight, straight grain tree. It resists shrinkage, warping and swelling. it is very easy to design. Pine decomposes easily in contact with the groundsoil.

Pine Wood Grown In: Northern Hemisphere. North America In India, it is found in the Western Himalayas, Assam and Nagpur.

Pine Wood Uses: It's low-cost, and it takes paint well, so it's great for kids' furniture

2. Cedar Wood

Cedarwood is a knotted softwood that has a reddish-brown color with light streaks. Cedar is delicate compared to other softwoods. The wood structure is uniform and resistant to decay and pests. They are fragrant.

Cedar Wood Grown In: East and West coasts of the US. In India, it is found in Kashmir and Assam.

Cedar Wood Uses: Simple cases and storage closets are also built from this wood. It is also one of the most popular woods used for lining drawers, and cabinets.

3. Firwood

Fir is a straight grain and has a reddish-brown color. It is uniform in structure and non-adhesive and has poor resistance to corrosion. Fir is harder compared to other softwoods. It has good stain proof; Therefore, it is usually used in its original form or on a painted surface.

Firwood Grown In: North Africa, Europe, North and Central America and Asia. In India, it is found in Himachal Pradesh.

Firwood Uses: for doors, furniture, frames, plywood, windows, veneer, and interior trim.

4. Spruce Wood

The spruce tree is strong and tough. It finishes well and resistance to decay is low. It is moderately compact and weight is light

Spruce Wood Grown In: Europe, Asia, America, Canada. Alaska, and In India, it is found in Western Sikkim and Himalaya.

Spruce Wood uses decorative plywood, ladder, decorative veneer, domestic flooring, factory flooring, general carpentry, interior construction, joinery (external).

5. Hemlock Wood

Hemlock wood is light in weight and low in strength. It has low resistance to decompose and is non-adhesive.

Hemlock Wood Grown In: United States, Canada, Alaska, England, and Eastern Asia.

Hemlock Wood Uses: General construction, roof decking and plywood, as well as for laminating stock and the production of glue-laminated and solid beams.

HARDWOOD

Hardwood is wood made of dicot trees. These are commonly found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. They are mostly deciduous in temperate and boreal latitudes but mostly green in tropical and subtropical regions. Hardwood contrasts with softwood.

1. Teakwood

It is one of the most popular types of hardwood. It varies in colour from yellow to dark brown and is very heavy, strong, durable, resistant to weathering, warping and does not decompose . Often heavily figured, teak can have a straight grain shape. The natural oils of teak make them soluble and resistant to pests. Teak does not burn easily. It is very expensive compared to other types of wood.

Teakwood is Grown In India, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

Teakwood Uses: The wood is used for boat building, exterior construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other small wood projects.

2. Rosewood

Rosewood is very hard and dark reddish-brown in color. It has a unique aroma. It is difficult to work with and requires a lot of polishing.

Rosewood Grown In: Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and India

Rosewood uses: Rosewood is used in musical instruments, piano cases, tool handles, art projects, decorative veneers, and furniture.

3. Oak Wood

Oakwood is one of the most widely used types of hardwoods. Oak can be divided into two basic types: white and red. The red type is also called black oak It has a very unique grain and finish. Oak is heavy, strong, light-coloured hardwood.It has good resistance to fungus, moisture, and yeast. it has good workability

Oakwood Grown In: America, Asia, North Africa, Europe and North-eastern parts of India

Oakwood Uses: homewares, flooring, wine barrels and firewood.

4. Maple Wood

Maple wood has excellent texture with excellent strength. It is very hard and resists shocks, which are often used to create paths. Maple is crack resistant and very durable and easy to clean.

Maple Wood Grown in: Asia, North America, North Africa, Europe, and Canada. In India, you can find maple trees in Ooty and other hilly regions.

Maple Wood uses: high-end furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and kitchen

5. Ash Wood

Ash is a hard, heavy, ring-bearing wood. Ash is well known for its elasticity and strength. It has a large grain that resembles oak and is white to light brown in color. Easy to work with screws, nails and glue. This gives an attractive finish. Ash is generally less in demand than other hardwoods; Therefore, it is cheaper than other types of wood.

Ash Wood Grown in: United States and northward into parts of Canada, Hyderabad, India.

Ash Wood Uses: Making guitars, drum shells, frames, sports equipment, ladders, and baseball bats.

6. Mango Wood

The mango wood is dense and strong hard, which comes with an attractive grain shape. Its grain is unique in that it encompasses many tones and colours ranging from light shades such as dark brown to pale pink or green notes. It is lighter and more water-resistant than other wood types.

Mango Wood Grown in: India, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Brazil and even Australia

Mango Wood uses: living room and bedroom furniture, nesting tables, kitchen cabinets, entertainment units and bookshelves.

7. Mahogany Wood

Mahogany is straight, fine, and grainy, and it is free from voids and pockets. Its reddish-brown color darkens over time and shows a reddish sheen when polished. It has excellent workmanship and is very durable. Historically, the perimeter of the tree allowed for wide boards from traditional mahogany species.

Mahogany Wood Grown: South Florida as well as the Bahamas and the Caribbean

Mahogany Wood uses: It is commonly used in fashion cabinets, built-in tables, dining table sets and other types of interior furniture. Mahogany is also used in boat building, window frames, sills and veneers.

8. Beech Wood

Beechwood is a hard, strong and heavy wood with small holes. It is light pink in color and relatively low cost. beech is tough and dimensionally unstable. It is very easy to work with as it is very resistant to splitting. Beech has a short life for durable outdoor use.

Beech Wood Grown in: Europe, Asia, and North America.

Beech Wood uses: flooring, furniture, veneer plywood, and railroad ties

9. Cherry Wood

Cherrywood is also referred as fruitwood. It is reddish-brown to light in colour, hard, strong, warp-resistant, and covered with grain wood. It resists checking and warping Easy to polish and mould.

Cherry Wood Grown in: hilly regions of Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh in india.

Cherry Wood Uses: Toys, Caskets, Paneling, Furniture And Flooring

10. Walnut Wood

Because of the unique color and grain characteristics, Walnut wood is more expensive than other types of hardwood because it is rare (relatively). Walnut wood accounts for only 1% of U.S. hardwood growing stocks due to ever-increasing demand.

Walnut Wood Grown In: Europe, America, and Asia. In India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.

Walnut Wood Uses: coffee tables, Dining table sets, veneer, gun stocks, musical instruments, and decoration.