Wood Types and Properties
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees (like oak and mahogany) that take around 80 years to grow, making them expensive but attractive with strong grain patterns. Softwoods grow from coniferous trees in just 25 years, making them cheaper and perfect for construction work.
The key material properties you need to know include compressive strength (resisting crushing), tensile strength (resisting stretching), and toughness (absorbing impact without breaking). These properties determine what each wood type is best suited for.
Seasoning removes moisture from timber - either through traditional air seasoning (slow but cheap) or kiln seasoning (fast but expensive). This prevents warping and cracking in your finished products.
Top Tip: Remember that hardwoods aren't always harder than softwoods - the names refer to the tree type, not actual hardness!
