Softwood vs. Hardwood Flooring

Here at Abbey Timbers we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the most up to date information on all happenings within the timber decking and flooring business. On top of providing our customers with the very best timber supplies, Abbey Timbers is seeking new ways to provide our customers with information that will provide them with a more informed choice when it comes to their next hardwood supply project.

In this spirit Abbey Timbers has decided to start a blog that will keep our valued customers informed of the latest developments in the industry. To begin we will examine some of the most frequently asked questions we get from our customers starting with one of the most common questions; “What are the benefits and advantages of hardwood over softwood and vice versa.

When speaking of hardwood versus softwood we must first define what is hardwood and what is softwood.

Hardwood timber is usually defined as wood that comes from angiosperms or plants that produce seeds with a covering, such as the hard shell of a nut. Common hardwood varieties include ash, gum, and tallowwood.

Softwood timber is usually defined as any timber that comes from gymnosperms, plants that produce seeds with no covering. Examples of softwood producing plants include pine, cedar, cypress, and redwood.

Another way, and a much more effective way, to determine wood hardness is the Janka Hardness Rating Test.

The Janka Hardness Rating

When examining the differences between hardwood and softwood products for decking and flooring it is important to first examine exactly how the hardness of wood is determined. To determine the hardness of a particular wood the Janka Hardness Test is implemented by which a steel ball measuring 11.28mm is forced into the wood until it is embedded halfway into the wood, the force required to embed the ball equates to its hardness rating.

As an example of the Janka Hardness Rating Test in action take for instance the Hard and Soft Maple varieties (Soft Maple is actually many different species of Maple). For this example we compare the Hard Maple with a Red Maple. The results show that the Hard Maple required over 1400 pounds of force to embed the steel ball in the Hard Maple while the Red Maple only required 950 pounds of force.

This is just an example and a great way to inform our customers how the Janka Hardness Rating works. The species of wood that we stock differ in hardness just as the two examples, and depending on your project we can tailor a timber supply to your exacting specifications.

Hardwood vs Softwood

To answer the question of which is better for your particular project we will examine the different benefits of hardwood over softwood. Whether you are a do it yourself handyman or a builder by trade we at Abbey Timbers are sure you’ll get something out of this comparison.

The Benefits of Hardwood

·         Strength- Hardwood is strong along and across the grain and as its name implies it is a more heavy duty option to its soft alternative. The great thing about hardwood is that it will stand up to just about any punishment you can throw at it and last for years to boot.

·         Durability- Hardwood floors are almost bulletproof, while they carry a heftier price tag they are an investment in the future of your property.

·         Darkly Aesthetic- Most hardwoods are dark in colour and offer any home a rich and luxurious aesthetic option.

The Benefits of Softwood

·         Cost- Softwood has the advantage over hardwood in the price category. Softwood grows faster and is therefore more readily available, allowing it to be marketed at a cheaper price point. A big plus for those on a budget.

·         Light and easy- Softwoods tend to be lighter in shade than their hardwood cousins, if you want light and dreamy for your design aesthetic then chances are a softwood would complement your design aesthetic nicely.

·         Environmentally friendlier- Generally speaking softwood is environmentally friendlier than its harder counterpart due to its ready availability.

No matter the project, if you need quality timber and advice then give the team at Abbey Timbers a call today.

Author Bio.

Andrew has a extension amount of knowledge when it comes to carpentry as owner operator at Abbey Timber.