For example, hardwood lumber Toronto is specifically used for some unique applications and can have different application compared to softwood lumbers. The hardness of woods varies widely so that certain hardwood species are not typically recommended for flowing since they are not really hard enough and cannot withstand wear and tear.
The following offers a very brief comparison of the hardwoods, softwoods and often misused tropical those tropical hardwoods and their appropriate applications:
- Hardwoods are those deciduous trees which have broad leaves, produce a nut or fruit and will generally go dormant during the winter. The forest in North America grow hundreds of varieties which thrive in temperate climates including ash, oak, maple, cherry and poplar species. Every species can be crafted into long-lasting and durable furniture, millwork and flooring and cabinetry. Every wood specie has unique markings with variation in texture, grain pattern and color.
- Softwoods are also known as conifers which come from the Latin word meaning “cone-bearing” have needles as compared to having leaves. The softwood trees are widely available in North America and include trees such as fir, cedar, redwood, pine, hemlock and spruce. In a home, the softwoods are primarily used as a structural lumber like the 2x4s and the 2x6s which have limited decorative applications.
- Tropical hardwoods which commonly include rosewood, mahogany, wenge and teak are not really native to North America. They grow typically in the tropical forest of the world and should be imported for domestic use in North America. While there are some tropical hardwoods which can be used for interior applications including grain pattern, flooring, hardness, color and luster of a lot of imported woods differ from those hardwood trees in North America. You should be equipped with ample information about non-native species.
When you are in doubt regarding the type of wood that you should select for your flooring, cabinetry, millwork or furniture, you should refer to the Janka Rating System. This particular rating system measures the relative hardness of different woods. The hardest commercially available hardwood is known as the hickory and is also five times much harder compared to aspen which is one of the soft hardwoods. And while this particular example lists just some of the most popular hardwood species, there are really several hundreds of varieties which represent the hardwood population in North America. Because hardness really is a very important factor and hardness also varies for every species on the Janka Scale of Hardness is really an excellent tool in helping to identify appropriate choices.