Wood Species

*more coming soon*

Softwood and hardwood are distinguished in nature in terms of their reproduction rather than their end appearance and attributes. In general, hardwood comes from deciduous trees which lose their leaves annually. Softwood comes from conifers, which usually remain evergreen. The trees from which hardwood is obtained tend to be slower growing, meaning the wood is usually denser. 

Softwoods come from gymnosperm trees, such as conifer (or evergreen) trees. These trees (like pines, cedars, and spruces) have needle-like leaves that usually remain green year-round, as opposed to broad leaves that shed annually. 

Softwoods grow faster than hardwoods, usually taking around 40 years to be harvest ready. Their fast-growing nature tends to make them less dense than hardwoods. Softwoods are more readily available and easily manipulated than hardwoods. And because they grow faster, then are less expensive.

Hardwoods come from trees classified as angiosperms that reproduce with a flowering plant, like oak, walnut, and maple. Hardwood trees are mostly deciduous, having broad leaves that change color and fall off in the autumn and winter. 

Hardwood trees typically grow slower than softwood trees, and their struture is more complex, resulting in denser, heavier, harder-wearing timber. They can take up to 150 years to be harvest ready, and are therefore often costlier. 

Domestic Soft Woods

Domestic Hard Woods

Exotic Hard Woods