Types of Wood: Their Uses and Applications

Wood is one of the most versatile and widely used materials in the world, with applications ranging from construction to furniture making, art and crafts, and much more. The different wood available vary in appearance, texture, strength, durability, and other characteristics, which make them suitable for different purposes.

Understanding the different wood types and their uses is essential for anyone who works with wood, whether professionally or as a hobby. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular types of wood, their unique properties, and the applications for which they are best suited.

Read More: Types of Timber Used in House Construction

Types of Wood

The following are different types of wood available in the market, each catering to specific purposes. From hardwoods to softwoods, discover the perfect material to bring your projects to life with precision and beauty.

1. Hardwood

Hardwood is a form of wood that originates from deciduous trees, which shed their leaves annually. This type of wood encompasses a wide range of species, each with distinct characteristics and applications. hardwood is known for its durability and aesthetic appeal, hardwood is often utilized in the construction of furniture, flooring, and various woodworking projects.

Popular hardwood types are oak, maple, mahogany, and cherry, among others, each prized for its unique grain patterns and color variations. Hardwood are dense and robust nature makes it resistant to wear and tear, ensuring a longer lifespan compared to softer wood varieties.

Its versatility varies to both indoor and outdoor applications, with outdoor furniture and decking benefiting from its resilience to weathering.

2. Softwood

Softwood is a wood type derived from coniferous trees, which are characterized by their needle-like leaves and cones. This wood type encompasses a diverse range of tree species such as pine, spruce, fir, and cedar. Softwoods are known for their comparatively faster growth rates, making them a readily available and cost-effective option in various industries.

While softer in comparison to hardwood, softwoods are valued for their versatility and suitability for a wide array of applications. Common uses include construction lumber, paper and pulp production, and the creation of wood-based products like plywood and particleboard.

The light color and straight grain of many softwood species contribute to a natural aesthetic that is often sought after in both interior and exterior design. Additionally, softwoods are typically more receptive to treatments like staining and painting.

Other, Detailed Types of wood are described below,

1. Akasa Wood

Akasa Wood
Akasa Wood

Its types of heartwood and sapwood. Which is a straight-grained grey-brown color. It is mainly utilized in interior joinery, light structural work, flooring, utility furniture, veneer for plywood, and turnery. Akasa wood variety is general utility interior wood.

Akasa Wood is a type of wood that is commonly used in traditional South Asian architecture and furniture design. It is known for its beautiful grain patterns, warm color tones, and durability, making it a popular choice for building homes, temples, and other structures in India and neighboring countries.

The exact species of wood tree name that Akasa Wood comes from is not clear, but it is believed to belong to the Hardwood group of trees.

2. Ash Wood

Ash Wood
Ash Wood

Ashwood is one type of light wood and it offers distinctive luster when polished. Its structure is almost open grain and is reasonably hard-wearing.

Ash Wood is a hardwood species that is native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is characterized by its light-colored wood varieties with a straight, pronounced grain pattern and medium to high density.

Ash Wood is prized for its versatility, durability, and shock resistance, making it a popular choice for furniture, flooring, sports equipment (such as baseball bats), and cabinetry. The wood is also valued for its ability to hold paint and stains well, giving it a long-lasting, attractive finish.

Ash wood fibers could be used as a component in MDF production, either alone or in combination with other wood fibers.

3. Balsa Wood

Balsa Wood
Balsa Wood

However, balsa wood is one of the softest and lightest weight timbers, it is a hardwood. Balsa is mainly used for heat, sound, and vibration insulation and for model making.

Balsa Wood is a type of fast-growing hardwood that is native to Central and South America. It is known for being the lightest commercial wood in the world, with a low density and exceptional buoyancy.

Due to its low weight, Balsa Wood is often used in a variety of applications, including modeling, kite building, surfboards, and packaging materials. It is also used as a core material in the construction of composite materials, where its lightness and strength make it ideal for use in lightweight structures.

Despite its low weight, Balsa Wood is surprisingly strong and has a good strength-to-weight ratio, making it a versatile and popular material in many industries.

4. Bamboo Wood

Bamboo Wood
Bamboo Wood

It generally has a rich golden color that’s very hard-wearing. As bamboo is impervious to moisture, it can be used in conjunction with the ornamental part of a water feature or for flooring in bathrooms, conservatories, and other wet areas.

Bamboo Wood refers to the solid and durable culms (stems) of various species of bamboo plants, which are used as a building and construction material. Bamboo is a highly renewable resource, as it grows much faster than traditional list of hardwoods and can be harvested in as little as 3-5 years.

Bamboo is often considered to be a green alternative to wood, as it is eco-friendly and has a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional hardwoods.

Bamboo Wood is used in a variety of applications, including flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and even structural applications, due to its strength and durability.

It is also used in the production of handicrafts and other decorative wood materials list items, as its unique grain patterns and light color tones make it a popular choice for aesthetics.

5. Beech Wood

Beech Wood
Beech Wood

Beechwood is one of the hard durable wood that is found in its natural form and comes in a variety of warm, soft honey tones. Sometimes, beech has been treated at high temperatures to create a unique red color.

Beech Wood is a type of hardwood that is native to Europe and Asia. It is characterized by its reddish-brown color and distinctive straight, fine grain pattern. Beech Wood is a dense and hard wood, with a high resistance to wear and abrasion, making it a popular choice for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry.

The wood is also known for its ability to hold fine details, making it ideal for use in moldings, carvings, and other decorative applications. In addition, Beech Wood is valued for its steam-bending properties, which make it a popular choice for the production of chairs, bentwood items, and other curved furniture pieces.

Overall, Beech Wood is a versatile and durable hardwood that is widely used in a variety of applications.

Read More: How To Remove Mold From Wood | How To Clean Mold Off Wood

6. Brazilian Mahogany Wood

Mahogany Wood
Brazilian Mahogany Wood

Brazilian Mahogany is a type of hardwood that is native to South America and commonly known as “genuine” or “true” mahogany.

It is prized for its rich reddish-brown color, fine texture, and straight grain pattern, making it a popular choice for high-end furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and millwork. Brazilian Mahogany is known for its stability, durability, and resistance to decay, making it ideal for use in outdoor and marine applications.

The wood is also favored for its workability, as it can be easily shaped, sanded, and finished to a high standard. However, due to the species’ declining populations, Brazilian Mahogany has become increasingly difficult to source and is now protected by international trade laws, which limit its harvest and export.

As a result, alternative species of wood that are similar in appearance and properties are often marketed as “Brazilian Mahogany.”

7. Cedar Wood

Cedar Wood
Cedar Wood

It is one of the major used lightweight softwood. It can be useful in construction work. Cedarwood is proven durable with straight gain.

Cedar Wood refers to the softwood from various species of trees in the cedar family, which are native to the Americas and some parts of the Old World. Cedar Wood is known for its distinctive reddish-brown color and fragrant aroma, as well as its natural resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage.

This makes it a popular choice for outdoor use, such as in decking, fencing, and siding, as well as for indoor use, such as in closets and chests, where it helps to protect clothing and other stored items from insects.

Cedar Wood is also prized for its attractive appearance, with a fine, uniform texture and straight grain pattern, making it a popular choice for decorative uses, such as paneling and trim work.

Due to its resistance to decay and insect damage, Cedar Wood is considered to be a sustainable and environmentally-friendly choice for many applications.

8. Celtis Wood

Celtis wood is a straight-grained but sometimes interlocked wood. It comes up with yellowish-grey heartwood and sapwood and a fine texture with a slightly lustrous look.

Celtis Wood
Celtis Wood

Celtis is a genus of deciduous trees and shrubs in the hemp family (Cannabaceae), commonly known as hackberries.

These trees are found in a variety of habitats throughout the world, including temperate and tropical regions of the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Celtis Wood is known for its durability and workability, making it a popular choice for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and other applications.

The wood is typically light to medium in color, with a straight, fine grain pattern and a uniform texture. Due to its relatively low density and moderate weight, Celtis Wood is also used as a substitute for other, more expensive hardwoods in some applications.

However, the wood is not widely available and is not as well known as other hardwoods, such as oak or maple, making it a less common choice for many uses.

9. Conifer Wood

Conifer Wood
Conifer Wood

Wood cut out from Coniferous or cone-bearing trees is known as conifers. Generally, these trees are evergreen, the trees have needle-like leaves, and produce softwood timber. This term generally covers and includes:

Read More: Difference Between Wood and Timber | What Is Wood | What Is Timber | What Is Lumber

10. Cherry Wood

Cherry Wood
Cherry Wood

Cherry wood has the color reddish-brown and it comes up with straight-grained wood that may contain pith flecks and small gum pockets that create random patterning.

Many people believe that cherry wood is the best wood for carving because it is soft enough to be carved easily but is also hard enough to hold its shape.

Cherry wood also has a beautiful, rich color that makes it a popular choice for furniture, carvings, and other decorative items.

11. Dahoma Wood

Dahoma Wood
Dahoma Wood

Dahoma wood generally has coarse interlocked grain, yellowish-brown streaky heartwood, and pale sapwood. It is one of hard timber mostly for exterior use, such as exterior structural timbers, mining timbers, marine work, sleepers, outdoor furniture, decking, and so on.

12. Danta Wood

Danta Wood
Types of Wood: Their Uses and Applications 40

The danta wood comes up with fine grain mostly interlocked with mahogany red heartwood and lighter sapwood. It’s a hard and strong wearing surface. It is mostly used for high-quality joinery, cabinetwork, benchtops, boat components, decking, and interior and exterior applications.

13. Douglas Fir Wood

Douglas Fir Wood
Douglas Fir Wood

Douglas fir wood is grown in North America and the UK. It generally has a light reddish-brown color with softwood, used for construction, interior, and exterior joinery, and plywood. It is very strong compared to weight.

14. European Beech

European Beech Wood
European Beech

European Beech is generally grown in Europe and is a white to pale brown color hardwood, used for furniture, interior joinery, and flooring. It can be used for plywood.

15. Elm Wood

Elm Wood
Elm Wood

It is one of hardwood and grain similar to or even exceeding that of oak. It is found in a variety of colors and tones from cream to dark brown and its grain is equally diverse, ranging from straight to wavy. Characteristically, the elm comes up and incorporates knots and burrs.

16. Greenheart Wood

Greenheart Wood
Greenheart Wood

Guyana and Suriname. It is a dense, strong and durable wood that is known for its excellent resistance to rot, decay and termites, making it a popular choice for outdoor use such as marine construction, piers, and bridges.

The wood is characterized by its distinctive green color that darkens to a deep brown over time when exposed to sunlight and air. Greenheart is a heavy wood, weighing between 700-800 kilograms per cubic meter and has a high resistance to shock and bending.

Greenheart is also a valuable timber due to its unique properties, including its strength and durability, which make it a preferred wood for use in a variety of applications, such as flooring, decks, docks, and heavy-duty construction. Additionally, Greenheart is often sought after for its ornamental value, particularly in furniture making and cabinetry.

17. Iroko Wood

Iroko Wood
Iroko Wood

Iroko wood trees mostly grew in West Africa. It has the color yellow-brown hardwood with a grain that’s irregular and interlocked.

Iroko wood is mostly utilized for interior and exterior joinery and for construction work. A cheaper alternative to teak.

18. Khaya Wood

Khaya Wood
Khaya Wood

Khaya is a type of hardwood that is commonly known as African Mahogany and is native to the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. It is a prized wood species due to its beauty, strength, and stability, making it a popular choice for a wide range of applications.

The wood is known for its distinctive reddish-brown color, which can range from a light pinkish-brown to a dark red-brown, and has a fine, uniform texture with a straight grain pattern. Khaya is a relatively lightweight wood, with a density of around 550 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its good workability, making it easy to saw, plane, and sand.

Khaya is widely used in the furniture and cabinetry industries, where it is prized for its attractive appearance and durability. The wood is also commonly used for interior trim, doors, flooring, and veneers, as well as for the construction of musical instruments such as guitar and drums.

Additionally, Khaya is a popular wood for outdoor use due to its resistance to rot and decay, making it a good choice for decks, pergolas, and outdoor furniture.

19. Ligneous Wood

Ligneous Wood
Ligneous Wood

The ligneous wood materials are bagasse, bamboo, cereal straw, and flax or hemp shives.

“Ligneous” is an adjective used to describe wood-like or woody properties, but it is not a specific type of wood. The term is used to describe materials that have properties similar to wood, such as hardness, strength, and rigidity.

20. Maple Wood

Maple Wood
Maple Wood

It is generally straight-grained and is characterized by irregular patterning, which can include fiddle back and bird’s eye patterns.

It comes up with light brown heartwood color and thin white sapwood that can be tinged with reddish-brown.

Maple wood is very strong, heavy, and has a high resistance to knocks. After being stained, it has a light, almost translucent appearance. maple is found in Canada and is one of the hardest species.

Read More: How to Remove Stain from Wood (Best 9 DIY Tips & Tricks)

21. Meranti Wood

Meranti Wood
Meranti Wood

This is a mixed-species grouping of the Shorea genus that’s grown in South East Asia. Commercially, meranti woods are grouped according to their color and density:

  • Dark red meranti and red lauan are medium to dark-red brown hardwoods used for interior and exterior joinery and for plywood
  • Yellow meranti or are yellow-brown hardwoods, used for interior joinery and plywood
  • Light red meranti and white lauan, are pale pink to mid-red hardwoods, used for interior joinery and plywood.

22. Oak Wood

 Oak Wood
Oak Wood

This is traditionally used as first-choice construction timber. It is mainly straight-grained and its Colors range from light to medium brown.

Oak is a type of hardwood that is commonly found in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, durability, and attractive appearance.

The wood is characterized by its distinctive light to medium brown color, with a straight grain pattern that can have distinctive flecks and waves. Oak is a heavy and dense wood, with a density ranging from 720 to 740 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its excellent resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage

23. Oak, European Wood

Oak, European Wood
Oak, European Wood

European Oak, also known as Quercus robur, is a type of hardwood that is commonly found in Europe. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, durability, and attractive appearance.

European Oak is characterized by its light to medium brown color, with a straight grain pattern that can have distinctive flecks and waves. The wood is heavy and dense, with a density ranging from 720 to 740 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its excellent resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage.

European Oak is widely used in the furniture and cabinetry industries for its attractive appearance and durability. It is also commonly used for flooring, millwork, paneling, and other interior and exterior applications. Additionally, European Oak is a popular choice for the production of wine barrels due to its ability to impart a distinct flavor and aroma to the wine.

24. Opepe Wood

Opepe Wood
Opepe Wood

Opepe is a type of hardwood that is commonly found in Central and West Africa. It is a dense and heavy wood that is known for its strength and durability, making it a popular choice for a wide range of applications.

The wood is characterized by its dark brown to black color, with a straight grain pattern and a fine texture. Opepe has a density of around 970 kilograms per cubic meter, making it one of the heaviest hardwoods in the world, and is known for its excellent resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage.

Opepe is widely used for construction, particularly for heavy-duty applications, such as bridges, docks, and wharves. The wood is also used for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry, as well as for the production of charcoal. Additionally, Opepe is valued for its ornamental properties, particularly for its unique and attractive appearance, and is used for decorative accents in furniture and cabinetry.

25. Okoume Wood

Okoume Wood
Okoume Wood

This is only found in the forests of Gabon. Okoume wood is softwood and has color salmon pink in color with a fibrous texture and an irregular grain that looks like light mahogany. Okoume trees mainly produce cylindrical logs, which are suitable for slicing and peeling and is mainly used to make veneer sheet.

26. Pine Wood

Pine Wood
Pine Wood

Pine is a type of softwood that is commonly found in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its soft, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive nature.

Pine is characterized by its light yellow to reddish-brown color, with a straight grain pattern and a fine to medium texture. The wood is relatively light, with a density ranging from 350 to 600 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its ease of workability and versatility.

27. Pitch Pine Wood

Pitch Pine Wood
Pitch Pine Wood

Pitch Pine is a type of softwood that is commonly found in North America, particularly in the Eastern United States and Canada. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, durability, and attractive appearance.

Pitch Pine is characterized by its yellow to reddish-brown color, with a straight or slightly wavy grain pattern and a fine to medium texture. The wood is relatively light, with a density ranging from 400 to 450 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its strength, durability, and resistance to rot and decay.

28. Poplar Wood

Poplar Wood
Poplar Wood

Poplar is characterized by its light yellow to greenish-brown color, with a straight grain pattern and a fine to medium texture. The wood is relatively light, with a density ranging from 420 to 550 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its workability and versatility.

Poplar is widely used in the construction industry for its light and soft nature, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, such as millwork, paneling, and moldings. It is also used for furniture and cabinetry, particularly for inexpensive and lightweight options, as well as for the production of paper and other wood-based products.

29. Redwood, European

Types of Wood: Their Uses and Applications
Redwood, European

Pinus sylvestris is generally found in Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and the Russian Commonwealth. It is also available in the UK, where it’s known as Scots pine or British pine.

It has colored a pale yellowish-brown to red-brown softwood, commonly used for construction, joinery, and furniture.

30. Sapele Wood

Sapele Wood
Sapele Wood

A popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, durability, and attractive appearance.

Sapele is characterized by its dark reddish-brown to purplish-brown color, with a straight to interlocking grain pattern and a fine to medium texture. The wood is relatively heavy, with a density ranging from 720 to 800 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its strength, durability, and resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage.

Sapele is widely used in the construction industry for its strength and durability, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, such as flooring, millwork, and cabinetry. It is also used for furniture, particularly for high-end and decorative pieces, as well as for the production of musical instruments, such as drums and guitars.

31. Sitka Spruce Wood

Sitka Spruce Wood
Sitka Spruce Wood

Sitka Spruce is a type of softwood that is commonly found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, stability, and attractive appearance.

Sitka Spruce is characterized by its pale yellow to white color, with a straight grain pattern and a fine to medium texture. The wood is relatively light, with a density ranging from 380 to 450 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its strength, stability, and resistance to rot and decay.

Sitka Spruce is widely used in the construction industry for its strength and stability, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, such as framing, flooring, and millwork. It is also used for furniture and cabinetry, as well as for the production of musical instruments, such as guitars and violins.

32. Southern Yellow Pine

Southern Yellow Pine
Southern Yellow Pine

It is generally southern yellow pine used for interior and exterior construction as it’s easy to work and finishes well. It has very few defects.

Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) is a type of softwood that is commonly found in the southeastern region of the United States. It is a popular choice for a wide range of applications due to its strength, stability, and affordability.

Southern Yellow Pine is characterized by its yellow to light reddish-brown color, with a straight to wavy grain pattern and a medium to coarse texture. The wood is relatively heavy, with a density ranging from 480 to 550 kilograms per cubic meter, and is known for its strength, stability, and resistance to rot and decay.

33. Teak Wood

Teak Wood
Teak Wood

Teak wood is found in Burma and Thailand and has been extensively planted elsewhere. It has the major color of golden-brown hardwood, sometimes with dark markings that are used for furniture, interior, and exterior joinery.

34. Utile Wood

Utile Wood
Utile Wood

Utile woods are majorly grown in West Africa. It has color reddish-brown hardwood, used for interior and exterior joinery, furniture, and cabinetwork.

35. Walnut Wood

American Walnut
Walnut Wood

Walnut wood has occasional waves and curls and rich dark tones that are created through a combination of rich dark heartwood and creamy brown sapwood. It comes up with varying grain patterns.

36. Western Hemlock

Western Hemlock
Western Hemlock

Western Hemlock wood is mainly found in North America and is pale brown softwood, used for construction and joinery.

37. Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar is mostly found in North America and is a reddish-brown softwood, used for roofing shingles, exterior cladding, and greenhouses.

Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar

38. Whitewood, European

Whitewood, European
Whitewood, European

Whitewood is found in Europe, the Baltic states, and the Russian commonwealth It’s a commercial grouping of white to pale yellowish-brown softwoods, commonly used for construction, joinery, and flooring.

Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood

Hardwood and softwood are the two main categories of wood, and they differ in several ways:

  1. Tree Types: Hardwoods come from deciduous trees, which are trees that shed their leaves seasonally. Common hardwood species include oak, maple, mahogany, and walnut. Softwoods come from coniferous trees, which are trees that have needles or scales instead of leaves. Common softwood species include pine, cedar, fir, and spruce.
  2. Density: Hardwoods are generally denser and heavier than softwoods. The density of wood affects its durability and strength. Hardwoods tend to be stronger and more resistant to wear and tear.
  3. Growth Rate: Softwoods typically grow faster than hardwoods. This faster growth results in softer wood with larger, more visible grain patterns.
  4. Cellular Structure: Hardwoods have a more complex cellular structure compared to softwoods. Hardwood cells are tightly packed, which contributes to their density and strength. Softwood cells are more open and less dense, making softwood lighter and less resistant to impact.
  5. Uses: Hardwoods are often used for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and high-quality woodworking projects where strength and durability are important. Softwoods are commonly used for construction, outdoor decking, framing, and general woodworking projects.

It’s important to note that the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” can be misleading, as there are some softwoods that are harder than some hardwoods. For example, balsa wood is a softwood, but it is much softer than many hardwoods. The distinction between hardwood and softwood is primarily based on tree type and growth characteristics rather than the actual hardness or softness of the wood.

Ultimately, the choice between hardwood and softwood depends on the specific application and desired characteristics of the wood.

Advantages of Wood

  • Wood is a better choice to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, air and water pollution, and other impacts. Steel and concrete as the most consumed building materials use 12% and 20% more energy and emit 15% and 29% more greenhouse gases. Their use also releases 10% and 12% more pollutants into the air and generates 300% and 225% more water pollutants than wood, respectively.
  • It helps in reducing the consumption of energy across the life cycle of growth, harvest, transport, manufacture, and construction compared to other structural building products according to life cycle assessment (LCA). 
  • It can improve energy efficiency, as wood is an excellent insulator, wood has a cellular structure that allows for air pockets, helping to slow the conductivity of heat.    
  • Product manufactured from wood is able to store carbon, helping to mitigate climate change while also providing a good alternative for materials that require large amounts of fossil fuels to produce.  
  • Using wood helps give rise to growing more trees and increases our carbon storage potential by helping to ensure that it is affordable for forest owners to continue sustainably managing their forestland.

Conclusion

In conclusion, wood is a versatile and widely used building material with various types and properties. From hardwoods to softwoods, each type of wood has unique features that make it suitable for different applications. Hardwoods, such as oak and teak, are known for their strength, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. They are commonly used for furniture, flooring, and decorative purposes.

Softwoods, such as pine and cedar, are lighter and more easily workable than hardwoods. They are commonly used for construction, packaging, and paper production.

Overall, wood remains a popular choice for building and construction due to its natural beauty, versatility, and eco-friendliness. With proper care and maintenance, wood can last for many years and provide a sustainable and attractive building material.

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