Different types of wood have been used since the early

Paleolithic for building construction, carpentry and crafts, and

making tools, weapons and furniture. From time immemorial,
the use of wood has depended on quality, cost and availability.

Timber/wood is a hard fibrous material that forms the trunk

and branches of trees or shrubs. The wood used in construction
has many structural and non-structural applications. Since
wood is a generic term, it is important to understand its use in
construction.

Wood is second only to stone in terms of its use in the

construction world. This is a widely preferred material when
building houses, shelters and boats. The chemical properties of
wood are inherently complex, but despite this challenge we
have successfully used its unique properties to create a wide
variety of composite structures. Let’s understand why wood is
gaining such popularity in the construction and home
decoration segment.

ADVANTAGES OF USING WOOD IN

CONSTRUCTION
 It is a natural material which widely available in large
quantities, and it is easy to work with, and comes in many
 varieties. Each type of wood can be used for specific
purposes.
 It is lightweight and sturdy, plus it comes in a variety of
patterns and looks natural.
 The material has been used since ancient times. Therefore,
skilled workers with sufficient knowledge about different
types of trees are easily available all over the world.
 Wood retains its thermal properties. Thus, it is highly
resistant to high temperatures.
 The thermal conductivity of wood is low compared to
materials such as aluminum, marble, steel or glass.
 It absorbs sound and echo and becomes a favorite material
for creating offices and residential structures.
 Wood is the worst conductor of electric waves. Therefore, it
is perfect for isolating a living or work space.
 Wooden houses are cheaper to build and expand, and
benefit from lower running and maintenance costs in the
long run. However, this depends on the availability of wood
in the area.
 Wood panels are especially popular for roofs, cover
irregularities, reduce maintenance and make installation of
lighting and ventilation systems easier.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WOOD AND

THEIR USES
Wood can be broadly distinguished as softwood and
hardwood. Density is the main factor determining the strength
of a wood/timber. Hardwoods are stronger and more durable
because they are denser than softwoods.
In this article, you can Learn about the different types of
wood used in furniture and construction.

TYPES OF WOOD
SOFT WOOD HARD WOOD

• Pine Wood • Teak Wood

• Cedar Wood • Rose Wood

• Fir Wood • Maple Wood

• Spruce Wood • Mango Wood

• Hemlock Wood • Oak Wood

• Ash Wood

• Beach Wood

• Walnut Wood

• Cherry Wood

• Mahogany Wood

Different types of wood available in nature have different

properties, color, texture and strength. As a houseowner, it is
important to know the different types of wood for building and
construction and their uses.

THE BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO

ARE AS FOLLOWS:

SOFTWOOD
Fast-growing
Evergreen – usually from the
conifer, fir, and spruce family
Needles instead of leaves
Seeds are either uncovered
or in a cone
Less expensive
HARDWOOD
Slow-growing
Broad-leaved flowering
species
Deciduous varieties
Seeds are produced inside a
shell (like a fruit or nut)
Dense grain
Generally more expensive

Usually lighter in colour Mostly darker in colour

High in sap content
Loose grain
Light in weight and density
Very poor resistance to fire
Low in sap content
Close grain
Good resistance to fire
Heavy in weight and density
Good resistance to fire

Wood Types Cost Chart

(A) SOFTWOOD
Softwood comes from conifers. These trees are also known as
evergreen trees because the leaves do not fall until new ones
sprout. Softwood generally grows in areas with a cold climate.
Conifers grow fast; therefore, they are cheaper than hardwood.
They are more durable because they can be easily grown. There
are different types of softwood as mentioned below:

1. Pine Wood
Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow, light weight, straight grain
tree. It resists shrinkage, warping and swelling. it is very easy to
design. Pine decomposes easily in contact with the groundsoil.

Pine Wood Grown In: Northern Hemisphere. North America

In India, it is found in the Western Himalayas, Assam and
Nagpur.

Pine Wood Uses: It's low-cost, and it takes paint well, so it's
great for kids' furniture
2. Cedar Wood
Cedarwood is a knotted soft wood that has a reddish-brown
color with light streaks. Cedar is delicate compared to other
softwoods. The wood structure is uniform and resistant to
decay and pests. They are fragrant.
Cedar Wood Grown In: East and West coasts of the US. In
India, it is found in Kashmir and Assam.
Cedar Wood Uses: Simple cases and storage closets are also
built from this wood. It is also one of the most popular woods
used for lining drawers, and cabinets.
3. Firwood
Fir is a straight grain and has a reddish-brown color. It is
uniform in structure and non-adhesive and has poor resistance
to corrosion. Fir is harder compared to other softwoods. It has
good stain proof; Therefore, it is usually used in its original form
or on a painted surface.

Firwood Grown In: North Africa, Europe, North and Central

America and Asia. In India, it is found in Himachal Pradesh.

Firwood Uses: for doors, furniture, frames, plywood,

windows, veneer, and interior trim.
4. Spruce Wood
The spruce tree is strong and tough. It finishes well and
resistance to decay is low. It is moderately compact and weight
is light

Spruce Wood Grown In: Europe, Asia, America, Canada.

Alaska, and In India, it is found in Western Sikkim and Himalaya.

Spruce Wood uses decorative plywood, ladder, decorative

veneer, domestic flooring, factory flooring, general carpentry,
interior construction, joinery (external).
5. Hemlock Wood
Hemlock wood is light in weight and low in strength. It has low
resistance to decompse and is non-adhesive.

Hemlock Wood Grown In: United States, Canada, Alaska,

England, and Eastern Asia.

Hemlock Wood Uses: General construction, roof decking

and plywood, as well as for laminating stock and the production
of glue-laminated and solid beams.
 HARDWOOD

Hardwood is wood made of dicot trees. These are commonly

found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. They are
mostly deciduous in temperate and boreal latitudes, but mostly
green in tropical and subtropical regions. Hard wood contrasts
with soft wood.

1. Teakwood
It is one of the most popular types of hardwood. It varies in
color from yellow to dark brown and is very heavy, strong,
durable, resistant to weathering, warping and does not
decompse . Often heavily figured, teak can have a straight grain
shape. The natural oils of teak make them soluble and resistant
to pests. Teak does not burn easily. It is very expensive
compared to other types of wood.

Teakwood Grown In: India, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

Teakwood Uses: The wood is used for boat building, exterior
construction, veneer, furniture, carving, turnings, and other
small wood projects.
2. Rosewood
Rosewood is very hard and dark reddish-brown in color. It has a
unique aroma. It is difficult to work with and requires a lot of
polishing.

Rosewood Grown In: Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and

India

Rosewood uses: Rosewood is used in musical instruments,

piano cases, tool handles, art projects, decorative veneers, and
furniture.
3. Oak Wood
Oakwood is one of the most widely used types of hardwoods.
Oak can be divided into two basic types: white and red. The red
type is also called as black oak It has a very unique grain and
finish. Oak is a heavy, strong, light-colored hardwood.It has
good resistance to fungus, moisture, and yeast. it has good
workability

Oakwood Grown In: America, Asia, North Africa, Europe and

North-eastern parts of India

Oakwood Uses: homewares, flooring, wine barrels and

firewood.
4. Maple Wood
Maple wood has excellent texture with excellent strength. It is
very hard and resists shocks, which are often used to create
paths. Maple is crack resistant and very durable and easy to
clean.

Maple Wood Grown in: Asia, North America, North Africa,

Europe, and Canada. In India, you can find maple trees in Ooty
and other hilly regions.

Maple Wood uses: high-end furniture, flooring, cabinetry,

and kitchen
5. Ash Wood
Ash is a hard, heavy, ring-bearing wood. Ash is well known for
its elasticity and strength. It has a large grain that resembles
oak and is white to light brown in color. Easy to work with
screws, nails and glue. This gives an attractive finish. Ash is
generally less in demand than other hardwoods; Therefore, it is
cheaper than other types of wood.

Ash Wood Grown in: United States and northward into

parts of Canada, Hyderabad, India.

Ash Wood Uses: Making guitars, drum shells, frames, sports

equipment, ladders, and baseball bats.
6. Mango Wood
The mango wood is dense and strong hard, which comes with
an attractive grain shape. Its grain is unique in that it
encompasses many tones and colors ranging from light shades
such as dark brown to pale pink or green notes. It is lighter and
more water resistant than other wood types.

Mango Wood Grown in: India, Southeast Asia, Mexico,

Brazil and even Australia

Mango Wood uses: living room and bedroom furniture,

nesting tables, kitchen cabinets, entertainment units and
bookshelves.
7. Mahogany Wood
Mahogany is straight, fine, and grainy, and it is free from voids
and pockets. Its reddish-brown color darkens over time and
shows a reddish sheen when polished. It has excellent
workmanship and is very durable. Historically, the perimeter of
the tree allowed for wide boards from traditional mahogany
species.

Mahogany Wood Grown: South Florida as well as the

Bahamas and the Caribbean

Mahogany Wood uses: It is commonly used in fashion

cabinets, built-in tables, dining table sets and other types of
interior furniture. Mahogany is also used in boat building,
window frames, sills and veneers.
8. Beech Wood
Beechwood is a hard, strong and heavy wood with small holes.
It is light pink in color and relatively low cost. beech is tough
and dimensionally unstable. It is very easy to work with as it is
very resistant to splitting. Beech has a short life for durable
outdoor use.

Beech Wood Grown in: Europe, Asia, and North America.

Beech Wood
uses: flooring,
furniture, veneer
plywood, and railroad
ties
9. Cherry Wood
The cherrywood is also refer as fruitwood. It is reddish-brown to
light in color, hard, strong, warp-resistant, and covered with
grain wood. It resists checking and warping Easy to polish and
mold.

Cherry Wood Grown in: hilly regions of Kashmir, Uttar

Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh in india.

Cherry Wood Uses: Toys, Caskets, Paneling, Furniture And

Flooring
10. Walnut Wood
Because of the unique color and grain characteristics, Walnut
wood is more expensive than other types of hardwood because
it is rare (relatively). Walnut wood accounts for only 1% of U.S.
hardwood growing stocks due to ever-increasing demand.

Walnut Wood Grown In: Europe, America, and Asia. In

India, it is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and
Himachal Pradesh.

Walnut Wood Uses: coffee tables, Dining table sets, veneer,

gun stocks, musical instruments, and decoration.
WOOD TYPES COST CHART