What are hardwoods?
What are hardwoods?
Hardwood refers to hardwood. So it comes from deciduous trees and is usually denser, heavier and more durable than soft woods. Hardness varies greatly within deciduous trees, which is why the Janka scale was devised.
The Janka hardness scale is a measure of the hardness of wood. It measures how much force is needed to press a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 mm (0.444 inches) halfway into a piece of wood. The result is expressed in pounds-force (lbf) or Newton (N).
Advantages of hard woods:
- Durability: more resistant to wear, dents, scratches and weathering
- Strength: Hard woods have a higher load-bearing capacity, making them suitable for construction work and furniture that needs to bear a lot of weight.
- Aesthetics: Many hard woods have an attractive grain and colour, making them popular for high-quality finishes and decorative woodwork.
Disadvantages of Hardwoods:
- More difficult to work: Due to their density and hardness, these types of wood are sometimes more difficult to saw, sand and drill than soft woods.
- Cost: They are generally more expensive than soft woods because of their availability.
- Weight: Hard woods are heavier, which can make handling and transport more difficult and costly.