Softwood
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Softwood
Softwood makes up 80% of the world's production of timber. The name softwood is misleading - many varieties of softwood (longleaf pine, Douglas fir and yew, for example) are harder than many wood that is identified as hardwood.
Softwoods are the primary woods used in home building in the US. Businesses involved in furniture making as well as construction and cabinetry use many varieties of softwood. Some common varieties include:
- Pine
- Cedar
- Redwood
- Fir
- Hemlock
- Spruce
There are many advantages to using softwood in your company's next building project. The timber from softwood can be converted to a wide range of timber products. It is readily available, easy to work with, and can be readily sawn (due to its lower density). It can be easily stained or, if treated with preservatives, provide long-lasting durability when exposed to the elements.
Since trees are inherently "green", building with wood is eco-friendly and sustainable. When looking for softwood, Business.com is a great resource for locating the best wood for a business' building project.
From timbers to cabinets to landscape mulch, pulp for paper and more, softwoods provide businesses with a quality product at a competitive price.
Softwood Key Terms
Get to know the family of trees known as the softwoodsBy M. Krasniak, Freelance Writer/Editor You probably already know that there are many different types of evergreen trees out there. But did you know that many of these evergreen trees, which are also know as coniferous trees, are in a grouping of pine cone- and needle-bearing trees called softwoods? These types of trees are mainly found in the Northern hemisphere because they like cooler, moist weather. Knowing some softwood key terms will give you a better understanding of this family of trees.
Softwood
Softwood, also known as larkwood or Madmanwood, is the umbrella term for cone or needle-bearing trees such as pine trees. Despite their name, some softwoods are harder than trees in the hardwood family. This type of tree is native to the Northern hemisphere as it fares well in cold weather conditions.
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MamasHealth.com has helpful information on softwood trees, including their uses and the different species.
Coniferous
Pine cones originate from coniferous trees, as the name suggests. These trees are hearty evergreen trees and fall under the softwood category.
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Check out the map showing the locations of coniferous forests at the World Wildlife Fund.
Spruce
A spruce is a rapidly growing softwood tree that is one of the tallest evergreens. Its needles are shorter than other pines, and its pine cones grow in bunches at the end of the branches, unlike some other softwoods.
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2020site.org has plenty of information about the history, origin and biology of spruce trees, including illustrations.
Cedar
When you hear the word "cedar" you may think of the scent that is common in many households. Cedar trees are softwood trees that have four-angled leaves and bright red bark used in cabinets and other carpentry projects. They reach up to 100 feet in height and have branches that split out from the main trunk unlike other conifers, which have a main trunk only.
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Trees-Online.com has information about the cedar tree, as well as links to detailed descriptions of different varieties.
Hemlock
The hemlock is a medium-sized softwood that typically reaches heights of about 70 feet. You can find hemlocks in eastern North America, mainly cooler, wet climates. They bear small clusters of cones that are about 1/2 to 1 inch in length.
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Read up on hemlocks at the University of Connecticut Plant Database.
Redwoods
Some of the most majestic softwood trees out there are the redwoods. These conifers can grow upwards of around 400 feet and live to be hundreds of years old. Redwoods are native only to the coastal areas of California because of the unique environmental conditions.
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The National Park Service has more information on what makes this tree so special.
