Hardwood vs: what are the pros and cons of each

Most people still don’t know the difference between hardwood and softwood. This article tells you how hardwood and softwood differ and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the two. 

First things first; what is hardwood? Hardwood comes from deciduous trees that lose their leaves annually. Hardwood tends to be slower growing than softwood. It is wood from dicot trees and other hardwood species such as oak, maple, and cherry. These are usually found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests.

Softwood, on the other hand, is Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers, as well as Amborella. It is not necessarily made from a softer material. Construction projects make use of both hardwood and softwood. Common softwood found in America includes Cedar, Fir, Hemlock, and Pine. 

What are some of the pros and cons of hardwood and softwood? Well, there are many advantages to using either hardwood or softwood, and these are some of them: 

Pros of Softwood

• Softwood is easier to handle and can be used across a broad range of construction projects,
• Softwood is sustainable, 
• Softwood trees grow faster compared to hardwood,
• Softwood trees are a renewable source,
• In general, softwood is cheaper than hardwood.

Cons of softwood

• Softwood is weaker and less durable than hardwood.
• Softwood is not suitable for high traffic areas. For instance, Denver Hardwood can not use it for floors. 

Pros of hardwood

• Hardwood is made from timber that is a higher density than softwoods, which gives it enhanced durability and strength. To illustrate let’s use this example, your floor needs a durable material that can absorb the impact of your daily life like the one anyone can purchase from a hardwood supplier. 
• Hardwood is flexible when green. 

• Hardwoods last longer than softwoods, 
• Hardwoods are suitable for a large range of applications including; construction, joinery, high-quality furniture, and flooring.

Cons of Hardwood

• Labor costs associated with installing a hardwood floor vary from state to state, sometimes even city to city. For instance, a homeowner might pay less for a certain type of hardwood floor, while another one pays more from another service provider.
• In addition to installation, scuffed and scratched floors will need to be refinished, which makes make hardwood quite expensive. 
• A hardwood floor installed by an inexperienced constructor can wear out sooner. 

Need a hardwood floor installed? Hire a Denver hardwood company to get the process started.