Each type of tree has different characteristics in itself. The growing area and the growing period determine the textures, appearances, and structures of the trees. Some trees take longer to mature, while others take less time to grow. This key difference is the most essential factor in the give name trees: hardwood or softwood. In this week's article, we explained the characteristics, differences, and uses of hardwood or softwood.
Each type of tree has different characteristics in itself. The growing area and the growing period determine the textures, appearances, and structures of the trees. Some trees take longer to mature, while others take less time to grow. This key difference is the most essential factor in the give name trees: hardwood or softwood. In this week's article, we explained the characteristics, differences, and uses of hardwood or softwood.
Hardwoods
Hardwoods, as the name suggests, are dense. They take a longer time to grow and are usually annual deciduous tree species. Hardwoods are more resistant to external conditions as they take longer to grow. Compared to other parquets, this feature makes the hardwood parquets more resistant to impacts and abrasions that may occur during daily use. Because of its high strength, hardwood flooring can be preferred in heavy human traffic areas, such as corridors or living rooms.
Examples of hardwood species are oak, beech, ash, and black gum.
Softwoods
Since softwoods grow in a shorter time than hardwoods, they can obtain from nature in a shorter time and can be used in a wider area. Its usage areas include landscaping, interior and exterior coverings, furniture, parquet, and window joinery. It can process more easily because it is more flexible and lightweight.
Examples of softwood species include chestnut, white pine, spruce, and cedar.
Durability Differences
When it comes to parquet floors, the type, texture, and durability of the wood become more important. Hardwoods are denser than softwoods. Therefore, hardwoods are more resistant to wear and tear. However, this difference does not mean that you should only focus on hardwood species when choosing parquet.
Engineered parquets are multi-layer special surface coating materials. Many wooden plates are used in their manufacture. They are high-strength products as they are produced through heat and pressure processes.
Generally, there are high-strength plates on the top layer of the parquets, which are produced from three layers. Softwoods are preferred for the lower layers. Since engineered flooring parquets are produced with the lamination method by using hardwood and softwood together, products with superior strength emerge. In this way, engineered flooring parquets can easily use in many areas and can easily prefer.
Cost Difference
Another major difference between hardwood and softwood is cost. Hardwoods are valuable tree species that take longer to grow. Therefore, it becomes harder to find in the market and the manufactured products become more valuable.
AKM, Library Interior Image, Tabanlıoğlu Architects, © Gürkan Akay
Aesthetic Difference
Parquets are an important part of home decoration. The color and texture of the parquet are very important when choosing a parquet. For this reason, valuable wood species are used in the top layer of engineered parquet flooring. Special patterns are preferred for the wooden planks on the top layer. Engineered flooring parquets produced with high technology can be polished, painted, or aged on the surface. In this way, parquet can produce many different patterns from one tree species.
Parquets are surface coating materials produced from many different wood species and many different production methods. It is environmentally friendly and healthy as it is a 100% natural building material. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used during production. You can easily find the model that you are looking for from our wide product range that appeals to all tastes. You can review valuable data such as tree type, surface type, lock system, and thickness information from the tag on our page where we list our products.
