Hardwood Lumber

Softwood vs Hardwood Lumber

Lumber is divided into two main classifications: hardwood and softwood. Softwood lumber is sourced from conifer trees like spruce, fir, pine, and cedar. These woods do not hold up well against elements when untreated. They also tend to absorb moisture and can be quite challenging to dry. But, they are preferred for some constructions and home improvements because they are cheaper, beautifully colored, and readily available.

Hardwood lumber comes from deciduous trees. These trees are usually dense, heavy, durable, and differently colored. These types of woods are utilized for fine woodworking and construction. Deciduous trees take time to mature, making them hard to source. Other wood species are rather exotic and covered by state laws that regulate their logging for sustainability.

Depending on the type of wood, they may be available anywhere or only in specialty lumber stores.

Where Does Hardwood Lumber Come From?

Hardwood lumber is sourced from broadleaf or deciduous trees thriving in distinctive deciduous forests all over the world. It could be a temperate forest in North and South America, Asia, the Himalayas, and Europe. They are also proliferating in tropical and subtropical deciduous forests in many regions.

Most of the hardwood lumber producers are concentrated close to these forests. Thus, its market access is low, and its availability is unstable in some regions.

The common hardwood lumber species are oaks, teaks, maple, walnut, hickory, ash, box elder, cherry, and many more.

Hardwood Lumber Grades

Lumber grades are the generally accepted grading rules by the National Hardwood Lumber Association. Hardwood is sold in board feet and graded based on the size and number of pieces obtained if the board is cut. Buyers choose a grade depending on the type of woodworking project they are doing.

• FAS or “First and Seconds” is the highest grade that can provide clear and long cutting. It is best for high-end furniture, interior joinery, wood paneling, and custom moldings.
• FAS 1-Face (F1F) is a select piece about six inches or wider and ensures that the buyer has at least one FAS face.
• Select is a similar grade for 1-Face, used primarily in Northern America.
• No. 1 Common is the standard furniture grade that provides long, medium, or short cutting.
• No. 2A Common has medium to short cuttings ideal for cabinet and custom millwork.
• No. 2B Common is 2A with some noticeable defects and stains, best for a project that needs to be painted.
• No. 3A and 3B Common are low-grade lumber often combined. 3A is suitable for flooring and pallets, while 3B has sound cuttings instead of clear cuttings also for pallets and crates.

Properties of Hardwood Lumber

Lumber is timber processed into dimensional pieces during wood production. Most of the time, hardwood lumber is preferred for construction due to its sturdiness. A wide range of hardwoods is superior in strength to softwood, except for balsa. But generally, hardwood lumbers possess the following characteristics:

Pros:

• Strong and hard-wearing
• Durable and long-lasting when treated
• With varying distinctive grain for different project needs
• Superior density
• Darker color and with variations in heartwood and sapwood
• Fire resistance
• With wider dimensions

Cons:

• Slow growth rate
• Costly
• Limited availability
• Hard to work
• Needs refinishing

The price range of hardwood varies greatly and is expectedly higher than softwood lumber. If you know the right wood type for your project, you can expect uncompromised quality that is always worth the investment.

Where to Buy Hardwood Lumber

The types of quality hardwood lumber vary in every locality. Finding a specific hardwood species is not always guaranteed, as few lumber dealers stock up on them. However, you may check online specialty lumber stores like Alderfer Lumber Company Inc for availability.

The best thing about Alderfer is that we deliver in many areas for your convenience. We sell high-quality, legally-sourced, and sustainable lumber for flooring, decking, and other custom works. If you can’t find what you are looking for on our website, feel free to reach us through our email or phone number.

With the fast turnover of products, online updates may not be frequent. But, we ensure regular replenishment of quality hardwood lumber inventory, so you don’t have to look elsewhere but Alderfer.

Hardwood lumber is dense, heavy, and superior-quality wood sourced from broadleaf trees. In the timber industry, hardwoods are prized for their durability, density, and longevity. These woods come from slow-growing trees, which makes their surface compact and dense, with the ability to withstand elements. Hardwood lumber is widely used in floor and ceiling, posts and beams, wall planks, and furniture, among many other applications.