As a landowner with varying types of wood on your property, you may be curious to understand the differences between hardwood and softwood, and rightfully so. The growth rate, applications and cost of both types are distinct, and learning the differences can help you better price and utilize your wood.
This guide breaks down the distinctions between hardwood and softwood. It also highlights the value that sawmills place on both types.
Definition of Hardwood and Softwood
Hardwood is a type of wood derived from deciduous trees, characterized by broad leaves that shed annually. Hardwood trees grow slowly, contributing to their strength and density. This type of wood is renowned for its visual appeal, complex structure and resistance to wear and tear, which makes it durable. It is versatile and commonly used for flooring, furniture and indoor and outdoor construction projects. Some examples of trees that produce hardwood are mahogany, cherry, walnut and oak.
On the other hand, softwoods come from evergreen trees with needle-like leaves that remain on them throughout the year without shedding. Some common uses of softwood are construction and furniture making. Unlike hardwood trees, softwood trees grow faster, resulting in softer and less dense wood. Trees that produce softwood include pine, yew, spruce, cedar and redwood.
Differences Between Hardwood and Softwood
Softwood and hardwood have several distinct features, physical structures, botanical classifications and compositions that make each one unique from the other. Let’s break down each of these differences in depth.
Botanical Classification
Botanical classification is one of the core differences between hardwood and softwood. While hardwoods are classified as angiosperms, softwoods fall under the classification of gymnosperms. These botanical labels have several characteristics, including:
- Angiosperms: These are flowering plants that have seeds protected within their fruits or nuts, with an estimated 225,000 to 425,000 existing species. Their flowers serve as reproductive organs, and they can thrive in various environments. Hardwoods come from dicots, a type of angiosperm that typically loses its leaves seasonally in cold climates — in warmer conditions, dicots retain their leaves. Angiosperms use both tracheids and vessel elements for water transport, resulting in their wood being hard and dense.
- Gymnosperms: Softwoods originate from gymnosperms, a botanical classification comprising approximately 1,000 living species. Unlike angiosperms, plants in this classification are non-flowering and have their seeds arranged in cones rather than enclosed within a protective fruit. These plants contain only tracheids, which are interconnected cells used for water transport, making their wood light and soft. They also have needles, instead of broad leaves, which are typically evergreen and stay on the trees throughout the year.
Structural Characteristics
Physically and structurally, hardwood and softwood are different. Here is a breakdown of the attributes that make them distinct:
- Pores: While hardwoods have a richer composition with elaborate pores or vessels, softwoods are much simpler without visible pores.
- Grain: The pores in hardwoods create a more pronounced grain pattern — these patterns can be open or closed, straight, wavy, interlocked or irregular. Softwoods, on the other hand, have less prominent grain patterns.
- Density: Due to the slow-growing characteristics of hardwood trees, they are denser and heavier than softwoods, which grow faster. For instance, a white oak tree typically takes around 100 years to reach full maturity. As a result, its lumber is rot-resistant and strong. In contrast, some softwood trees mature within 20 to 40 years, resulting in less dense wood.
- Hardness: The denser structure of hardwood makes it harder and more durable than softwood.
Although the physical and structural attributes described above are typical of hardwoods and softwoods, there are a few exceptions. For instance, yew trees are a source of softwood but are denser compared to other softwoods. Similarly, balsa is a type of hardwood, but it is very soft.
Sustainability and Cost
Because of their fast growth rate, softwoods are generally more sustainable than hardwoods — provided they are sourced responsibly. They are also a more affordable and cost-effective option for homeowners, builders and contractors.
Hardwoods, on the other hand, take longer to grow and mature. For landowners who sell timber, hardwood trees often yield a higher per-tree value due to their high cost and market demand. Beiler’s Sawmill pays premiums for hardwood species such as white oak and walnut when available.
Use Cases
When it comes to use cases, each type of wood has specific applications in which it shines. The density, hardness and durability of hardwood make it more effective for high-quality furniture, flooring and boat building, among other high-end applications. Although softwood can be used for similar applications, it's more commonly used for constructing frames and decking, producing paper pulp and manufacturing windows.
Relative Market Value
In terms of size and value, the hardwood market is growing at a faster rate than the softwood market, with a projected value of $1.1 billion by 2030, driven by a 5.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The difference in market value is generally attributed to the demand for high-end, premium hardwood products. The economic value of hardwood makes it more profitable for landowners with hardwood trees on their properties.
How to Identify Hardwood vs. Softwood Lumber on Your Property
If you have several tree types on your property, but can’t tell the difference between them, the following tips will serve as pointers to identify hardwoods and softwoods accurately:
- Leaves: One of the physical properties you can use to distinguish between hardwood and softwood is their leaves. Hardwood trees have broad leaves, and depending on the time of the year, they may shed them. To identify softwood, look out for trees with needles that remain on them throughout the year.
- Seed type: Both wood types are typically identifiable by the exposure or otherwise of their seeds. Hardwood seeds are usually enclosed within their fruits or nuts. In contrast, softwood seeds are exposed and arranged in cones.
If you are unsure about the types and qualities of the trees you own, you can take a photo of leaves or wood and contact a local forester or sawmill.
Get Premium Value for Your Hardwood at Beiler’s Sawmill
Identifying and understanding the difference between hardwood and softwood is the first step in the process of getting the most value from the trees on your property. Both types of wood are valuable and have their places in the market.
At Beiler’s Sawmill, we understand the value of hardwood. Therefore, we pay premiums to landowners in Pennsylvania who sell us specific types, including walnut, white oak, red oak, poplar, ash, maple and cherry. We offer a stress-free timber buying process that makes getting the most value for your money easy. Contact us today to sell your hardwood.
