Is Hardwood Decking Better Than Softwood

Timber is often classified as being either softwood or hardwood.

Is hardwood decking better than softwood.

For a start redwood is also a softwood i suspect the cheaper of the 2 is a white wood this is not as naturally resiliant as redwood. Compared to softwood hardwood timber is more durable and high quality. Due to availability cost effectiveness and ease of installation around 90 of decks are made from softwood decking. Uses of hardwood vs softwood.

Apart from taking a longer time to be produced by nature hardwoods are more difficult to process than softwoods. The most commonly used softwood for decking is pine. In many cases hardwoods and softwoods are both used for many of the same purposes with more emphasis placed on the type of hardwood or softwood and how dense it is. Hardwood timber is easier to clean than softwood decking and has incredible strength.

Commonly used hardwoods for decking are. Patio or low level decking can be the perfect solution to hide unattractive areas or to simply raise an area to be level with a conservatory or to add a patio style area to your garden. It has a natural resistance to rot and decay. Softwood timber decking if you have a limited budget softwoods may be the right option for you.

Ipe teak iroko and cumaru. This is another reason why softwood decking is a lower cost option than hardwood decking. Softwood species come from fast growing trees which means that it is generally easier and quicker to produce than hardwood and is therefore cheaper. Hardwood decking comes in a range of colours and finishes which will suit both traditional and contempory settings.

It s not actually as simple as labelling one as being better than the other they are just different these terms don t actually describe the relative hardness of the wood but the type of tree from which the timber has been grown. Generally though softwoods are cheaper and easier to work with than hardwoods. Softwood garden decking and furniture is more susceptible to the elements than hardwood so needs more care and protection especially to end grain furniture feet table legs etc. In general softwood requires much more maintenance.

If it s new timber treat with wood preservative then a good quality decking oil or furniture oil. Comparing hardwood decking vs softwood decking leave a reply decking is an excellent way to add a more aesthetically pleasing look to your garden. I prefer a softwood decking i think that hardwood is not necessarily better than softwood and if you are new to building garden decks i agree with author that softwood is easier to work with as it is more pliable.