A Quick Guide to Timber

A Quick Guide To Timber All timber is split in to 2 categories, hardwood, and softwood A common misconception is that hardwood is hard, and softwood is soft, this isn't the case, these categories are determined by the sort of tree they come from Hardwood - Comes from coniferous (evergreen) - Comes from deciduous trees Examples Examples Name: Ash Name: Pine Grows: All over, especially Northern America Properties: Hard, heavy, light brown Uses: Structural frames, ladders furniture Grows: All over the Northern Hemisphere Properties: Soft, white/ pale Uses: Furniture Name: Cedar Grows: The America's Properties: Knotty, reddish brown, light Uses: Furniture Name: Beech Grows: Europe, Asia, Northern America Properties: Hard, tough, pinkish brown Uses: Tool handles, furniture Name: Spruce Grows: Northern America Name: Mahogany Grows: Many tropical/ subtropical forrests Properties: strong, durable, reddish brown Uses: High quality furniture Properties: Strong. Hard, Light Uses: Masts on ships, crates, ladders Name: Oak Grows: All over the world Properties: Heavy, strong, light brown Uses: Interior woodwork, furniture Other hardwoods include Aspen, Balsa, Birch, Cherry, Elm. Hazel, Basswood, Maple, Teak and Walnut Combustion causes carbon dioxide Forest's absorb this - creating a carbon sink. Produces oxygen The Benefits of Using Timber- The Carbon Cycle of Wood Building Products Energy recoverd from waste timber by substituting for fossil fuels Mature trees harvested, sawdust can be used for energy, chips for panels and paper pulp A AA Timber products recycled Timber is used for building