Difference Between Soft Woods and Hard Woods

Soft Woods and Hard Woods differ in terms of their origin, their texture, density, and strength. These differences make them opt for specific purposes in the field of construction. Mostly softwood is used for windows or less dense furniture elements. When it comes to high-quality construction, like decks and beams, hardwoods are employed. The basic differences between softwood and hardwood in the field of construction and civil engineering are briefly explained below.

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Sl.No	Description	Soft Woods	Hard Woods
1	Annual Rings	Distinct	Indistinct
2	Medullary Rays	Indistinct	Distinct
3	Weight	Light	Heavy
4	Colour	Light	Dark
5	Origin-Tress	Coniferous Trees	Deciduous Trees
6	Structure	Resinous & Splits Easily	Non resinous and Close grained
7	Strength	Strong during the direct pull and weak resistance to thrust and shear	structure with equal strength throughout
8	Fire Resistance	Poor	More
9	Cost	Less expensive compared with hardwood	Expensive
10	Growth Rate	Faster Growth Rate	Slower Growth Rate
11	Examples	Pine, redwood, spruce, and yew	Mahagony, oak, teak

Also Read: Structure of a Tree - Timber Construction