Know Your Wood Types – A Guide For Choosing The Best kind Of Wood

From ancient times to modern days, wood has always been an integral part of our lives. When it comes to home interiors, wood is probably the most classic and authentic choice. It not just provides the interiors with an elegant and aesthetic look but is also eco-friendly. With its incredible insulation capabilities, wood stands out to be a perfect interior or decor

material to keep your place cool and healthy. But do you know what kind of wood is used at your place? Often, people end up buying the wrong kind of wooden interiors or paying hefty amounts for them due to the lack of knowledge for the same. So, how can one choose the right wood for their woodwork and reduce the chances of being swindled? To pull you all out of this dilemma, we have prepared a detailed guide to make it easier for you to choose the right type of wood for your woodwork or wooden furniture:

Types Of Woods

Woods are majorly divided into two wide categories – Solid wood and Engineered wood. One can easily find both kinds of wood and wooden furniture or products through Creative Ally at the best prices without going through any hustle-bustle. Let’s dive in to know more about their features, uses, and process of manufacturing in detail.

Solid Wood

As the name suggests, solid wood, also known as natural wood, is obtained by directly cutting down fully-grown trees and carved into desired shapes and designs. It is mainly categorized into two varieties i.e., Hardwood, which includes oak, maple, teak, and rosewood; and softwood, such as pine, rubberwood, and white cedar. Unlike engineered wood, which is manufactured using wood composites and stuck together using adhesive and compression, solid wood is lumber directly extracted through matured trees.

Features

• It does not have any hollow spaces or vacuums within them.
• Solid woods are very durable.
• These are easier to repair in comparison to veneers.
• Solid woods have remarkable strength and can last longer than engineered wooden products.
• Solid woods are much more eco-friendly than engineered woods as engineered woods require a great amount of energy during the manufacturing process and also contain toxic contents such as formaldehyde, which is mostly used as a part of adhesive compounds during manufacturing.
• These are a bit expensive but possess commendable luxurious elegance, which makes them worth spending money on.
• Solid wooden furniture and products are available in extensive designs, shapes, and colors nowadays, making it an incredible option for decor.

Uses

• In Surface materials for floorings and ceilings.
• Wardrobes and cupboards
• Wooden furniture such as chairs, tables, e.t.c.
• Door, partitions, frames, and windows.

Engineered Wood

Many people prefer engineered wood over solid one as it became difficult to source solid wooden furniture due to the depletion of forests, resulting in the hike in prices of natural wood. Engineered wood is not just affordable but also more moisture-resistant and sustainable. However, some chemicals used in gluing can be harmful and toxic. Engineered wood is mainly characterized in the following types:

1. Plywood

Plywood is manufactured with thin layers of wood veneer. These wood veneers are glued together in a cross-laminated structure with their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to each other. Plywoods are mostly pressed into large flat sheets or into curved shapes that are used for interiors or construction purposes. It can be made from softwood, hardwood, or a combination of both.

Features

• Plywoods are very flexible and easily bendable.
• These require less maintenance compared to other woods.
• It has remarkable strength due to the thin sheets of wood glued together. ● Along with strength, its durability is quite remarkable too.
• It is cheaper compared to the products of similar strength.

Uses

• Used in custom furniture
• In the floor, ceilings, roof, and panels.
• Kitchen cabinets, doors, and windows

2. MDF

MDF is an acronym for Medium-density Fibreboard and is a fragmented blend of hardwood and softwood residue. It is manufactured by breaking down the hardwood and softwood residuals into wood fiber and sticking them together using glue and compressing under heat to form boards or panels.

Features

• It is much denser than plywood.
• MDF has less strength and can split easily.
• These are generally consistent in size and strength.
• They are quite durable and can last up to 10-15 years.

Uses

• Home decors
• Partitions and shelves
• Showpiece surfaces and cabinets
• It is made from particles but can be used as a building material.

3. Particle Board

Just like MDF, particle boards are made using waste-wooden products that are heat-pressed together to form panels. Wood chips, sawdust, and even resins are mixed with chemicals to make the end product fire and waterproof. After mixing the wood scraps, resins, and

chemicals, the liquid mixture is turned into sheets that are heat-pressed to create a strong linkage or bond between the particles.

Features

• These don’t require much maintenance.
• These are very inexpensive but are also not so eco-friendly compared to other wooden products.
• Particleboards are very light weighted and are perfect for readymade furniture.
• Particleboards are the weakest form of engineered wood and are less durable.

Uses

• Lightweight wooden furniture
• Home decor
• Partitions and thin slabs

4. HDF

HDF is quite similar to particle board and is manufactured by compressing wood fiber extracted from chips and pulped wood waste, but it is much stronger and denser.

Feature

• HDF does not have any grains, which helps it achieve a very smooth finishing after painting.
• Stronger in comparison to particleboard and MDF.
• It is resistant to water and heat, which prevents it from cracking in moisture or high temperature.
• It is quite durable and can be used for several years.

Uses

• Partitions and panels
• Flooring and walls
• Indoor and outdoor furniture

5. WPC

WPC, an acronym for WoodPlastic Composite, as its name suggests is a perfect blend of wood and plastic fibers. It is manufactured by combining the plastic powder with sawdust, peanut hull, pulps, bamboo, and unused woodworking materials, like bark. The best part about WPC is that it is made of completely recycled materials, and it can again be recycled to form a new WPC.

Features

• WPC is water or moisture-resistant.
• It requires less maintenance and is durable.
• Nails and screws can get a better hold in WPC and can be easily fitted. ● It is eco-friendly and sustainable, which makes it cost-effective.
• It is very flexible and is available in extensive shapes and sizes as it is formed from a paste at the start.

Uses

• Fencing and panels
• Wall paneling, ceiling, and floorings
• Wardrobes and cabinets
• Wooden furniture

6. Plyboards

Similar to plywood, Ply Boards are made of wooden veneer and wooden strips. Thin wooden veneers are included in their top, bottom, and sides, while wooden strips are used in the core of the plyboards. Several wood strips and veneers are glued and pressed together to make boards.

Features

• Plyboards are lighter in weight in comparison to plywood.
• These are known to hold dampness and are not water-resistant.
• Plyboards are much stiffer than plywoods and are not likely to sag.
• Cutting ply boards can be a tedious process as they can split due to their stiffness while cutting.
• These are resistant to cracking and warping.

Uses

• Cabinets and panels.
• Wooden indoor and outdoor furniture
• Bookshelves and tables
• Wall panels

7. Block Board

Block Boards are manufactured by sandwiching wooden veneers and softwood strips and gluing them together.

Features

• Block boards are less strong than plywood but much stronger than other fiberboards. ● These are resistant to cracking and do not damp in moisture.
• These are stiffer than plywoods and do not bend easily.
• It does not split while cutting and can be worked on easily.
• Block Boards are more expensive than HDF but cheaper than plywood. Uses
• Doors, windows, and frames.
• Wall panels and partitions.
• Outdoor and indoor furniture
• Bookshelves and cabinets

Now that you know your wood types and their uses, you can easily compare and choose the most suitable one for your woodwork or wooden furniture. Wood has always been a crucial part of interiors and decor, so it is essential to choose the perfect wood for your wooden work. Though the whole process of procurement and choosing the right kind of product at affordable prices can be daunting and requires a lot of effort, time, and cost. To escape this hustle-bustle, you can procure wooden products from Creative Ally.