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Types of Hardwood & How to Utilize Them in Your Project

types of hardwood

September 13, 2024

When it comes to selecting materials for your construction projects, hardwood stands out as a top choice due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and versatility. Royale Touche Plywood offers an array of hardwood options, each with unique characteristics suitable for various applications. In this blog, we'll explore different types of hardwood and provide insights on how to best utilize them in your projects.

1. Oak

Characteristics:

  • Durability: Highly resistant to wear and tear.
  • Appearance: Prominent grain patterns and a warm, golden hue.
  • Workability: Easy to work with and finishes well.

Applications:

  • Flooring: Oak's durability makes it ideal for high-traffic areas.
  • Furniture: Its aesthetic appeal and strength make it perfect for creating long-lasting furniture pieces.
  • Cabinetry: Oak's workability ensures smooth and precise finishes for cabinets.

Utilization Tips:

  • Staining: Oak takes stains well, allowing for a variety of finishes to match any design scheme.
  • Protection: Use sealants to protect oak from moisture and maintain its appearance.

2. Maple

Characteristics:

  • Durability: Dense and hard, providing excellent resistance to impact.
  • Appearance: Light color with a smooth, uniform grain.
  • Workability: Slightly more challenging to work with due to its density.

Applications

  • Countertops: Maple's hardness and resistance to scratches make it suitable for kitchen countertops.
  • Flooring: Its light color can brighten up spaces and its durability withstands heavy foot traffic.
  • Musical Instruments: The wood's density and tonal qualities make it popular for instruments like violins and guitars.

Utilization Tips:

  • Pre-drilling: Due to its hardness, pre-drill holes to prevent splitting when nailing or screwing.
  • Finish Selection: Choose a finish that enhances maple's natural color and protects against wear.

3. Walnut

Characteristics

  • Durability: Moderately hard and shock-resistant.
  • Appearance: Rich, dark color with a straight grain.
  • Workability: Easy to carve and shape, making it suitable for detailed work.

Applications

  • Furniture: Walnut's rich color and workability make it perfect for high-end furniture.
  • Cabinetry: Its luxurious appearance enhances kitchen and bathroom cabinetry.
  • Decorative Items: Ideal for small, intricate items such as bowls and cutting boards.

Utilization Tips:

  • Polishing: Regular polishing helps maintain walnut's natural sheen.
  • Matching: Ensure consistency in color by selecting walnut from the same batch for larger projects.

4. Cherry

Characteristics:

  • Durability: Hard and strong, with excellent workability.
  • Appearance: Reddish-brown color that darkens with age.
  • Workability: Easy to work with, smooth finishes.

Applications

  • Cabinetry: Cherry's rich color and smooth finish make it a favorite for custom cabinetry.
  • Furniture: Its aging process adds character, making it ideal for heirloom pieces.
  • Millwork: Suitable for detailed interior trim and moldings.

Utilization Tips:

  • Aging: Allow cherry to age naturally for a deep, rich color.
  • Finishing: Use a clear finish to highlight cherry's natural beauty.

5. Mahogany

Characteristics:

  • Durability: Highly durable and resistant to decay.
  • Appearance: Deep, reddish-brown color with a straight, fine grain.
  • Workability: Easy to cut, carve, and polish.

Applications:

  • Boats and Outdoor Furniture: Its resistance to water and decay makes it suitable for marine applications and outdoor use.
  • High-End Furniture: Mahogany's luxurious appearance is perfect for statement furniture pieces.
  • Musical Instruments: Used for guitars and pianos due to its tonal qualities.

Utilization Tips:

  • Protection: Apply a marine-grade finish for outdoor use to protect against the elements.
  • Maintenance: Regular maintenance and polishing can keep mahogany looking its best.

6. Birch

Characteristics

  • Durability: Hard and strong, with good resistance to wear.
  • Appearance: Light color with a fine, even grain.
  • Workability: Easy to work with and sands to a smooth finish.

Applications:

  • Plywood: Commonly used in plywood due to its strength and smooth surface.
  • Furniture: Ideal for modern furniture with its clean, light appearance.
  • Cabinetry: Suitable for both painted and natural finishes.

Utilization Tips:

  • Finishing: Birch takes paint and stains well, offering flexibility in design.
  • Edge Sealing: Seal the edges of birch plywood to prevent moisture absorption.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hardwood for your project involves understanding the unique properties and best uses of each type. At Royale Touche Plywood, we offer a wide selection of high-quality hardwoods to meet your construction and design needs. Whether you're looking to create durable flooring, elegant furniture, or functional cabinetry, our hardwood options provide the perfect blend of beauty and strength. By considering the characteristics and applications of each type, you can make informed decisions that will enhance the longevity and aesthetic appeal of your projects.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q : What is plywood used for?

A : Plywood is an extremely versatile building material, and it can be used in a variety of applications, based on a variety of factors such as reinforcement and decorative surfaces. Due to its strength and cost, it is often used in interior and exterior building applications, from things like wooden furniture to interior cladding.

Q : What if the plywood gets wet?

A : Most BWP plywood boards will resist the harmful effects of raw water, and stronger woods are better equipped to manage prolonged water damage and film-coated plywood is an example. Like most timber, even if it is waterproof plywood, prolonged exposure to moisture will start to wear and damage the wood. Untreated pieces will also not hold for long, and warping and rotting will start much faster over time.

Q : Can plywood be bent?

A : Although plywood sheet can be bent, it should be specialized, as most other plywood will crumble and break if they are bent. The best plywood available for flexing should have grain close together so that the surface does not separate during bending. Near-vein hardwood surfaces are ideal, including plywood made from eucalyptus

Q : Can the plywood be sanded and polished?

A : Plywood can be sanded and polished. However, like any other wood, it is important to use the right equipment to ensure that the finish appears as desired. Individuals should start with 80-grit sandpaper to flatten the base surface before moving on to finer grinding for a smoother and more vivid polish on the wood.

Q : How thick is the plywood?

A : The thickness of the plywood varies depending on what pieces are being used. If plywood is being used as a support, it needs to be thicker and stiffer than if it were being used as veneer. Conventional plywood thickness can vary up to 6 mm to 19 mm as much as a quarter of an inch. Specialized plywood grades can come in more varieties when it comes to their thickness.