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Download a PDF for design values for selected species.
Dimension LumberTo view additional
information on these
values, click here.
Hardwoods are the botanical group of trees that have broad leaves, produce a fruit or nut, and generally go dormant in the winter.
America's temperate climates produce forests with hundreds of hardwood species -- trees that share certain biological characteristics. Although oak, maple and cherry all are types of hardwood trees, for example, they are different species. Together, all the hardwood species represent 40 percent of the trees in the United States.
On the other hand, softwoods, or conifers, from the Latin word meaning "cone-bearing," have needles. Widely available US softwoods include cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, spruce and cypress. In a home, the softwoods are used primarily as structural lumber such as 2x4s and 2x6s, with some limited decorative applications.
Any of the commercially available hardwoods listed here can be used for cabinets, furniture, mouldings and other millwork -- it's simply a question of taste, preference and availability. Certain hardwood species are not recommended for flooring because their physical properties don't lend themselves to withstanding heavy wear and tear.