Hardwood timber comes from angiosperm trees – seed-producing trees that grow flowers, seeds and fruits. In temperate latitudes these are mostly deciduous trees and evergreens in the tropics and sub-tropics. Hardwoods are the most common and diverse type of trees.
The term hardwood does not necessarily refer to the hardness of the wood. The hardest woods are from this group but they also contain, at the other extreme, the softest type of wood which is balsa.
Where are hardwoods from?
The majority of hardwood decking comes from trees that grow in the tropical rainforests. These trees generally have a slow growth rate and hence it costs more to produce the wood than with faster growing softwood trees.
Oak Timber
Uses
Hardwoods are in common use for building materials. The structure is more complex than softwoods, and the wood often has pores, or vessels, that mark the wood. These vessels make solid hardwood joinery more difficult, and therefore expensive, than the softwood equivalent.
Common Hardwood Trees
One of the most common hardwoods is Oak, a native tree of the northern hemisphere with about 600 species. People often see oak wood as exclusive and desirable but it can be expensive. It can make great looking decking that really suits older properties.
Other common hardwood species include cherry, teak, mahogany, ebony and lauan. Luaun often sells as Philippine mahogany and is a hardwood with very favourable properties which make it suitable for decking. It is not as good as mahogany, but is the most commonly traded tropical hardwood.
Teak and mahogany were very popular in the past, but over-farming caused them becoming endangered in nature. Some plantations, mainly in Asia, grow these trees for commercial purposes so the population can recover in the wild.
Environmental Concerns
Hardwood decking often comes from rainforest areas and until recently the supply of hardwood led to environmental concerns. Now, the hardwood timber that people use for decking comes from responsible tree farmers and re-planted to ensure that there will be another crop. Legislation prevents the import of hardwoods that are not sustainably farmed, but due to the financial situation of many foresters try to circumvent these laws.
Hardwood timber can make great decking, but the price and properties of the wood can make it appear a less attractive option than the softwoods. One of the most common uses of hardwood timber for decking is for commercial applications where the hard wearing properties make it suitable for area of heavy use.