| No matter what the project, it is important to know | | | | to the soft end of the scale is the cherry at about |
| what kind of wood suits the project. It is important | | | | 950 pounds. The hardest woods are best used for |
| to know about the different woods and what they | | | | flooring. |
| are used for. There are several different kinds of | | | | When using hardwood it is important to note that it |
| woods and their purposes vary accordingly. Hard | | | | adjusts to its environment. This means that it does |
| wood lumber comes in many different strengths, | | | | contract and expand depending on the surrounding |
| colors, and grains. | | | | environment. Because it was once living, it is good to |
| Hardwood comes from trees that have broad leaves | | | | think that it continues to do so even after it is cut |
| or produce nuts. Some of the trees that fit into this | | | | down. The wood is dried in a kiln in order to minimize |
| category include: Oak, Maple, Walnut, hickory, and | | | | this adjustment. It is important to keep the wood in |
| cherry tree. These are the most common hard wood | | | | the same shape as when it was manufactured. |
| trees in North America, partially to do with the | | | | Manufacturers of hardwood lumber take into |
| climate. Hardwood is the correct name for the lumber | | | | consideration the changes in wood as well as the |
| produced from these species. However, not all | | | | purpose and design. Take Windsor plywood for |
| hardwood lumber is the same. To figure out what | | | | example is used most often as sub-flooring in addition |
| the characteristics, the industry has created a | | | | to wall bases. Rough cut lumbers that can be used |
| standardized code. The code is for the wood's | | | | for almost any job include: Dunn, Carter, Lowes, and |
| strength and grade. | | | | Siegel. To find hardwood, online stores will typically |
| Under this classification, the hickory and Pecan are | | | | supply it manufactured as a floor finishing product. |
| considered the strongest. The classification | | | | However, some research and consideration should |
| measurements are derived from how much pressure | | | | always occur before purchasing hardwood for any |
| is necessary in order to mar the wood. For the | | | | project. The measurement classification, color, and |
| hickory and Pecan the measurement is approximately | | | | purpose should all be taken into consideration. |
| 1,820 pounds of pressure. The softest of the wood | | | | Although, it is important to note that any hardwood |
| is the Aspen. Although it is considered a hardwood, | | | | can be stained or painted to better suit the |
| its measurement lies at a bout 350 pounds of | | | | décor and design of a house. The grain is |
| pressure. Somewhere in between the two extremes | | | | perhaps the more important characteristic to pay |
| is the hard maple which is 1,450 in addition to the | | | | attention to instead of color. |
| white oak which is about 1,360 pounds. A little closer | | | | |