How to Choose the Right Timber for Your DIY Projects

timber woodwork

Finding the perfect timber for your DIY projects can be a bit tricky, especially if you’ve never done it before.

There are several different types of timber to be aware of, and to make the best decision for your project, and it’s always wise to speak with the experts at your local building merchants to decide which timber would be best for you.

Here, let’s run through the three main types of timber that you might encounter during a DIY project and talk about what each wood is good for.

Softwood timber

Softwood timbers are not necessarily any softer than different types of wood. Instead, the ‘soft’ part of their name actually refers to their seeds. Softwood comes from trees where the seeds are protected by cones.

Hardwood, which will come up later, has seeds that are typically within a protective casing such as a nut or a piece of fruit.

Softwood timber is typically open grain with a higher sap content than other types of wood. This means that they can be quite susceptible to rot and moisture damage. For this reason, softwood is most commonly used for indoor projects like furniture or general renovation work.

However, some types of softwood are more durable than others – softwood timbers like pine, larch, and spruce are more hardwearing than other types, meaning that they are commonly used for fencing.

Studwork timber

Studwork timber is a sub-type of softwood. Typically, studwork wood has the open grain that makes softwood best for indoor use while also being resilient and light in weight.

This means that it is ideal for structural work inside a home, such as a stud wall or structural framing.

Studwork timber can also be pressure treated, while other softwood cannot. If the wood has been pressure treated, it can be used for outside projects, as it will be more resistant to weather and water than before the treatment.

stud work

Hardwood timber

Finally, hardwood timber is the densest, strongest, and most resilient of these woods. It’s also typically more expensive because hardwood trees grow more slowly than softwood trees, generally speaking.

Hardwood is denser than softwood and has a very close grain. This means that it has good fire resistance properties and strength. Due to this overall durability, it’s often used in high-traffic areas, as it can be expected to maintain its shape, size, and color over many years.

Hardwood is also often used outdoors. In those situations, it can be treated with many different oils and stains – this will extend the life of the wood and protect it from the elements. Some common examples of hardwood are oak, ash, and maple.

Finding the right timber for your project can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. With a little research and a conversation with people experienced in the world of lumber and construction, you can easily track down the ideal materials for you.

Good quality timber is often more expensive than other project elements, but it’s also more important. Buying quality timber will allow your work to stand for many years!

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Author

Nicole Sage

Nicole Sage is the founder of Sleek-chic Interiors and is a highly experienced interiors writer and skilled home renovator who has a passion for all things design. She has been featured as an authority at Pinterest, Ideal Home, Daily Mail and in countless other interviews. For 8 years, Nicole has written, observed key interior trends, renovated and undertaken interior short courses at the renown KLC school where she has gained her grounding interior design principles. With a keen eye for detail and a love of creativity, she shares her expertise on the latest interior trends, practical DIY tutorials, and styling inspiration to help others transform their homes into stunning spaces.

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