The term hardwood might be a little misleading for some people who are interesting in looking at different flooring options for their home. With the term hardwoods, Brookridge residents might think that this has to do with the durability or the density of the material that they are using to make wood panels, but this is not true whatsoever. For example, one of lightest and least dense types of woods that people know about is balsa wood. This wood is used in crafts and models because it has the appearance of wood without the weight to it, but balsa wood is actually considered to be a hardwood.
Where does Hardwood get its name from then?
The term hardwood has nothing to do with the type of material that is used for flooring or construction, but rather, it has everything to do with plant genetics and biology. With hardwoods, Brookridge residents can expect these tree species to be angiosperms, or plants that produce seeds with some sort of covering. This includes a lot of different tree species into one category. An oak tree is a hardwood because it produces an acorn, which has a hard-outer shell; but a fruit tree such as an apple tree is also considered a hardwood for the same reason.
What is the Difference between Hardwood and Softwood?
Hardwood tree species are known for being angiosperms, while softwood species are known as gymnosperms. Unlike hardwoods, Brookridge residents can tell what a softwood tree is because these seeds fall to the ground as is with no protection for an outer covering. Pine trees are a great example of a softwood tree species. Even though pine trees are known for producing pine cones as seeds, they are not considered hardwood species because the seeds won’t germinate and sprout without outside forces helping out like the wind or tiny birds or animals.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Proline Tile Distributors*