How to Choose the Right Timber you Need?

Wood is one of the most versatile materials available today and the scope, depth of use and the choices available are simply astounding. It is a sustainable resource that can be easily adapted for interior, as well as exterior use, is highly cost effective and long lasting when used correctly. From furniture to boats, homes to flooring, musical instruments and shelters, wood has been used extensively in construction and engineering since time immemorial.

That said, it is a pertinent question to actually ask oneself what is the best timber that needs to be used for a certain purpose, before one approaches timber merchants. This simply means having an understanding of 2 things

• The project and the scope
• Having an exact idea of the various types of timber available and their properties.

A modern twist to the traditional idea of wood is 'engineered wood'. This is a product of a more intricate fabrication process and the result is a composite material wherein various strands and fibres of wood are glued together.

Wood can be broadly classified into 2 major categories – hard wood and soft wood. Usually, just as a thumb rule, we can say that any leaf-bearing tree will product hardwood and any cone-bearing tree will produce soft wood. However, this is just a thumb rule and exceptions galore.

However, it is an accepted fact that hardwood is heavier and much denser than soft wood. Hardwood is used for applications requiring strength like walls and ceilings, while softwood is used more for doors and window frames. In the case of furniture, both types of wood are suitable, when correctly treated and used appropriately. The below gives you a brief idea on how to choose the best timber for your need, based on 3 major wood varieties commonly available and used.

Teak

Teak has been the de-facto choice for manufacturing furniture for generations. India abounds in a lot of rich teak varieties, each from a different part of the country and they are Nilambur teak, Adilabad teak, Paratwada teak etc. Teak wood from other parts of the world include the ones from Myanmar, Central and South America, South-east Asia and Africa.

Teak has excellent resistance to rot and decay. As a hardwood, it can also be used in places where water exposure is a constant issue. Teak has a unique property as in, while it is easy to work, it is quite resistant to dents and scratches being made. Due to its relatively light weight and decay resistance, it is an excellent carpentry choice for outdoor use.

Extremely durable, many of the furniture and heirlooms made of teak have been known to last for generations. However, an absolutely smooth surface cannot be obtained during wood working, since there are numerous open pores in teak.

Padauk

Like teak, Padauk is a hardwood having a rich history behind its use, right from the times of King Solomon to European royalty. Strong and durable, it is excellent to work with and heavier than even oak. Padauk has atendency to darken with age and hence, must be treated appropriately.

The great resistance to abrasion and decay means that Padauk can be used across a broad spectrum of categories including for the manufacture of musical instruments, boats, turnings, carvings and furniture. Padauk grows mainly in the tropical regions and in India, it is found mostly on the Andaman islands.

Pine

Pine is a soft wood good for building shelves, framing and other projects that do not involve fine wood working. Easy to work with, pinewood comes in a number of varieties like white pine, spruce etc. Between these varieties of timber, the main difference lies in the texture and the strength. Easy to work with and relatively cheap compared to other hardwood varieties, Pine is often the choice for furniture. 

The above list is not exhaustive. Keep checking our blog as we discuss in more depth about each variety of wood in subsequent articles to come.