Wood Types

The Monkey Puzzle tree is an evergreen conifer that thrives in the temperate rainforests of south-central Chile and adjacent areas in Argentina. In Chile, the species can live among two distinct ecosystems – the Andes mountains and coastal regions due to their high salt resistance. Chile’s National Tree, the monkey puzzle, Despited being introduced to … Read more

Acacia is the hardest wood in its class, outshining other hardwoods with its high density and pliability. The orientation of Acacia’s fibers is multidirectional, meaning that they intersect. Its core boasts a rich reddish-brown color accented by dark veins, while the sapwood typically ranges from light yellow to brown. Acacia wood also has exceptional resistance … Read more

The American elm was once one of the most widespread species of tree in North America. It was often planted as a roadside tree in cities because it provided good shade. Elm wood is strong and durable, making it a good choice for many different kinds of projects. It’s also lightweight and low-density, making it … Read more

If you’ve never worked in construction before, understanding the sector can be difficult. Even in the plywood section, many individuals are overwhelmed by the options available to them. RTD plywood is a newer type of material that’s starting to be used more often for exterior purposes. If you’re wondering what makes it unique and different … Read more

In simplest terms, BCX plywood is a kind of plywood made by bonding B-grade to C-grade ply with waterproof e(X)terior grade glue. The sheets used in the making are smooth on one side and bumpy (or scratched) on the other. BCX plywood can be used for outdoor projects, but it will last longer if you … Read more

Choosing wood materials may not seem difficult, but it becomes more complicated when the project is one of a kind, like an “airplane.” In these cases, where safety is of utmost concern, you’ll want to make sure to choose “aircraft plywood” instead of standard plywood. Aircraft plywood (also referred to as airplane plywood and aircraft … Read more

It may seem at first to be an odd question. Is there a difference between old-growth wood and new-growth timber? After all, isn’t all wood the same? What difference does it make if the trees are older when they are cut down for timber?  The simple difference is that old-growth wood comes from trees that … Read more

Neither poplar nor pine holds regular wood stains well. Wood stains will need to get soaked into the wood for more prominent results. But both these wood varieties don’t accept the wood stain and are therefore tricky to finish with a wood stain. Poplar wood is soft and porous, whereas pine (both white pine and … Read more

Kindling wood refers to small pieces of wood that are used to help start a fire. The small size of the pieces allows them to catch fire easily, which in turn helps to ignite larger pieces of wood. Kindling wood (also referred to as fatwood, fat lighter, or heart pine) is often made of twigs, … Read more

Otherwise called wood strapping or furring board, furring strips are narrow pieces of lumber that are commonly used for a number of exterior and interior construction projects. They are usually employed to make a level plane upon which you can make space for insulation or lay flat materials to prevent dampness. Basically, they prepare a … Read more