Hardwood
From MaterialProject.org, the free architectural material catalog
Contents |
Material analysis
MasterFormat Number: 06 40 00
Origin
- The term hardwood designates wood from broad-leaved (mostly deciduous, but not necessarily, in the case of tropical trees) or angiosperm trees(flowering trees).
Region
- They often grow in subtropical regions like Africa and also in Europe and other regions such as Asia.
Species
- Domestic Hardwoods
- Ash,Basswood,Butternut,Cherry black,Maple(Hard and Soft),Oak(Red & White),Sycamore,American Black,Walnut
- Exotic Hardwoods
- Bloodwood(red),Lacewood,Paduk,Purpleheart(purple)
Traditional uses
- Hardwoods are traditionally used for Building construction purposes & Ship building.
Emerging trends
- Hardwood Plywood - Lumber Core
- The most common hardwood ply in our area.
- Made up of a softwood core and thin hardwood veneersis available in 1/8", 1/4" 1/2 and 3/4" thicknesses.
- Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
- It is made up of softwoods broken down into wood fibers, and bonded with wax and resin.
- It has a very smooth, even surface. It has no visible grain; Great painting surface.
- it can be easily machined and tends not to produce chip-out; good even square edges.
- Used in woodworking due to its workability and lower cost.
- Relatively heavy sheet wood and is heavier than plywood.
- Wood fibers are so small, it is not as stiff as plywood.
- disadvantage: it can release VOCs (from adhesive) when sanded or cut.
Applications
- Furniture
- Ship Building Industry
- Construction
- Vessels
- Flooring
Finish and aesthetic qualities
- Due to its porosity it is ideal for painting and takes paint well.
- Hardwood is available in different colurs of wood e.g Purpleheart(it becomes darker after sawing) & the wood can be stained in various colours.
Characteristics
- Resistant to decay than softwoods when used for exterior work
- Natural hardwoods have specific characteristics that make them warm and appealing to the eye.
- Swirls, knots and burls contribute to the natural beauty of finely crafted hardwood furniture.
- Hardwoods oxiodize, or change color, from exposure to direct light.
- The color of the wood will deepen over time and take on a warm glow and soft patina.
Pricing
- Pricing various depending on the type of Hardwood (Domestic or Exotic) & its availability.
- Hardwoods are priced between $5 to above $8 per square foot.
Material properties
Primary structural use
- It has a higher density and hardness than softwood hence it is used as a structural member.
Porosity
- Hardwood being a fibrous material is highly porous hence it takes stainers well to colour the wood.
Dimensions
- Hardwoods are generally sold in standard thicknesses and widhts.
- 1'X 4' will be 3/4" thk and 3" in width.
- Similarly the sizes vary from 2'X4',3'X4' to 10'X4'
CSI Number
- 06050
Manufacturing process
- Hardwoods are lumbered from Decidious or Angiosperm trees.
Unit of measurement
- Board feet is a unit of measure. A single board foot is one foot wide, one foot long and one inch thick or equivalent.[1]
- To determine a board footage multiply its width in inches by the length in inches and by its thickness in inches and divide by 144. This will give you the total board footage in a piece of lumber.
Environment and Life Safety
Environmental impact
- Hardwoods oxiodize, or change color, from exposure to direct light.
- (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) SFI Inc. is a fully independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. They work with conservation groups, local communities, resource professionals, landowners, and countless other organizations and individuals who share their passion for responsible forest management. Their forest certification standard is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value. The standard is used widely across North America, and has strong acceptance in the global marketplace so they can deliver a steady supply of wood and paper products from legal and responsible sources. This is especially important at a time when there is growing demand for green building and responsible paper purchasing, and less than 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified.
Flammability rating
- Hardwoods have a comparalively low flammibility rating to softwoods.
Co-efficient of friction
- Hardwoods are recommended for flooring use and can be treated to adhere to staining.
References
Notes
Student contributions
- Danielle Tappis, Fall 2005
- Harshita Merchant, Spring 2008
- Emily Condon ((Spring 2010))
External links
Additional resources
- Dimensional Characteristics of Hardwood Top and Limb Residue 1993-Christopherson, Nels S.
- Research Note NC-300. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
- American hard wood export council (www.americanhardwoods.org) has a lot of info on its website, such as sustainable solutions and species profiles. If you go to its website, you can require a free brochure and buy a wood sample kit coming along with a CD called the finishing touch.
Leading manufacturers
