What is a softwood
Come from coniferous trees, have needles and do not loose their leaves in winter.
Pine- uses, properties, disadvantages
Expensive furniture, structural timber, flooring.
Straight grain, easy to work with.
Not very strong and has no resistance to decay or bugs. Knots.
Larch- uses, properties
Building construction, roofing, boatbuilding, fences and posts, exterior cladding and internal panels.
Tough, stiff, strong, hard, heavy, dense, not susceptible to shrinkage or rotting. Tendency to warp, can often split, can contain knots and high amounts of resin.
Cedar- uses, properties
Ship building, fencing, roofing, cladding, decking, musical instruments and furniture.
Hard, durable, resistant to rot, low density, high quality finish, lightweight and has highly insulating properties. Easily damaged and susceptible to insect attack.
Redwood- uses, properties
Panelling, decking, barns, bridges, sheds, cladding, internal decorative features.
High strength to weight ratio, little shrinkage, lightweight, rot resistant, soft, non reactive to metallic components.
