The wood types
The interior design of our dwelling is a way to express our personality. That is why the choice of material on which we are going to make our space conditional is very important. To do so with wood means to use one of the oldest, most beautiful and most resistant materials. There are many types of wood, depending on the tree and the treatments and processes it receives.
To know and classify wood types, we can first subdivide them into two broad categories: soft woods and hard woods. In addition to this distinction, there are many other peculiarities and nuances that concern each type of wood. We will therefore have to choose between the colour of wood, knots and veins, always referring to our own needs, to our taste and to the kind of furniture or space we want to create.
From Pallars Fustes we explain the main types of wood and some of its characteristics:
• FIR
It is one of the most common types of timber throughout Central Europe. It is clear, white-yellow and easy to work wood. It is used to make furniture, musical instruments, doors and windows, and is very common because it has great humidity resistance.
• PI
It is very easy to work with pine wood, as it is a swabian variety. It is one of the most economical types of wood used in construction. Today, “pi” is a generic term for many types of soft, light-toned wood that acquire a characteristic honey color when sealed. It has a uniform texture and is easy to work on.
• CEDAR
The cedar is reddish in color, this type of wood is relatively smooth, has a straight grain and a slightly aromatic odor. Western red cedar is mainly used to make outdoor furniture, as it can be used in humid environments without decompose. In addition, it has a moderate price and is quite robust, so it is excellent for garden furniture.
• MAPLE
A very widespread wood around the world, with a very clear color, can range from white to yellowish to pinkish. This type of wood is medium-sized and certainly not very long-lasting, but it is used in both the construction and manufacture of musical instruments and furniture. However, it is not among the most valuable types of timber on the market.
• HAYA
A type of wood that extends throughout Europe and is therefore also common in Spain. It has a reddish color, and the older it is, the darker it becomes. This wood is quite hard and easy to work and is used for musical instruments, but also for furniture of all kinds. Their resistance is quite good.
• ASH
Light brown, the ash is very resistant to beating and bending. For this reason, it is suitable for supporting structures. Characterized by its straight fibers and partridge eye knots, this type of wood is often used for indoor doors.
• NOGUERA
With its vein features and color rather dark, it tends to be purple and is used for furniture, but also for soils and walls. The walnut has some very interesting features: it is hard and very resistant, resists cracking and blowing and is very compact so it is suitable for any use. Today it is widely used for luxury coatings: furniture, cupboards, doors, ornaments and turned items.
• CHERRY TREE
Its color is bright red and not by chance, it is used for the manufacture of luxury furniture or high-quality works. The cherry tree is a fairly expensive and medium-life type of wood, but it certainly cannot go unnoticed. Currently, it is widely used in the production of furniture, chairs and coatings.
• OAK
Available in two varieties: red and white. The oak is a very common type of wood in Spain as well and one of the hardest woods to be found. Difficult to work due to its hardness, the oak is quite expensive but very beautiful and has a great aesthetic impact. It is used for the manufacture of floors and wall covering, but also in luxury furniture.
• MAHOGANY
One of the great furniture woods is the caoba, which has a tone ranging from reddish brown to dark red. Mahogany is a tropical, dark, intense, reddish wood. It is a hardy wood with which it is easy to work. Currently, it is used only for decorative uses, furniture and interior elements such as doors.
• TEAK
It has a uniform honey yellow color with a slight vest. In the light, it darkens slightly, assuming a deep, beautiful and much-loved brown tone. It has exceptional physical characteristics: it is resistant to rot, it is resistant to insects, and it is easy to work with a naturally mild finish. Being resistant to beatings and inflections, it is perfect for furniture but, above all, for loading structures.
