The distinction between hardwood and softwood floors revolves around plant production. Every tree reproduces seeds and the structure of those seeds vary.
A hardwood tree, known as an angiosperm, produces seeds that have a covering. Think of an apple or an acorn for a good example.
Softwood trees, known as a gymnosperm, produce seeds without a covering (naked seeds) that fall straight to the ground. The wind carries them so the seeds are spread throughout a wide area. Pine trees fit in this category.
How to Tell the Difference between Hardwood and Softwood
In the winter, angiosperm trees lose their leaves while gymnosperm trees don’t. So with this in mind, we can say that evergreen trees are softwoods and deciduous trees are hardwoods.
Natural hardwood flooring comes from deciduous trees. These trees are slower growing, so they provide a much denser solid wood than softwood trees do. Softwood trees are also much easier to cut.
Some examples of softwood species include:
- Pine
- Redwood
- Douglas-fir
- Cypress
- Larch
Examples of hardwood species are:
- Eucalypts
- Beech
- Blackwood
Since there are so many different types of trees, there are a ton of different hardwood flooring styles out there for you to choose from. Whatever species of hardwood or softwood you choose, all that matters is that you love the floor.
Why Should You Consider Installing Hardwood Floors?
A solid hardwood floor can be the best addition to any room in your home. Hardwood is elegant and timeless, creating a sophisticated and luxurious addition to any interior design scheme.
Hardwood flooring is an expensive investment, so you want to make sure that you’re working with a company that’s willing to go to bat for you in price and service standards. Don’t just buy any hardwood floor that says cheap slapped on the price tag to save a buck. You want this floor to last, and cheap won’t make the cut.
You also need an installation company that can handle your project properly. a poor installation will lead to frustrating issues down the road.
If you want to have beautiful samples of solid wood flooring brought to you, schedule a free hardwood flooring estimate with us today. We’ll have beautiful hardwood floors in your home before you know it.
