Timber Species and Geographic Sources
Is balsa a hardwood? (Yes!) Sort hardwoods from softwoods, meet the manufactured boards, and learn to choose sustainable timber for a job.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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What is wood made of?
Timber comes from trees, but not all wood is the same. Designers sort it into hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured boards, each with its own properties and uses. One name causes endless confusion, and this module clears it up.
The three families
Learn these before you sort any timber:
Match each timber to a fact about it
- Oak
- Pine
- Balsa
- MDF
- A strong, durable hardwood
- A cheap, fast-growing softwood
- A very light hardwood, used for models
- A manufactured board of fibres and resin
Hard or soft?
Whether a wood is called a "hardwood" or a "softwood" depends on...
- The type of tree it comes from
- How hard the wood actually is
- The colour of the wood
- How expensive the wood is
It is about the tree
The names come from the tree, not the hardness. Hardwoods come from broad-leaved deciduous trees (which lose their leaves), like oak and mahogany. Softwoods come from coniferous evergreen trees (with needles and cones), like pine and spruce.
The famous exception
Balsa is classed as a hardwood, yet it is...
- Very soft and light
- The hardest wood of all
- Actually a softwood
- A manufactured board
A renewable material
Timber is renewable if forests are managed and replanted. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label shows wood has been sourced responsibly. Choosing certified timber lowers a product's environmental footprint.
Sort them
Select the TWO hardwoods.
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Pine
- MDF
Match each manufactured board to its description
- MDF
- Plywood
- Chipboard
- Hardboard
- Fine fibres pressed with resin; smooth surface
- Thin veneers glued with grain alternating
- Wood chips bonded with resin
- A thin, dense fibreboard
From tree to timber
Put the stages of turning a tree into usable timber in order.
- Fell the tree
- Saw the trunk into planks
- Season (dry) the timber
- Use it to make products
Timber frame
A _____ comes from a broad-leaved deciduous tree, while a _____ comes from a coniferous evergreen tree. The names describe the tree, not the _____ of the wood. _____ is a manufactured board made from fine fibres and resin.
Choose the timber
Pick the right timber for each job.
- For cheap outdoor fence panels, a builder chooses...
- For a lightweight model aeroplane, the best timber is...
- To reduce the environmental footprint, choose timber that is...
Recommend a timber
A designer is making a wooden chopping board. Recommend a suitable timber, explaining your choice using its properties, and mention sustainability.
- Name a suitable timber
- Give a relevant property (for example durable or hard-wearing)
- Mention choosing an FSC-certified or sustainable source