What Is the Difference Between Hardwood & Softwood Decking?

Tree Species

• Wood from coniferous trees that do not lose their needles are classified as softwoods. These trees grow quickly, resulting in wood that is less dense and generally easy to cut, sand and stain. Some softwoods possesses high resin content, making them naturally resistant to damage from moisture and insects. Hardwood comes from trees that lose their leaves in winter. Many hardwood trees grow slowly, so wood harvested from them is in shorter supply, making hardwoods more expensive.

Softwoods

• Softwoods frequently used in deck construction include redwood, cedar and fir. While redwood and cedar are easy to work with, fir is very hard and can be difficult to cut and sand. All three, however, make good decking material because they repel moisture and insects. Redwood and cedar are aromatic and have attractive grains, making them popular for outdoor settings. Pine, another softwood, must be pressure treated if used as decking.

Hardwoods

• Hardwoods found in outdoor decking include ash, teak and beech. Of these three, teak is the only one with natural rot-resistance. Teak provides a wonderfully soft decking surface when sanded smooth and treated with teak oil, but it’s cost-prohibitive for large decking projects. Ash and beech should be pressure treated, sealed or painted in order to prolong their lifespans. Even then, these two hardwoods are better suited to use as decking for a porch that’s covered from direct rain or reserved for indoor use.

Wood for Decking

• Teak is good choice for hardwood for decking, but if cost is a factor, choose a softwood like cedar or redwood. When purchasing any type of wood for outdoor use, select pressure treated varieties. Decking installation differs with different types of wood. Hardwoods feature tongue and groove assembly, but softwoods tend to swell when wet and require spacing between planks. Wood that does not naturally hold up to moisture should be sanded, sealed or painted immediately after installation for protection.