When choosing wood for building, woodworking or in purchasing furniture there are several factors to consider, including durability, color and appearance and cost. This last factor may limit your choices, but if durability or use of naturally beautiful wood is high on your priorities, you will not want to lower your standards just to save a little money .

When choosing wood for building, woodworking or in purchasing furniture there are several factors to consider, including:

1.  DurabilityThe level of durability you will need will depend on use, specifically, whether the piece is designed for interior or exterior use.

2. Color and appearanceThis is a purely personal preference and can be obtained using natural wood chosen for color, texture and grain characteristics or the wood can be stained to meet your standards.

3. CostThis factor may limit your choices, but if durability or use of naturally beautiful wood is high on your priorities, you will not want to lower your standards just to save a little money. 

There are two types of wood used in building and woodworking, softwood and hardwood.  These classifications refer to the botanical grouping of the trees rather than physical characteristics of the wood.  Softwoods come from coniferous trees (trees that bear cones) which are mostly evergreens and have small needle shaped leaves.  This category includes wood from types of pine and cedar trees.  Softwoods are generally cheaper because they are fast growing, and easily cultivated in man-made forests.  Conifers are grown mostly in the Northern hemisphere.  Hardwoods come from trees of the classification angiosperm (flowering plants).  These are broad leaved trees and are mostly deciduous (the leaves fall off in winter) although in tropical regions many have become evergreen.  Examples include teak, oak and maple.  Hardwood trees are generally more durable and have a wide range of colors and textures. They are grown worldwide but are relatively slow growing and often come from non-renewable sources therefore they are more expensive.   

When choosing wood materials for outdoor use, it is important to consider the natural durability of the wood.  Since wood is a biological organism composed of cells it contains molecules such as sugars that bacteria and fungi feed on.  Since these microorganisms cannot grow without moisture, even in the presence of sugars, furniture and structures inside the home are safe from decay.  However, in an outdoor environment exposed to wet weather in the winter and spring, squirt guns or pool play in the summer and year-round sprinklers, wood must be carefully chosen and properly protected from moisture to promote long-life. 

Fortunately, many types of wood are naturally rot-resistant.  Some of the more commonly used woods include red cedar and redwood.  The durability of these woods is due to extracts found in the heartwood of the tree that is toxic to fungi and some insects.  The heartwood is the darker center section of wood and in the case of cedar is the source of its characteristic scent.  In contrast the sapwood is located close to the bark and is susceptible to decay in all species of wood.  Another very durable wood commonly outdoors is teak.  It is naturally rot-resistant and termite resistant and so durable it is widely used on boats where the marine environment is extremely harsh on materials of all kinds.  While more expensive, these woods are naturally beautiful and do not need yearly treatment with water repellent preservatives.  A less costly alternative to naturally rot-resistant wood is pressure treated wood which is treated with chemicals that prevent fungal growth.   

If you are looking for high quality, durable red cedar or teak patio furniture and accessories, I recommend visiting www.shorelinepatiodecor.com.  This site features beautiful patio furniture hand-crafted from Western Red Cedar or Teak which is plantation-grown in renewable forests (therefore good for the environment). 

Lisa Romero has a PhD in Biological Sciences.