Hardwood or softwood?
How do you memorize which wood types are hardwoods or soft woods? Thanks!
-
Hey @neadagolban,
A simple way I like to think about wood types is this: deciduous trees (the ones that lose their leaves in winter) are generally hardwoods. Since they go dormant to survive the harsh winter, their wood tends to be denser and tougher. On the other hand, evergreens (which keep their needles year-round) are usually softwoods. They’re built to flex and adapt to changing conditions, making their wood softer and more flexible by nature. Hope this helps! -
Hey @neadagolban!
What worked for us when I was in technical bootcamp was focusing on just the top 4 hardwoods and top 4 softwoods that show up most in construction, then making our own memory tricks.
Common hardwoods: Oak, Maple, Cherry, Birch
Common softwoods: Pine, Fir, Cedar, SpruceBut honestly, understanding WHEN to use hard vs soft wood in different scenarios is probably more important. For instance know which woods are used for cabinets/millwork vs. which are used for structural framing, etc.
Have you tried making any memory devices yet? Try making an acronym or Mnemonic for each type of the ones above.
-Emily Hobbs
ARE Bootcamp Coach -
Softwoods are generally used as framing materials. Framing, at least in the northeast where I practice, is often specified as 'SPF', which stands for 'Spruce, Pine, Fir'. I find SPF easy to remember because it's the same acronym that's used for sunscreen!
If you've got that down, you know three common softwoods.
For hardwoods - think about the common materials used for wood flooring, cabinetry, plywood, and furniture - these are generally hardwoods, because they need to be durable. So, think maple flooring, oak cabinets, baltic birch plywood, cherry end tables, etc.
You shouldn't see a question on the ARE that asks you something like "which of the following is a hardwood?" - NCARB has been explicit that their questions focus on creating a scenario and asking you to respond appropriately, not simply asking you things that require rote memorization.
Therefore, I wouldn't focus too much on memorizing every single species of wood (there are tons!). You should know these common types, and a few others, because you could be asked a question like 'which of these materials is appropriate for use as wood flooring?"
Hope that's helpful!
Chris Hopstock RA
Black Spectacles
ARE Community
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
4 comments