Choosing the right wood for your DIY project

Every do-it-yourself project has different requirements for the wood you use. A wardrobe, for example, is fine with a thin and weaker back, but needs an attractive and sturdy exterior. A bookcase will have to withstand a lot of weight, while a dining table can be the decorative centerpiece of your living room. So: which type of wood suits your project?

Note: in this post we discuss the most common types of wood. But the possibilities are virtually endless. Therefore, always contact us for professional and personal advice. Our sawmill cuts all your wood to the right size.

In summary:

• MDF is easy to work with and ideal for painting, but it bends under heavy weight.

• Plywood is extremely strong and versatile, but less attractive.

• Hardboard is not pretty, but relatively cheap and you use it out of sight as reinforcement.

• Chipboard is cheap, light and is suitable for shelves in a wardrobe, for example.

• Veneer forms a thin decorative layer on other, often cheaper, woods.

• Softwood grows faster and is therefore cheaper.

• Hardwood has the most variation in color, grain and application.

All types of wood can be divided into three categories: softwood, hardwood and sheet material. While hardwood is mainly made from deciduous trees such as the oak or walnut, softwood comes from coniferous trees; like spruce and cedar for example. Softwood is not necessarily softer than hardwood. However, the fast-growing trees make this a cheaper type of wood.

MDF, Plywood, Hardboard and Particle Board: Manufactured wood

In recent history, the majority of furniture hasn’t been made of solid wood. Wood types such as plywood and MDF are easier to work with, can be produced more sustainably and are in many cases stronger than solid wood. Of course, each type has its own properties and applications.

MDF

Wood dust and glue are pressed together under high pressure to form Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). This soft type of wood is easy to saw, mill and sand. With a good primer for MDF you can easily paint this type of wood in any style and color. You can even give it a modern sleek look with a high-gloss lacquer, for example.

MDF is relatively inexpensive and versatile. It is also available with specific properties such as fire resistance or moisture resistance and with certain finishes it is suitable for use in damp rooms. The disadvantage is that it can bend considerably. It is therefore not ideal for carrying the heavy loads of a bookcase. MDF cannot be used outdoors.

Multiplex

Multiplex or plywood consists of various thin sheets of wood that are glued together under high pressure and temperature. This results in a strong but unattractive wood type.

Plywood varies in thickness from a few millimeters to four centimeters. The thin variety is easily bent and is ideally suited to finish round surfaces. The thicker the material used, the sturdier the result. A 4 centimeter thick plywood sheet can even be used as an interior door.

Hardboard

This type of wood is compressed under high pressure, just like MDF. However, the result is much stronger. These thin plates are widely used for chalkboards, for example. But they also work as a bottom layer for floors and are ideal as the sturdy back for cupboards. By moistening the plates, you can curve and bend the wood.

Hardboard is not attractive and rarely used in sight. However, as the back of a bookcase or TV unit, it is the perfect reinforcement without making your project terribly expensive.

Chipboard

Cheap and functional are the keywords here. Chipboard is made by compressing coarser wood chips together, creating a wood that splinters easily. It cannot withstand moisture and bends under heavy loads.

A layer of veneer can still provide a relatively neat finish. Chipboard will never have a high end or luxury appearance. But it is a cheap solution for the shelves in a wardrobe, kitchen cupboard or utility closet.

Veneer finishes it off

A thin sheet of wood between 0,6 and 3 millimeters is a perfect veneer layer. These thin plates can be made of all types of wood and serve as a finishing layer. Maybe you are building a table from MDF, but you would like an oak, walnut or poplar top. Solid hardwood is expensive. A layer of veneer drastically reduces the cost.

Gluing veneer to wood is a tough and difficult job. It is therefore best to order your material cut to size.

Softwood

Pine, spruce and cedar are examples of softwoods that come from coniferous trees. These trees grow faster and are often cheaper. Still, these wood types have a nice grain pattern and often a lighter color, making softwood an ideal wood type for many projects.

Spruce

Spruce is by far the most common wood type in the Dutch market. This softwood comes from the spruce and has a light whitish color. The wood is easy to work with, although it can splinter. With proper care however, this shouldn't be a problem.

The wood is extremely suitable for construction and furniture. For example, it is used in floors, paneling and stairs. But also in cabinets, cupboards and shelves. Fun fact: spruce also serves as the raw material for newspapers.

An important side note about Spruce is its origin. Central European spruce grows quickly and isn’t as durable as Scandinavian spruce. This grows slower and is more sustainable. Here too it is important to weigh costs and benefits against each other.

Hardwood

Oak, beech, padauk and teak; the greatest variation in wood types can be found in hardwood. They each have a unique appearance and specific properties. Oak wood is great for outdoor use, while teak wood is wonderful for furniture.

Meranti

One of the most famous hardwoods in the Netherlands is Meranti, a collective name for a number of wood species from Southeast Asia. The wood is exceptionally hard and yet easy to work, both mechanically and by hand. Meranti is reddish brown, but has a lot of variation in color. It is easy to finish with oil or staining.

Indoors, the wood is extremely suitable for skirting boards, door frames, stairs and furniture. Certain types of Meranti are also ideal for outdoor use in window frames, doors and balustrades.

If you are looking for a specific type of wood, or have a DIY project in mind and looking for advice or thoughts, please do not hesitate to contact us!