Wood is an important material for furniture, crafts, and carpentry projects—but with so many different types of wood available, it can be hard to choose the right one. Learn about the most popular wood varieties here and their unique characteristics that make them suitable for different applications. We’ve also included a list of synthetic woods and wood alternatives for you to choose from.
In our compilation we’ve taken three factors into consideration: 1) durability, 2) cost, and 3) appearance.
What is the most popular type of wood?
Oak is one of the most popular types of wood due to its durability, affordability, and classic look. It’s a heavy hardwood that has a coarse texture and large grains that range from yellow to pinkish hues. Oak is also known for being resilient in tough conditions, which makes it a great choice for outdoor furniture and flooring.
Natural Woods
Oak
Oak is a strong and hardy wood that is widely used for both indoor and outdoor furniture. This type of wood has a distinct grain pattern, which makes it beautiful when stained. Additionally, oak is resistant to wear, rot, and damage from insects such as termites. It’s perfect for situations where the material needs to withstand weather or time—like an outdoor deck or a dining table.
Pine
Pine is a popular choice in both furniture and construction projects due to its cost-effectiveness and abundance. Besides being one of the least expensive woods on the market, pine’s aesthetically pleasing grain pattern makes it ideal for décor and furniture pieces. Pine has a tendency to be soft, so it will not withstand too much wear and tear but is perfect for decorative pieces like shelves.
Cherry
Cherry wood is known for its exquisite dark finish and grain pattern. This unique look makes cherry wood ideal for use as furniture or décor items. It’s also popular for home decks and cabinets due to its durability, strength, and resistance to rot. In addition, cherry wood looks more expensive than it actually is, making it a great choice for projects that need a touch of elegance without a huge cost.
Walnut
Walnut is an ideal choice for both classic and modern furniture pieces, as its color ranges from a deep chocolate brown to a warm, light-brown hue. While it’s not as strong as some other woods, it gives off a luxurious feel and is renowned for being easy to shape and machine. Walnut wood is also quite durable when well-maintained, making it popular for kitchen countertops and cabinets.
Synthetic Woods
Are you looking for a durable, low-maintenance decking material? Synthetic wood is an increasingly popular option, offering a wide range of benefits and styles. In this article, we explore six of the most common types of synthetic wood so that you know all your options.
Vinyl Polymer
Vinyl polymer options are highly flexible and offer ultimate strength and durability. They are mold and rot-resistant, stand up to extreme weather conditions, and require only minimal maintenance such as occasional washing. However, vinyl polymer tends to be the most expensive option, is difficult to paint or stain, and is not widely available in different colors.
Composite Lumber
Composite lumber is a blend of wood fibers and plastic, making it durable and less susceptible to rot and insects. The material is also resistant to fading, scratching, and staining. While composite lumber does not have a natural appearance, the color options for these products are more varied than with plastic lumber. It can also be used in commercial applications as well as residential settings. The main downside is that due to its lower production costs, composite lumber is generally cheaper than other types of synthetic wood, resulting in a potential decrease in overall strength and durability.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a synthetic wood material composed of recycled plastic and wood fiber that offers outstanding durability and strength. Its high stability, UV protection, and light weight make it an ideal option for outdoor applications such as decks, docks, or fencing. However, HDPE composite boards may experience some fading within just a few years due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The best way to mitigate this is to select a darker hue of HDPE when choosing your product.
Thermalwood
Thermalwood is an HDPE polymer that has been superheated and merged with wood fibers, giving it a similar appearance to natural wood. It’s one of the most affordable types of synthetic wood while still providing excellent weather resistance, stability, and minimal contraction and expansion in extreme weather. Despite its moisture resistance, it can hold dirt or other environmental substances due to its open-celled nature, which requires more frequent cleaning than HDPE.
Wood Alternatives
If you’re looking for affordable wood options that offer the same elegance and durability as expensive hardwoods, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives available. From bamboo to MDF board, this section will provide you with five budget-friendly wood alternatives.
Bamboo
Bamboo boards offer the same look and feel of hardwood at a fraction of the cost. This eco-friendly building material is lightweight yet strong, making it an ideal alternative to more expensive woods. It’s also readily available, easy to work with, and doesn’t require specialized tools for installation. With a simple sealant, bamboo can a have very good durability to moisture.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a popular wood alternative due to its affordability and ease of installation. Unlike hardwoods, it doesn’t require refinishing or special maintenance and comes in a variety of styles to fit any budget. It offers good durability and scratch resistance, making it a great choice for kitchen and foyer areas with high traffic. Laminate flooring can also be used outdoors if treated with weatherproof sealants.
Cork
Cork is quickly becoming an affordable and popular wood alternative. It’s a natural material made from the bark of cork oak trees, making it an eco-friendly choice that’s also renewable. Cork is highly lightweight and very durable, offering good wear resistance and shock absorption properties. It has great sound-dampening capabilities as well – perfect for homes near busy roads or other noise sources. Sporting goods, furniture, and flooring are just a few of the products cork is commonly used for.
Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) is a man-made wood product made from broken-down softwood and hardwood fibers, mixed with adhesive and pressed into sheet form. It’s an extremely affordable option that can also easily be cut, machined, and drilled in the same way as natural woods. MDF has great strength properties compared to other common wood materials, such as particle boards. Its uniformity also makes it ideal for use in applications where attractive finishes are important – such as cabinet making or interior trim.
Plywood
One of the most popular wood alternatives is plywood. It’s created by taking thin layers of wood and gluing them together in layers. This layered construction makes for a versatile, strong board that can be used for a variety of projects. Because it’s easy to cut and work with, Plywood is often the go-to choice for home DIY renovations or furniture building, and its affordability makes it appealing to those on a budget.
Wood Worx
Wood Worx is a leading joinery works and carpentry company in Abu Dhabi with an extensive experience in making clients’ visions a reality. Our custom carpentry services include the design, execution, and maintenance of all kinds of woods. Although we specialize in the production of luxury goods, we try to appeal to as big an audience as possible by providing a wide variety of qualities for different budget points.
To find out more about our services reach out to us on +971559888437. Alternatively, you can email us at info@woodworx.ae, or pay a visit to one of our branches.