Hardwood Windows Or Soft Wood Windows: Which Will Last Longer And Why?

Hardwood Or Soft Wood, when it comes to sash window replacement it will pay off to choose the right timber If you want to know hard wood windows or soft wood windows which will last longer and why it may not seem like a difficult question to be answered, since you would expect hard wood to be more durable than soft wood. In fact, you will find that in some instances hard is softer than soft and in others soft is harder than hard. While you are puzzling about this, you should realize that there are more features and characteristics that will affect your choice than just the name of the wood type. Some typical hardwoods are mahogany, walnut, oak and ash. Softwoods used by man for home construction and millwork is often pine, cedar, spruce and Douglas fir. Hardwoods are not always hard. For example, balsa is classified as a hardwood, yet is a very light weight product. On the other hand, yew wood is technically a softwood that is harder than many hardwoods. Hardwoods and softwoods are different even at the cellular level. Softwoods only have two types of cells, called longitudinal and transverse. The hardwood microscopic structure is more complex. The water is transported by means of special cells that bring moisture and nutrients to the branches and leaves. So, the type of hardwood or softwood is more of a factor in expected longevity than the label. If you are trying to decide which woods would be best for windows, you will find more options when you look at softwoods. There are pine, spruce and fir window casings readily available in all building supply centers. Trees from which softwood lumber is milled tend to be faster growing. This feature means that the softwood frames and casings are more common and are priced lower than status windows. Because properly cared for windows will last many years, the life expectancy per dollar of price might not be critical. The cost of maintenance will probably be similar for each of the wood types. If you are prepared to pay a higher price, you will get good results from windows made of oak, mahogany or other designer woods. These woods are not only long-lived, they look great. The status of certain types of wood may be higher. If you live where weather conditions are extreme, it can affect the life of your windows. When looking at hard wood windows or soft wood windows which will last longer and why, you should consider the price per year of use. It may not be significant enough to warrant going with the higher priced windows. Of course, if you can find renovated windows of hardwood, you may have the opportunity to have status symbol windows at a bargain price. If you need further help or advice regarding window repairs and renovation why not visit www.woodenwindowworkshop.com today