Hardwood Vs Softwood & How They Burn?

Woods that are grown and harvested naturally are classified as softwood or hardwood. While shopping for firewood, it is essential to consider that whether the firewood we are buying is hardwood or softwood. Many of us think that hardwoods are the ones that are stronger and harder than the softwoods, however, this is not totally true, as various softwoods are harder than the hardwoods. Both hardwood and softwood are different from each other in various aspects.

Both hardwood and softwood have specific burning characteristics such as coaling qualities, and heat generation. The lighting abilities of these firewoods are also different and helps in deciding that which type will work best for you. The demand for both the firewoods in Blue Mountains remains high. People buy these two types of firewoods for burning, furniture, as well as home and industrial use.

Hardwoods:-

Hardwood is dense firewoods, that come from those trees that lose their leaves during the winters. Hardwoods are darker in color. Due to their slow-burning nature, hardwoods are considered the best for cooking. They produce fires that are more intense and hotter. Most hardwood trees grow slow, due to which they are much denser than the softwoods.

These slow-growing trees generally take 80-100 yrs to maturity. But produce more heat than the other types of woods. They are best for long, and lingering fires, and heating the house quickly.

Softwoods:-

Softwoods typically grow much faster than hardwoods. Softwoods are lighter as well as lower in density. This type of firewood is considered better for outside use, as it ignites faster and emits more smoke than the hardwoods. Such woods also don’t produce flowers, and even the seeds of softwoods are enclosed in cones.

Softwoods season much faster than hardwoods. They mature within 25-30 yrs due to which they have less dense timber. This type of wood is a leading type of lumbar, but when used as firewood, the hardwood performs better. Their leaves are needle-like but do not shed like hardwoods, during the cold seasons. Such trees shed their needles after every 2 to 4 years. Softwoods are also used less indoors as burn quickly and produce too many smokes in the chimney which increases the cleaning job and makes it tough.

For indoor use:-

As compared to softwood, hardwood firewoods are best for indoor use like a fireplace, wood stoves, or saunas. They have lower moisture content and also burns slower as well as cleaner because of their high density. Due to its high density, it produces less smoke/ashes and is thus best for the chimneys. Hardwoods like ironbark firewood are also more economical as you’ll use less of them.

Season:-

Softwoods not only just season faster than the hardwood, but are also best for campfires or kindling. The main disadvantage of hardwoods is that they take longer to season. However, this problem can also be overcome by ordering hardwood firewoods from professionals suppliers of firewoods in the Blue Mountains, that are already been seasoned. By doing this you can easily and immediately use them.