Wednesday, 4 April 2012

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

By Robert William Burton


Deciding between hard wood windows or soft wood windows which will last longer and why can be a difficult decision when you are in the market for new or replacement windows. The answer to the question of longevity might seem obvious, but it is actually not as simple as it seems. You may find that the choice will depend on other factors than the density of the wood that you select.

Examples of hardwoods are oak, walnut, ash and mahogany. Softwood examples include Douglas fir, spruce, pine and cedar. Another type of hardwood that may surprise you is balsa wood. This is light wood and you would not choose windows of balsa wood. Yew wood is a softwood that forms a product more dense than many hardwoods.

When you look at the structure of these two types of wood under a microscope, you will see that they are significantly different. Conifers or softwood usually have just two types of cells, known as the longitudinal and the transverse cells. Hardwood cells are designed differently, because the move the nutrients and water in a different way than softwoods.

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.

Some woods have a more significant status quotient too. The appearance of the wood itself will make a difference to some people. The weather or the climate in your area can make a difference in the longevity. Mahogany and teak are used in very challenging environmental conditions.

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.




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