2006-06-14 05:13:44 · 13 answers · asked by xxExx 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Because hard wood lasts longer and soft wood breaks more easily.
2006-06-14 05:14:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hardwood has many more uses than soft. Pine is ok for framing a house but furniture has to be more durable. If you go to a lumber yard most of the lumber you see is softwood. The hardwood is usually kept in a building.
Because of it's density hardwood takes longer to grow.
2006-06-14 05:35:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supply and demand. There is a lot more softwood produced and as a result it is cheaper.
Ignore those people claiming that it is because softwoods grow faster. This is nonsense. Hardwoods such as Paulownia grow far faster than any softwood.
The reason more softwood is produced is complicated, but it comes down to 3 major factors:
1: Pests. Softwood species are generally less susceptible to diseases, insect attack and so forth. That makes them far more secure as an investment and far easier to manage.
2) Growth habit. Most softwoods grow in a nice regular conical shape ideal for producing lumber. In contrast most hardwoods naturally want to branch and require intensive management to produce quality lumber.
3) Environmental tolerance. Softwoods are generally more tolerant of of cold, heat, drought and so forth than the average softwood. That means they can be grown in far more places and on cheaper land.
4) Milling. Softwoods are easy to mill for a variety of reasons related to the way they grow. As a result softwood mills are cheaper to set up.
5) Versatility. The real fast growing hardwoods tend to be, ironically, soft timbers. Softwoods tend to have mid-density timbers that lend themselves to a variety of uses.
2006-06-14 18:23:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has nothing to do with being soft or hard; Hardwood comes from a tree with leaves. Softwood comes from a tree with needles. The 'softest' wood on the planet is 'Balsa', it's classified as a hardwood !
2016-03-15 04:13:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trees that hardwood comes from grows slower than trees soft wood comes from. soft wood such as pine are more plentiful and replaced quicker, making the turn-around rate more.
2006-06-14 05:19:09 · answer #5 · answered by mark_wheland 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The growth factor--don't forget that. Hardwood grows slower.
2006-06-14 05:20:59 · answer #6 · answered by ^ _ ^ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because most people would prefer a sturdy floor (hardwood) rather than one that would break or get damaged more easily.
2006-06-14 05:22:06 · answer #7 · answered by qeen_lux 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because soft wood grows a lot faster and is therefore more replaceable. Hard wood takes a long time to mature.
2006-06-14 05:16:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
More Durable--Lasts Longer--Supply and Demand
2006-06-14 05:17:10 · answer #9 · answered by MATTHEW M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
think about this for a moment sweety. Allow yourself to put your mind in the gutter for a moment then compare....
hard wood to soft wood.....
which is more valuble to you?
2006-06-14 05:23:26 · answer #10 · answered by Austin L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋