Hardwoods vs. Softwoods: What’s Best for Outdoor Furniture?
Are you a new homeowner in Los Angeles County or looking to renovate? Or is it time to swap your old pool deck furniture for something more attractive? You likely have your sights set on hardwood or softwood furniture. But which material will last longer, and how much effort does upkeep need? As wood care experts, we’re here to help. Our outdoor wood furniture comparison can help you determine which type is best for your Southern California home.
Choosing the Right Wood for Outdoor Furniture
Curating your outdoor space with furniture is a fun way to show off your personal style, whether you’re having a backyard barbecue or a dinner party. Wooden furniture like tables, benches, and chairs can elevate the appearance of your patio while offering practical seating.
You want to make sure the furniture can withstand the intense LA heat during the summers and wet winters, and depending on your home improvement budget, one option may be more affordable than the other. Check out the key highlights of hardwood vs. softwood outdoor furniture to better understand which might be best for your Southern California home:
Hardwoods are:
- Strong and durable, able to withstand wear and tear from pets, children, and inclement weather
- Elegant and high-quality due to its appealing natural grains and textures that offer a refined look
- More expensive because the raw materials grow at slower rates, making it a little more challenging to source
- Tough to cut because it is dense and heavy, requiring more labor and higher-quality tools to build with
Softwoods are:
- Rustic and unrefined due to its knots and visible imperfections, offering a simplistic look that showcases its natural beauty
- More affordable because they grow faster and are easier to source
- Easy to work with because they are softer and more pliable, allowing DIY furniture building
- Susceptible to scratches and wear and tear, but can have a long lifespan with regular upkeep
What Defines a Hardwood vs. a Softwood?
Understanding the difference between hardwoods vs. softwoods for outdoor furniture comes down to the type of tree that produces each one. Hardwoods come from trees that are classified as angiosperms, or flowering plants. Hardwood trees include oak, walnut, and maple and may come from tropical or temperate forests around the world. They can take up to 150 years to fully mature before the timber can be harvested, which causes the wood to be denser and heavier yet stronger and more durable.
Softwoods come from trees classified as gymnosperms, which produce seeds that are not enclosed in an ovule. An ovule is the seed’s housing, which determines how it reproduces. Instead, softwood trees can easily and quickly spread their seed, similar to how pine trees drop pine cones in the fall season. Because of this reproduction method, softwood trees grow faster than hardwoods, allowing them to grow in abundance and needing only about 40 years before the timber can be harvested.
Hardwoods for Outdoor Furniture
Hardwoods make great outdoor furniture, from pool loungers and deck chairs to picnic benches and coffee tables. This wood type features tight grains due to its dense timber. It offers various dark tones, such as chocolate brown or golden brown. Examples of hardwoods include:
Softwoods for Outdoor Furniture
If you want a lighter appearance for your outdoor furniture in LA, consider a softwood. This wood type features a softer, less pronounced grain. Elevate your exterior space with a softwood loveseat or rocker for a cozy night around the fire pit. Examples of softwoods include:
Durability, Maintenance, and Cost Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the durability, cost, and maintenance of hardwood and softwood furniture for your SoCal home.
Hardwoods vs. Softwoods Durability
Owning durable outdoor furniture is important whether you have a beach house in Orange County or a family home in Irvine. The stronger the structure of the wood used for your furniture, the more it can handle exposure to the elements. High heat, rainy days, and even the Santa Ana Winds can cause elemental damage to your wooden outdoor furniture.
Hardwoods are more durable than softwoods. They hold up better when exposed to various types of weather. Their strength is attributed to their dense structure, which fortifies the wood to be scratch-resistant and to endure wear and tear. Softwoods can last a long time but require regular treatments, such as staining and sealing, to protect the wood.
Hardwood vs. Softwood Maintenance
Maintaining your wooden outdoor furniture is easy, regardless of wood type, with weekly dusting and spot treatments for spills. Your outdoor furniture’s protective coating can wear over time due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Be sure to avoid harsh chemicals or oil-based cleaners when cleaning the wood to maintain the integrity of the protective seal.
Softwood furniture may require more maintenance than hardwood to remove the old stain, clean the wood, and re-seal it to maintain its protection. Schedule a professional assessment with Teak Master for wood restoration or refinishing for your outdoor project.
Hardwoods vs. Softwoods Cost
If you want the most affordable outdoor furniture solution for your back patio in San Clemente, your best option will be softwood. This wood type is abundant, which makes it easier to source and cheaper to produce. However, if you have room in your home improvement budget, we recommend choosing hardwood like teak furniture. Its durability and beauty offer more value, offsetting the higher price.
Making the Right Choice for Long-Lasting Furniture
Get expert advice on the best wood for outdoor furniture in Southern California from Teak Master. We are a family-owned and operated wood refinishing company with over 20 years of experience in the area. We know which woods are ideal for withstanding the SoCal sunshine while adding beauty to your outdoor space. We offer professional teak furniture refinishing, deck restoration, and so much more to enhance your backyard or front porch. Contact us today for more information about softwoods and hardwoods, or schedule a wood care consultation.