Natural & Manufactured Timbers — Types & Categories (AQA GCSE Design & Technology): Revision Note
Exam code: 8552
Hardwoods
What are hardwoods?
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees
Generally strong, durable and long-lasting
Uses: furniture, flooring and quality products
Timber | Key Properties | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
Ash | Strong, tough, light colour, flexible | Tool handles, furniture |
Beech | Strong, hard, fine grain, pale colour, minimal natural oils | Children's toys, furniture, kitchen utensils |
Mahogany | Strong, stable, warp-resistant, dark reddish-brown, quickly dulls cutting tools | Quality furniture, interiors, musical instruments |
Oak | Very strong, hard-wearing, heavy, open grain texture | Flooring, furniture, exposed building beams |
Balsa | Very lightweight, soft, easy to cut and shape | Lightweight model-making, prototyping, crafts |
Softwoods
What are softwoods?
Softwoods come from coniferous (evergreen) trees
Faster growing than hardwoods, less expensive and easier to process
Uses: construction, cheaper furniture and everyday products
Timber | Key Properties | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
Larch | Stronger than most softwoods, naturally rot-resistant, medium-hard | Outdoor construction (fencing, garden furniture) |
Pine | Lightweight, straight grain, easy to cut, shape and process | Low-cost furniture, shelves, toys |
Spruce | Lightweight, good strength-to-weight ratio, moderately strong, very pale | Construction, flat-pack furniture, children's instruments |
Manufactured boards
What are manufactured boards?
Manufactured boards are made from bonded or compressed wood fibres or layers with adhesive
Made from waste wood, available in varied thicknesses and sizes at low cost
Very stable and consistent thickness
Uses: low-cost furniture, interior panels and construction
Board Type | Key Properties | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) | Fine wood fibres with glue/resin, smooth, easy to cut/shape, no grain, not water-resistant, high dust | Flat-pack furniture, shelving, cabinets, interior panelling |
Plywood | Multiple thin veneer layers glued at 90°, strong, stable, warp-resistant, good water resistance | Load-bearing furniture, flooring, internal construction |
Chipboard | Wood chips bonded with PVA/resin, very low cost, flat, rigid, rough surface, needs laminate coating | Furniture, flooring (requires finishing) |
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?