Softwoods

Name
Description
Use
Pine -scots pine (Red Deal)

A European softwood. Straight grained. Easy to work but knots cause problems. Cheap and widely available. Very pale cream darkening to light brown with age and exposure to the air.

Deal is a word used to cover a wide range of softwoods including spruce and Douglas fir.

Construction work such as roof trusses and joists. Popular for DIY work. If used outside it must be treated. Pressure treating with preservative - tanalising will protect pine for 10 to 15 years. e.g decking and fence posts.
Parana pine
A rain forest softwood. Grown in South America. Virtually knot free and straight grained. Strong and tough. Pale yellow in colour with streaks of red/brown and sometimes purple. Main use is staircase manufacture. Also used for furniture and doors.