Softwood is a tern for lumber from conifer trees. Trees like pine, fir, cedar, cypress and yew all yield softwood flooring. These trees grow faster than trees that produce hardwood lumber, and are less dense.

Hardwood is more costly than softwood, but softwood flooring can look just as beautiful in your home. Softwood flooring has a lighter color, but still has a beautiful, natural wood flooring look. If you want a wood floor but don’t want to dish out for hardwood, softwood is a great alternative.

Of course, as you may have deduced from the name, softwood floors are not as durable as hardwood. They are more prone to scratches and marks. They are also more prone to decay and more affected by moisture. Of course, the most important thing to remember is to use a proper sealant on your floors, no matter if they are hardwood or softwood. This will ensure that they last a long time.