Is Larch a Hardwood? + More About the Larch Tree

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In the vast world of wood types, many woodworkers often confuse larch wood’s classification and use it for projects that may not be suitable.

In this guide, our woodworking experts will explain if larch is a hardwood and dissect its characteristics to explore its potential uses in woodworking.

Hardness and Classification of Larch

Larch stands out as one of the toughest softwoods known, despite being a part of the softwood family. It has exceptional qualities such as toughness, durability, strength, water resistance, and outstanding shape consistency that surpass most softwoods.

The Janka Hardness Test, which measures wood hardness based on shear and wear resistance, rates larch at 830 lbf (3,690 N), making it harder than numerous softwoods and some hardwoods.

As a deciduous softwood, larch features a consistently straight grain, robust fibers, and smooth texture, contributing to its remarkable performance.

Larch wood log

The extractives and resins in larch wood further enhance its durability, resulting in larch furniture typically lasting a minimum of 15 years. These pieces can last more than twice as long when properly maintained, solidifying Larch’s reputation as a distinctively hard softwood.

Its impressive durability makes it an excellent choice for outdoor applications, such as decking and fencing.

Larch wood’s unique blend of strength, longevity, and versatility has garnered popularity across various woodworking projects, providing users with a reliable and resilient material that stands the test of time.

The Hardness of Larch vs. Other Wood Species

Recognized as a premium softwood, larch wood boasts an impressive Janka hardness score of 830 lbf, making it a strong and durable option for various projects.

To better understand its hardness, we will explore how larch wood’s rating stacks up against other popular wood types, such as Pine, Cedar, and Redwood, providing valuable context for its impressive durability and strength.

cutting larch wood

This comparative analysis will reveal larch wood’s unique position within the woodworking industry and highlight its potential for a wide range of applications, both indoor and outdoor.

By examining larch wood’s performance compared to other well-known wood varieties, you’ll appreciate its exceptional characteristics and suitability for diverse woodworking projects.

This deeper understanding allows us to make more informed decisions when selecting materials for specific purposes, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our endeavors.

Ultimately, larch wood’s remarkable hardness and durability, coupled with its natural beauty and versatility, make it an ideal choice for those seeking a reliable and resilient material for their woodworking needs.

Species of Wood

Janka Hardness

White Cedar

320 lbf (1,423 N)

Aspen

350 lbf (1,557 N)

White Pine

380 lbf (1,690 N)

Sugar Pine

380 lbf (1,690 N)

Engelmann Spruce

390 lbf (1,735 N)

Basswood

410 lbf (1,823 N)

Redwood

420 lbf (1,868 N)

Cypress

510 lbf (2,269 N)

Black Spruce

520 lbf (2,313 N)

Hemlock

540 lbf (2,402 N)

Silver Maple

700 lbf (3,100 N)

Douglas Fir

710 lbf (3,158 N)

Yellow Pine

870 lbf (3,870 N)

Larch

830 lbf (3,690 N)

Red Maple

950 lbf (4,200 N)

Black Cherry, Imbuia

950 lbf (4,200 N)

Cherry

995 lbf (4,430 N)

Black Walnut, North American Walnut

1,010 lbf (4,500 N)

Teak

1,155 lbf (5,140 N)

Yellow Birch / Baltic birch

1,260 lbf (5,600 N)

Red Oak (Northern)

1,290 lbf (5,700 N)

American Beech

1,300 lbf (5,800 N)

Ash (White)

1,320 lbf (5,900 N)

White Oak

1,360 lbf (6,000 N)

Hard Maple, Sugar Maple

1,450 lbf (6,400 N)

Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood

1,820 lbf (8,100 N)

Golden Teak

2,330 lbf (10,400 N)

Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba

2,350 lbf (10,500 N)

Red Mahogany, Turpentine

2,697 lbf (12,000 N)

Brazilian Walnut

3,684 lbf (16,390 N)

Despite being categorized as a softwood, larch wood demonstrates exceptional hardness, outperforming many other wood varieties, including Cypress, Pine, Redwood, Aspen, Spruce, and Hemlock.

trimming larch wood

This rare blend of hardness and resilience, typically not found in softwoods, renders larch wood an extraordinarily versatile material for many woodworking endeavors.

To fully comprehend its capabilities, it’s essential to delve deeper into larch wood’s distinctive features and properties, which grant it its impressive hardness and overall superior performance in a vast array of woodworking applications.

By examining the wood’s grain structure, fiber strength, moisture resistance, and natural defense mechanisms, we can better understand the qualities that make larch wood a standout choice among its softwood counterparts and a favorite among woodworkers and artisans alike.

Key Characteristics of Larch Wood

Larch wood’s heartwood showcases a striking color spectrum from yellow to reddish-brown hues, enhanced by well-defined growth rings and small knots that add a touch of natural charm.

sanding larch wood

The wood’s straight grain, even texture, and resilient fibers create a strong, hard, and durable material that outshines the majority of softwoods.

Although not immune to extreme weather, larch wood is resistant to moisture, temperature variations, and insect bites/attacks, courtesy of its inherent repellent properties and hardwood fibers.

Furthermore, larch wood’s exceptional rot and decay resistance distinguishes it from other softwoods, often necessitating restoration solutions like Flexseal.

As a softwood, larch is remarkably easy to work with, providing excellent workability for drilling, screwing, and cutting tasks. Its hardness and toughness minimize chipping, making it an ideal candidate for wood projects.

Additionally, finishing and gluing larch wood are straightforward processes, reinforcing its status as an undervalued option in woodworking.

piling blocks of larch wood

Key qualities of larch wood include

These attributes characterize larch wood as a unique and versatile option.

Pros and Cons of Larch Wood

gluing larch wood

Pros

Cons

What Projects Are Larch Best Used For?

Larch wood’s remarkable versatility and distinctive characteristics have garnered its popularity across a diverse range of applications.

Its strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal make it an ideal choice for numerous projects. Some of the most suitable and common uses for larch wood include:

Larch wood, as an impressively versatile softwood with an array of favorable attributes, requires only the use of a high-quality finish, such as Tung oil [1] or Danish oil, to maximize its potential.

See Also: Larch Wood’s Disadvantages 

By applying a suitable finish, one can effectively extend the wood’s lifespan to well beyond 15 years, reaping the benefits of its durability, strength, and natural beauty without encountering any substantial problems.

larch wood flooring

Additionally, proper care and maintenance can further prolong larch wood’s service life, allowing for an even longer period of enjoyment.

This combination of longevity and adaptability makes larch wood an ideal choice for various applications, providing homeowners and woodworkers with a reliable and attractive material that stands the test of time.

The Strength of Larch Wood

Larch wood surpasses most softwoods in terms of toughness, durability, and hardness, making it stronger than popular softwoods such as Redwood, Cedar, Spruce, and Pine.

Its tough, solid fibers and remarkable structural stability contribute to long-lasting furniture and wood projects. Larch wood’s compressive strength is 8,120 psi parallel to the wood grain, while its bending strength is 4,600 psi, showcasing its remarkable strength.

Its adequate bending resistance allows for easy steam bending. Although larch wood is highly durable, it does not match the strength of abundant hardwoods such as Hickory, Mahogany, and Ash, making it less suitable for construction materials.

larch wood log cut

However, workability and water resistance make it ideal for boat construction. Larch wood’s outstanding hardness and strength make it a versatile option for indoor and outdoor woodworking projects.

More about different wood types here

Can You Split Larch Easily?

Larch, being a softwood, splits easily, making it an outstanding choice for firewood. Once split, the wood can be left to dry and later used as a reliable and efficient fuel source.

Larch wood’s impressive strength and durability safeguard it from cracking during the drying process and promote its ability to burn for extended periods, offering a consistent and continuous heat output.

Its high resin content further enhances its burning performance, resulting in a hotter, longer-lasting fire.

These combined attributes elevate larch as a highly desirable firewood option among consumers who value both quality and performance in their choice of fuel for heating their homes and creating a cozy atmosphere.

squaring larch wood

Is Larch Wood Harder Than Birch?

Birch, classified as a hardwood, exhibits a significantly higher hardness level than larch, a softwood.

This distinction in material properties results in birch being stronger, tougher, and more durable, making it a prime candidate to replace larch in applications where increased construction quality and exceptional resistance to environmental factors, such as moisture, are paramount.

Larch and birch’s Janka ratings show their hardness difference, underscoring birch’s aptness for demanding woodworking and the need for material selection based on project needs.

Type of Wood

Hardness

Birch

1,260 lbf

Larch

830 lbf

Is Larch Harder Than Maple Wood?

Maple, a renowned hardwood, demonstrates superior hardness, strength, and durability compared to larch, which is a softwood.

The hard and soft maple varieties exhibit greater performance than larch in these critical areas, making them more suitable for applications that demand enhanced resilience and longevity.

sanding larch wood board

Janka ratings highlight larch and maple hardness differences, stressing the significance of evaluating each wood’s properties for the optimal material choice in woodworking projects.

Maple’s exceptional characteristics make it popular for various uses, from furniture and cabinetry to flooring and musical instruments.

Type of Wood

Hardness

Larch

830 lbf

Soft Maple

950 lbf

Hard Maple

1,450 lbf

FAQ

Is larch a durable wood?

Yes, larch is a durable wood, exhibiting impressive strength, hardness, and resistance to rot and decay compared to most softwoods.

How long does larch wood last?

When properly maintained and finished, larch wood can last over 15 years, with some instances of well-cared-for larch wood furniture lasting even longer.

Conclusion

While larch is not a hardwood, its unique strength, durability, and resistance to rot and decay sets it apart from most softwoods.

It possesses many qualities that rival some hardwoods, making it a versatile and valuable choice for various woodworking applications, both indoors and outdoors.

Robert Johnson is a woodworker who takes joy in sharing his passion for creating to the rest of the world. His brainchild, Sawinery, allowed him to do so as well as connect with other craftsmen. He has since built an enviable workshop for himself and an equally impressive online accomplishment: an extensive resource site serving old timers and novices alike.
Robert Johnson
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