What is pine wood?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Softwood · from our workshopPine
Warm reddish-brown heartwood, striking growth rings and the scent of resin. Popular with builders and DIYers alike — but not all pine is the same.
- Pinus sylvestris · Scots pine
- 500–520 kg/m³
- Heartwood ≠ sapwood — that decides everything
Scots pinePinus sylvestris
Pine at a glance
Pine comes from the Scots pine and is one of the most widely used woods in Europe. Growing site, drying method and treatment together determine how it behaves in practice — more so than with most other species.
Where spruce is pale and even, pine is lively: a clear difference between the reddish-brown heart and the pale outer ring, bold knots and growth rings you can see from a metre away. That figure is exactly what people love about pine — and at the same time the reason you need to know which part of the trunk you are holding.
The slower the tree grew, the denser the growth rings and the more durable the wood. That is why Scandinavian pine comes first for outdoor work.
- Botanical
- Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)
- Heartwood
- reddish brown to orange brown
- Sapwood
- yellowish white to cream
- Density
- 500–520 kg/m³ (air-dry)
- Hardness
- 1,630 N (Janka)
- Outdoors
- ±10–15 years, with protection
- Price range
- entry level
To be fair: knots and resin come with pine — if you want a clean, even surface, you are better off looking at Douglas fir or hardwood.
Which part of the trunk do you have?
The reddish-brown heartwood contains natural resins: class 3 to 4. The pale sapwood lacks that protection almost entirely: class 5, always treat it outdoors. That decides whether your board lasts ten years outdoors or three.
Click a chapter or use the arrows · cross-sections and timelines simplified.
Heartwood and sapwood behave differently
This is not a detail for woodworkers: it decides whether your board lasts ten years outdoors or three.
The dark inner core
Contains natural resins and therefore has some resistance to moisture and insects.
- Durability class 3 to 4 — moderately to slightly durable
- Reddish brown to orange brown in colour
- First choice for cladding and outdoor work
The pale outer ring
Lacks that natural protection almost entirely. Outdoors it must always be treated — without exception.
- Durability class 5 — not durable
- Yellowish white to cream in colour
- Takes stain and paint very well
Origin determines quality
Scots pine grows from Scotland deep into Siberia. For our market three supply regions count — and they deliver noticeably different wood.
Scandinavia
Sweden, Finland, Norway. Slow growth in the cold gives closely spaced growth rings: harder, denser and stronger wood. The most sought-after segment for construction and outdoor use.
Baltic states
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. Large export volume to Western Europe, with a quality comparable to Scandinavian pine — depending on the forest area.
Central Europe
Germany, Poland, Czechia. Faster grown in the milder climate and therefore slightly less dense. Widely used in construction and the pallet industry.
Technical properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Pinus sylvestris |
| Heartwood colour | Reddish brown to orange brown |
| Sapwood colour | Yellowish white to cream in colour |
| Density (air-dry) | 500–520 kg/m³ |
| Hardness (Janka) | 1,630 N |
| Durability class heartwood | Class 3–4 — moderately to slightly durable |
| Durability class sapwood | Class 5 — not durable |
| Dimensional stability | Moderate — moves with large swings in moisture |
| Workability | Good; sharp tools recommended because of the resin |
How to recognise pine
Resin
The resin canals give pine its scent and its natural protection. They can bleed through a coat of paint — sealing with a primer helps.
Knots
Typical of pine. Sound, tight knots are decorative and not a structural problem; loose knots that can fall out are rejected in structural timber.
Growth rings
Clearly visible and responsible for the warm, lively look. In slow-grown Scandinavian pine they are strikingly close together.
Movement
Pine reacts to changes in moisture. Well-dried material (kiln dried) moves considerably less than green-sawn wood.
What goes where
Each use has its own point of attention — with pine that matters more than with most species.
| Use | Examples | Point of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Structural timber (dry) | Rafters, beams, floorboards, studwork and battens | Use dried material (moisture content below 18%); allow for movement |
| Indoor furniture | Cupboards, tables, beds, stair treads | Decorative look; seal resin pockets before a lacquer finish |
| Cladding | Cladding and weatherboards | Preferably heartwood; treat with opaque paint or stain |
| Garden timber and decking | Fencing, fence panels, pergolas | Impregnated pine strongly recommended; untreated it rots quickly in ground contact |
| Interior joinery | Skirting boards, mouldings, interior frames | Stable humidity (40–60%) considerably extends its life |
For garden furniture where looks and durability weigh equally, a hardwood is usually the more robust choice. Read what is hardwood or what is teak. If you are looking for a softwood that is naturally more durable, look at Douglas fir.
Working pine: five practical rules
What we have learned at the saw bench — and what DIYers skip most often.
- Dry first, then workAlways work with dried pine. Green-sawn material shrinks and warps as it dries — a mistake that proves costly later.
- Sharp toolsResin blunts saw blades and chisels quickly. Regular sharpening or replacing is no luxury with pine.
- Seal the resin pocketsWant to lacquer pine? First treat resin-rich spots and knots with a shellac-based knot sealer or an isolating primer, otherwise the resin will bleed through the paint.
- Grease-free glue surfacesPine glues very well, as long as it is clean. Wipe resin off the glue surfaces with white spirit before gluing.
- Pre-drillingPrevents splitting, especially at knots or when fixing along the grain.
Maintenance, indoors and outdoors
Little work
- Dusting or dry cleaning is enough for lacquered or oiled pine.
- Keep the humidity stable between 40 and 60% — especially with floorboards and wide tabletops.
- Protect against prolonged direct sunlight: UV discolours and dries out the wood.
Treating is not optional
- Untreated pine has a short life outdoors. Treat it with wood oil, stain or opaque paint.
- Repeat every one to two years, depending on the weather.
- Check for loose paint, small cracks or mould — acting early prevents major damage.
- Pressure-treated pine also needs a periodic coat to keep looking good.
Wood oil for outdoor pine
A good wood oil is the basis of every maintenance plan — suitable for untreated wood and for previously oiled surfaces.
Prefer less maintenance?
If you are looking for garden furniture that stays beautiful for years without intensive treatment, hardwood — such as teak — is the lower-maintenance choice.
Frequently asked questions about pine
Is pine suitable for outdoors without treatment?
No. The heartwood reaches durability class 3 to 4, the sapwood class 5 — the lowest. Outdoors you use pressure-treated pine, or pine that you treat regularly with a good wood oil or stain.
What is the difference between Scandinavian and Central European pine?
Scandinavian pine grows more slowly in the cold, so the growth rings are closer together: higher density, more strength, more durability. Central European pine grows faster, is slightly less dense and more often goes to less demanding uses, such as general structural timber and pallets.
Why is resin bleeding through my painted pine?
Pine contains resin canals that stay active, even after the wood has been painted; heat speeds this up. The solution: before painting, treat resin-rich spots and knots with a shellac-based knot sealer or an isolating primer.
How do I tell pine from spruce?
Pine has a redder-brown heartwood and smells more strongly of resin. Spruce is lighter in colour, has hardly any visible heartwood and contains little resin. In the trade both are sometimes sold together as "softwood". The full story is in pine or spruce.
Can I use pine for decking or a garden floor?
Yes, but only impregnated pine. Untreated pine in ground contact rots quickly — the sapwood is in class 5. Pressure-treated pine is suitable for ground contact and keeps its properties for years, provided you refresh the surface periodically.
How long does pine last outdoors?
Untreated, only a few years. Well impregnated and regularly maintained, pine easily reaches 15 to 25 years, depending on the use and exposure. Outdoors, hardwood performs better on average with less maintenance.
Compare pine
Pine is one of the twelve species in our register. Feel free to put it next to its closest relatives.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Pinus sylvestris — Per Vetlesen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pinus — Philipp Zinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pinus sylvestris — Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Pinus sylvestris — Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 4.0