The best domestic hardwoods for wood flooring
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Whether you have a formal home right out of Architectural Digest or a cozy cottage filled with kids and pets, there’s a wood floor that’s right for you.
Wood flooring is easy to care for, and it holds its value over the years. In fact, real estate agents say that homes with wood floors sell faster and sell for more.
It’s made from a renewable resource — in fact, some wood flooring is recycled from old ships and barns. And it’s better for people with allergies than carpeting.
There are hundreds of kinds of wood available. Most come in three grades:
1) Clear or First Grade. This wood has no visible defects, such as knots, and no variations in color.
2) Select or Second Grade. May have a few imperfections like some dark grains or knots, and some other minor variations.
3) Rustic or Third Grade. Inconsistent. Variations in color and grain, and lots of knots and other imperfections.
The most popular domestic hardwoods.
It may surprise you to know that the term hardwood doesn’t really have anything to do with the hardness of the wood. In fact, one of the softest woods around, balsa, is a hardwood. And yew, which is pretty hard, is actually a softwood.
Softwood comes from coniferous trees (those that bear cones). And hardwood comes from broad-leafed, angiosperm trees.
Domestic hardwoods used for wood flooring are:
Red Oak. With its strong open grain, neutral color, and solid durability, red oak is a great choice for many different environments. The color blends well with lighter and darker woods — it looks great with mahogany furniture. And it works well in casual or sophisticated settings. More than 50% of all hardwood floors are red oak.
White Oak. The tighter, less pronounced grain of white oak is extremely straight. And it’s lovely enough for formal rooms. The lighter color fades a little less than red oak, and it creates a light, airy room.
Maple. Harder than oak, maple is extremely scratch and dent resistant. That’s why it’s the first pick for bowling alleys, basketball courts, and Fender guitar necks. The tight, even grain is lovely. And First Grade Maple, which comes only from sapwood, has a beautiful, pale color. It will make any room seem larger.
Black Walnut. If you want a dark floor with a lovely, curly grain, walnut is a good option. It’s not as hard as oak, so it will scratch more easily. Consequently, it isn’t a great choice if you have a dog over 50 pounds. But it can help to create a very dramatic room. Speaking of dogs, if your blonde dog sheds, the hair will be visible on Black Walnut.
Ash. Similar in appearance to oak, ash is attractive and durable. So much so that it’s the first choice for Louisville Sluggers. The color ranges from white to brown. And the bold grain is sometimes wavy.
Beech. Very close to oak in hardness, beech has a straight, closed grain and a smooth finish. The sapwood is very pale and the heartwood is a reddish brown.
American Cherry. One of the most beautiful domestic hardwoods, American Cherry takes on a rich glow when finished properly. The color, which ranges from pale to a warm, reddish brown, creates a rich, sophisticated look that says quality.
Any of these woods will give you beautiful wood floors that will enhance the appearance and value of your home, and last for generations.
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