Types Of Wood Used For Hardwood Flooring

When you first start to look at your options for hardwood flooring, you will quickly realize that there are many different types of wood that you can choose from. Each wood has its own physical characteristics, including the grain pattern, hardness, and color.

One of the most important characteristics of wood is its hardness. A wood’s hardness refers to how easily it scratches and dents. The Janka Hardness Scale is used to measure a wood’s hardness. One of the most popular hardwood floorings is red oak, and it is often used as a benchmark to compare the hardness of other woods against. The hardness of Red Oak is 1290, and so anything with a score less than 1290 is soft and will be easier and more likely to dent and scratch. A score higher than 1290 is going to be more resistant.

Here’s a brief look at some of the most popular types of wood to use for hardwood flooring:

Domestic Hardwood

Domestic hardwoods come from the forests in North America and are the most commonly used hardwood flooring here in the United States. They vary widely in hardness, grain, and color, but usually have a more rustic look than exotic hardwoods do. Some of the most common are red oak (1290), white oak (1360), maple (1450), hickory (1820), walnut (1010), and cherry (950). These options tend to be more budget friendly than exotic hardwoods as well.

Exotics

Exotic hardwoods are hardwoods that are imported from other countries. In general, these tend to be hard, like Brazilian cherry or mahogany. They tend to come in vibrant colors with a rich, beautiful grain. Some of the most popular exotics are Brazilian Cherry or jatoba (2350), Brazilian Walnut or ipe (3680) Tigerwood (216), Acacia (1160), Brazilian Teak (3540), and Santos Mahogany (2200).

Bamboo

While bamboo is not technically a hardwood, since it is produced from shredding or slicing the bamboo stalk and then adhering them together, it has become a popular option and shares many of the same characteristics as hardwood. The durability and hardness of bamboo can vary depending on how it’s manufactured and finished. It is also a highly renewable option since it is fast growing and can be ready to harvest in around 3 to 5 years.

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful flooring option that can last a lifetime or longer. When deciding on what type of wood to get, much of the choice is going to be based on your aesthetics and taste. Most of the other characteristics, like durability and stain-resistance, are going to vary based on the type of finish that is on the wood. Let Carpet Depot help by showing us the color and grain you love, and we can help to choose the kind of wood that best suits you, your lifestyle, and your budget.