What Hardwood is Best for Flooring?

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After you’ve decided on the best type of flooring for your project, you should consider wood species. Consider colour, grain pattern, cost, and upkeep. You should also think about hardness, which is another word for durability. The Janka hardness scale is used to assess hardness. The harder the wood, the higher the number. A Janka rating of at least 1,000 is recommended for hardwood floors.

Best Hardwood Species for Flooring

Five hardwood varieties (oak, walnut, hickory, maple, and cherry) are one of the most popular choices for residential Flooring Store, each with its own set of characteristics.

Hickory

With a Janka rating of 1820, hickory is a very long – lasting wood that is ideal for high-traffic areas—it was once a popular choice for school gymnasium floors. Mocha-toned hickory ranges from whipped cream beige with a hint of red to warm brown with dark brown strands. Hickory is well suited to rustic and country style because of its large knots and colour variation from board to board.

Oak

This popular hardwood comes in two varieties, both of which are extremely coveted for flooring options. Red oak, the most popular hardwood flooring option today, has a Janka rating of 1290 and is well suited for most flooring needs. Its warm colours range from creamy pink to golden red to rusty brown. It has elegant swirled grain patterns throughout and varies slightly in colour and grain pattern from board to board. Red oak works well with a variety of décor styles, including classic, rustic, contemporary, and country. White oak, chosen for its fine grain patterns and cool hues, is tougher than red oak, measuring 1360 on the Janka scale, making it an excellent choice for high traffic areas. White oak has grey undertones with no red undertones. Its grain and colour vary only slightly, creating an overall floor effect of smooth beauty that is appropriate for a wide range of design styles.

Cherry

Cherry, valued for its warm brown colours and smooth grain pattern, is relatively soft than some hardwoods, ranking 950 on the Janka scale—making it ideal for lower-traffic areas like dorm rooms and formal dining rooms. Cherry has a slight tendency to darken over time, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. Consider installing wide flooring planks (up to 8 inches) to highlight the beautiful grain pattern of this hardwood.

Walnut

Walnut is a popular choice for drama and sophistication due to its deep, rich, chocolate tones and large straight grain patterns. With a Janka rating of 1010, Walnut is suitable for medium-to-light traffic but may show wear after a few years in high-traffic areas. Color variations between boards are minor, giving walnut floors a seamless, consistent appearance.

Maple

Another long-lasting option, maple ranks 1450 on the Janka scale and is appropriate for most rooms. It’s a light-colored wood with shades of light cream, taupe, and tan, and it frequently has a slight reddish tint. The grain pattern of maple is fine, with infrequent dark streaks and specks that add visual interest to the wood. This hardwood goes well with a variety of styles, including modernity, transitional, and eclectic.

Cork

It comes in a range of colours from light to dark and has a distinct grain that distinguishes it from other woods (it’s truly the bark of an oak tree). It’s become popular for a variety of reasons, including its durability, sustainable development, and underfoot padding.

Conclusion

The best hardwood floors are made from readily available and — you deduced it — extremely hard wood species. Oak, maple, and cherry flooring are all excellent choices. Bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash, and mahogany are among the other species. More exotic species, such as teak, jarrah, and mesquite, command a higher price. Make certain that the hardwood flooring you select is sourced from sustainably harvested forest areas.