The Top Ten Domestic Hardwood Flooring Species
Your living spaces should reflect your unique tastes and be an expression of your family's lifestyle. Even your floors can make an extreme difference in the way a room looks, whether you choose carpeting, laminate, or hardwood.
Finding a hardwood flooring match for your specific decor can be overwhelming, as there are over fifty wood species to choose from and even more finishes, textures, and colors from there. We'll go over the most popular species to date and help you discover the ways that each one could make a difference for your home.
Red Oak - As the most popular domestic wood species, Red Oak is one of the hardest varieties of wood available, which means that it will last for you and your family for many years. Durability is one of the most important aspects of choosing a wood species, depending on your situation. If you have heavy furniture that you enjoy moving around frequently, children, pets, or simply a lot of through-traffic, the harder your floors, the better. Red oak has pinkish undertones and moderate to heavy graining with slight color variation.
White Oak - If you're interested in staining and finishing in a unique color, then white oak might be perfect for your project. This species is even harder than red oak and is known for its exceptional stability. It has even been used for boat building and wine barrels for centuries due to its durable nature. White oak will give you a traditional look for your living spaces, but it is easy to put a spin on tradition with a fun finish or unique color.
Maple - This creamy wood species can vary from board to board, making your flooring completely one-of-a-kind. It often displays a graining called "birdseye" which is a distinctive pattern of marks that resemble little eyes.
American Cherry - For a natural color variation and a graceful appearance, try American Cherry floors for your home. It is often used in wider planks, and as it ages, it will darken from a warm, natural lighter color to a reddish-brown that is simply delightful.
Birch - Both yellow and red birch flooring are extremely popular wood species which offer golden brown with red undertones or a creamy white color with yellow undertones. This variety will help you match almost any color scheme within your home.
Walnut - This wood species adds a rich, natural element to any room with its chocolatey-brown color and visible knots and grain variations. For a warmth that no other wood species can deliver, choose walnut and add character to all of your living spaces.
Hickory - With a Janka Hardness Rating of 1820, Hickory is one of the hardest wood species in the market. It offers a delightful color variation that looks completely natural, ranging from medium to darker rustic browns to creamy whites. If you like the harmonic dissonance of hickory coloration, make the boards thinner to highlight this effect.
Ash - Ash is well-known for its distinctive and bold graining, which can appear straight, curly, or wavy. This unique graining will add a purposeful look to any room and make your current decor really stand out.
Beech - For a warmer color with red undertones, try Beech floors for a closed, tight, and straight grain. Adding beech sapwood can create some variation as it comes mostly in paler tans.
Yellow Pine - Pine is a softer wood, so it should be used in low traffic areas with lighter furnishings. If you're home decor is a little bit country, then this look will fit perfectly into all of your living spaces.
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100% Dry has been in the remediation business for over 20 years, helping families in Denver, CO and the surrounding areas rebuild after water, fire, or environmental damage to their homes. But we don't need an emergency to occur in order to transform your indoor spaces. Call us today to discuss all of your remodel options with our knowledgeable and skilled general contractors and discover the difference we can make for your next project.
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