Warm, Lustrous, Elegant Hardwood

There’s nothing as elegant and inviting as a rich, warm, hardwood floor. But there are so many to choose from! It used to be that oak and maple were all you could get. Now, there are gorgeous exotics such as Tigerwood, Jatoba, Ipe, Cabreuva, Brazilian Cherry and more. Not only are these exotic woods beautiful, they are sometimes much harder than domestic woods.

Wood hardness is important if you have pets and an active family. The hardness of a specific wood is compared to other types of wood using the Janka Hardness Scale.

The Janka scale measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in the wood being tested. It’s one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear.

Besides the Janka hardness rating, there are other factors that contribute to the durability of a wood floor. The type of cut used to mill the wood (for example, plainsawn, quartersawn, riftsawn), the density of the wood cell structure, and the finish used.

Handscraped and distressed woods are popular with those who like a textured, rustic and antiqued finish. Nicks and scratches will only add character instead of ruining the look of these floors. Also, they usually come with a matte, rather than glossy finish, which helps hide scratches better.

Planks that are 4” to 7”in width are popular. They work especially well in large spaces and in homes with a more casual décor. If your home is small with a lot of hallways, it’s best to stick to planks that are narrower than 4”. Also, if you have a more formal, more traditional home, narrower planks look best.

The newest trend in hardwood is towards a yellowing and/or greying of the palette, which is still rich in tone, but lighter than the espresso brown of a few years ago. Domestic woods are making a comeback, with Hickory being especially popular.

Engineered wood is generally more dimensionally stable than solid, so it will expand and contract less with changes in temperature and humidity. It can also be sanded 1 or 2 times, depending on the thickness of the top layer.

If you have a plywood subfloor, you can use either solid or engineered hardwood. If you’re on concrete and /or on radiant-heated floors you must use engineered.

Hardwood flooring is a great option for people with allergies, it’s environmentally friendly and it increases the value of your home. It’s also one of the most beautiful, timeless and elegant flooring choices on the market today.

I have some gorgeous hardwood samples in the showroom, that can be lent out to you, and I have excellent installers too! We carry hardwood flooring by Mohawk, Tarkett, Dansk and Armstrong.

I used engineered Brazilian Tuauri in my home. I love it!