Hardwood flooring is elegant, timeless and has a natural beauty that can easily enhance any home design – traditional, rustic, contemporary, hardwood works with them all. For this reason, it is no surprise that wood floors are such a popular option for many homeowners. If you are considering replacing your old floors with new hardwood flooring you will first need to choose the best type of hardwood flooring for your home. There are quite a few different wood species (both domestic and imported) used for hardwood flooring. The type of wood you select will influence the grain and colour of your floors as well as the durability.
Some of the top species options for hardwood flooring include:
Oak
Oak is adored for its classic look, warmth and character. Oak is radially available in two common varieties, Red Oak and White Oak. Both are extremely similar in toughness, appearance, grain and texture with the exception of colour. Red Oak is a readily available, Canadian made darker wood, while White Oak is a lighter flooring option with a softer grain that will pair well with a variety of furniture options.
Maple
One of the more popular flooring wood types in Canada, maple is known for its durability (as it is one of the hardest hardwoods available) and its ability to take stain very well. No matter if you are looking for a dark floor or a light floor, maple with its distinctive wood grain pattern is a perfect choice. It can even be stained to mimic other, more expensive species of wood.
Cherry
Cherry was once one of the most popular hardwood flooring options, known for its red and pink hues that shouted luxury. Today, reddish flooring is no longer in style and cherry wood has lost some of its popularity. However, either Brazilian and American cherry remain the go cherry wood option. Cherry is a fairly soft wood for hardwood flooring, meaning it will damage easier than other types of wood species. It is also sensitive to light, and can darken in hue over the years.
Hickory
As an extremely hard wood species, hickory is a great choice for homes with children and pets or high traffic areas. With minimum maintenance, your hickory hardwood flooring can last generations. This wood usually comes in a light-tan to a light reddish brown colour, but you may also find it in a white or cream variant. You will find a mix of straight and wavy grains making it a great choice for homes that have a more rustic style.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is made from bamboo stalks that have been mechanically processed. The bamboo stalks are available in multiple colour and texture options. Bamboo is known for its resistance to dampness and termites. Bamboo flooring compared to other hardwood flooring, is harder and extremely durable but also more comfortable, especially after standing on it for a long time.
When choosing the best hardwood flooring species type for your home, you need to base your selection on your design choices for the rest of your home and how much abuse or wear and tear the hardwood will need to take.