Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and popular choice of flooring that can add to the comfort and value of your home. However, there are LOTS of choices when it comes to hardwood and each one has different advantages. You have to consider things like color, hardness and durability, and, of course, your price point. Even after you have chosen your wood, there are a wide variety of options in terms of style, like the width of the plank and its design when laid out on the floor. Here we are going to talk a bit about the different types of wood to choose from and how to determine which is the best fit for your home.
Oak
Oak flooring is one of the most popular choices because it is a strong wood that resists dents and scratches. If you have small children, pets, or anticipate a high flow of traffic in that area, oak may be the right choice for you. On the design side, however, it is good to note that oak flooring typically has a highly visible grain pattern, meaning that you may see a lot of variation between the planks.
Ash
Ash flooring is easily identified by its light color. Of course, it can be stained darker if that is your preference, but it becomes a natural choice for homeowners who are looking to maintain a light and airy motif throughout their home. It is one of the hardest hardwoods available on the market and has the additional benefit of being less expensive that some of the alternatives.
Mahogany
Prized for its beauty and rich color, mahogany is highly durable and naturally water-resistant. It has a medium grain, so there will be some variation between planks, but with less contrast than oak. Hardwood in general has a classic look in your home, but mahogany has a rich timelessness that adds an touch of elegance.
Pine
Despite the fact that pine is commonly used for flooring, it is not actually a hardwood. Pine is very soft and will show scratches from heavy furniture or a dog’s nails, but it still extremely popular because of its characteristic pin holes and knots. These add unique interest to one’s flooring and can be quite beautiful.
Cherry
As might be inferred from the name, cherry hardwood flooring has a natural hint of red. This can be either drawn out or minimized depending on the stain that you choose to apply, but it will have a warmth of color that is distinct from other hardwood options. It is good to note that cherry hardwood will continue to darken as it ages, even after it has been installed in your home. The change happens slowly, so slowly that you probably will not notice it unless you take pictures of the floor for comparison’s sake years down the road.
Hickory
This highly durable wood is one of the hardest options on the market. Hickory hardwood flooring is a great option if you expect lots of foot traffic over the years. It has a beautiful rustic look that makes it a popular choose for farmhouse or log cabin designs and has a tight grain that will look good in almost any layout.
Walnut
This stunning hardwood is extremely strong and ranges from light to dark chocolate brown, depending on where the trees were grown. It has a flowing grain pattern with enough contrast to provide interest but is still subtle enough not to be distracting from the rest of the beauty in your home. Such beauty and durability, however, doesn’t come cheap and homeowners should be aware that this can be a major investment into your home.
Maple
Maple flooring is extremely popular because of how hard it is. In fact, most bowling alleys makes their lanes out of maple! While I’m sure you don’t plan to throw bowling balls around your home, just image that kind of strength and durability pitted against even your family’s wackiest activities. The biggest downside to maple is that the extremely tight grain pattern makes it difficult for maple to absorb dark stains, so before you purchase this flooring, make sure you take into consideration that naturally yellow tint of the wood.
Bamboo
One of the most eco-friendly choices available for hardwood flooring, bamboo is technically made of grass! Don’t associate that with weakness however, bamboo can be harder than many of the more tradition options for hardwood flooring. It has the added bonus of being light and flexible, making for easy installation in nearly any space. Bamboo is also naturally resistant to mold and mildew. Because it is a relatively recent addition to the market, bamboo is still budget friendly and can be a great choice if you are looking for beautiful, durable flooring that doesn’t break the bank. The biggest downside is that, while bamboo is trendy now, it doesn’t have the longevity in the market yet to know if it will still provide a solid return on your investment if you choose to sell a few years down the line.
Long Story Short
In the end, there are lots of fantastic choices available when it comes to hardwood flooring. Each wood brings its own natural coloring and character to the table, so no matter what style your home is there is bound to be a perfect match. If you have questions about a particular wood or would like to learn more about hardwood flooring in general, please don’t hesitate to give us a call (703-369-1600) or visit our website. Our friendly and educated staff would love to talk with you about what kind of flooring would best suit your family’s needs.