Whether you’re a new homeowner or an experienced contractor, selecting the perfect wood flooring for any home can be a daunting challenge. With so many species on the market, choosing the right flooring to match your lifestyle, home décor, and budget can be overwhelming. Below is a breakdown of our most popular flooring species with insight as to what each species brings to the table in terms of color ranges, prices, and hardness.
Oak
Oak flooring is undoubtedly the most popular hardwood flooring choice. This wood comes in a wide range of finishes, suitable for any home. Oak hardwood flooring scores a rating of 1290 on the Janka Hardness Scale, making it an ideal flooring type for high traffic areas. This tough floor resists dents and scratches and is perfect for kids and pets. The oak species has a distinct grain pattern that adds texture and detail to any room.
Acacia
Engineered Acacia hardwood floors can easily be recognized by their distinctive swirling grains and exquisite color variations. The impact chisel distressing techniques applied to Acacia wood provides a variety of looks that can complement any home décor. Acacia wood is one of the toughest and most durable wood flooring species out there. With a whopping 2400 rating on the Janka Hardness Scale, Acacia flooring is excellent for high traffic areas that are prone to dents and scratches.
Hickory
Hickory wood floors are divided into two groups: true hickory and pecan hickory. These two groups vary greatly in color, from red-brown to blond, as well as in grain patterns and knot markings. Since hickory is one of the more versatile floors on the market, customers can choose from both stained and natural finishes that gives floors a rustic feeling that can’t be matched. Hickory hardwood flooring rates 1820 on the Janka Hardness Scale, making this one of the hardest North American wood species.
Brazilian Cherry
Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, also known as Jatoba, carries a wide variety of unique brown-red tones with black streaking, which darken into a deep red color as the floor ages in your home. Not only is this type of flooring one of the most durable in the world, with a rating of 2350 on the Janka Hardness Scale, it has also been proven to be very resistant to termites and rotting. Brazilian Cherry wood flooring is a great option for high traffic area homes as well as commercial uses.
Birch
Birch hardwood floors have a distinct look that features whimsical grain patterns and a variety of color options. Whether you’re looking to brighten your home with a creamy Birch floor or go dramatic with a deep, complex color, Birch floors add unique and vibrant feels to any room. With a Janka rating of 1260, Birch floors are great for kids and pets and can withhold medium to high-level traffic.
Eucalyptus
If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option for your home, Eucalyptus wood flooring is an excellent choice. With color choices ranging from creamy light woods with gray undertones to rich chocolates, Eucalyptus flooring is a sensible choice that can match any décor. Eucalyptus has a rating of 1125 on the Janka Hardness Scale, making it one of the softer types of wood commonly used for floors and not great for high traffic areas. However, a bonus is that Eucalyptus flooring is often half the price of traditional wood flooring due to the trees rapid renewability. Not to mention that it looks great.
Walnut
Walnut is a luxurious species with chocolate and amber undertones and complex grain patterns. This type of flooring is perfect for traditional rooms or complementing existing décor or furniture. There is often color variation from board to board due to the variation in its sapwood, creating a unique, rustic look. American walnut wood is traditionally softer than Brazilian walnut wood, which rates an astounding 3680 on the Janka Hardness Scale. The Brazilian walnut is excellent for heavy traffic wears, while the American walnut flooring is better suited for rooms that do not see a lot of foot traffic.
