Hardwood Species Commonly Used for Floors

 

 

Hardwood Species Commonly Used for Floors Image

Listed By Alpha:

Name; Janka Hardness Scale Rating#
*indicates Exotic Species

To learn a little more about a flooring wood species, just click an option below.

American Black Walnut; 1010
Heartwood ranges from rich dark brown to black with an almost purple cast dramatically offset by white to light tan sapwood (NOTE: Flooring manufacturers often steam the wood to darken the sapwood, which bleeds the heartwood color into the lighter areas.) – color may darken over time. Open-grain with variations of light and dark; very fine and straight; can be patterned with curly or knots – overall a more rustic appearance, which makes it better suited to more traditional décor.

$$$

Beech; 1300
Reddish brown heartwood with distinctive creamy white sapwood streaks and swirls throughout – tightly- grained; smooth, uniform texture. Has excellent shock resistance and does not dent or ding easily, making it a good choice for high-traffic, hard-wearing floors.

$$

FUN FACT: Beech floors are often used for basketball courts.

Birch; 1260
Light brown or reddish heartwood with a noticeable sapwood variation of cream or light brown sapwood – tightly grained; straight, curly, or wavy patterns. Has the look of maple, hardness to maple and oak a similar – with an entry level price point. Birch has similar, with light and dark color variations to provide visual interest. If you don’t like a lot of knots and visible grain in your flooring, birch could be a good option for you.

$

Black Cherry; 950
Light to dark reddish–brown heartwood contrasting sharply with the light brown to light pinkish sapwood, which may be tone; significant color variations between boards is possible – extremely light-sensitive causing color change and darkening over short periods time when the wood is first exposed to light. Tight, often wavy grain with distinctive gum veins and pockets; satiny texture. Sure to age with grace and style, an elegant traditional flooring choice.

$$$

Brazilian Cherry* (AKA: Jatoba*); 2820
Medium hued reddish wood with darker streaks and course grain texture. Exceptionally hard and durable flooring material – will last for generations and stand up to heavy traffic.

$$$

Brazilian Maple* (AKA: Patagonian*); 1500
Beige and blonde with yellow tones – straight-grained; dense; finely textured with distinctive and varied curl markings. Attractive, durable, and affordable.

$$

Brazilian Teak* (AKA: Cumaru*); 3540
Ranges from a dark, honey brown to a light golden yellow – over time, if exposed to sunlight, tends to become more uniform in color. Extreme hardness and density – a great choice for any active household or high traffic area.

$$$

Brazilian Walnut* (AKA: Ipe*); 3680
Medium to very dark brownish black with little variation. Grain is fine to medium, straight, wavy or irregular. Wood is heavy, solid and oily. Has above average stability – one of the hardest and most durable wood available.

$$$

Hard Maple (AKA: Sugar Maple); 1450

Ranges from creamy white to light reddish brown – densely-grained; occasional quilted, fiddleback, or bird’s-eye detailing. Perfect for contemporary, clean, and airy décor.

$$

FUN FACT: Hard Maple floors are often used in bowling alleys.

Heart Pine (Antique); 1225
Wood that has been reclaimed and recycled – upcycled – from old structures.

Warm reddish-brown heartwood with pale yellow sapwood and some black sap staining – closed-grain with swirl or pinstripe patterning, depending on saw method; dense with a high degree of figuring. The grain pattern is usually either swirled or straight lines close together like pinstripes depending on the method used to saw. Dimensional stability varies with age and prior usage of wood. This classic antique can add distinction and style to any space offering a rich color palette, and strong grain – a timeless tradition

$$$

Hickory; 1820
Medium tan or light reddish brown with creamy sapwood streaks – closed grain; fine straight or wavy lines. Often considered interchangeable with pecan wood (a type of hickory) by the industry. Provides a good value for the money – can last a long time even in the high traffic area of a home with kids and pets.

$$$

Mesquite; 2345
Ranges from light to dark reddish brown with ingrown mineral streaks – variations are tonally moderate, yet distinctive. Quite durable, with a rustic quality unlike any other species of wood.

$$$

Northern Red Oak; 1290

Flooring industry median for hardness on Janka scale

Light in color and reddish in tone – open-grained; coarse with pattern (Note: Flake pattern, also known as butterflies or tiger rays, can appear on Quarter Sawn lumber).

$$$

NOTE: 1290 = Flooring industry median Janka hardness rating

Pecan; 1820

Reddish brown with dark brown streaks accented by creamy pinkish white sapwood – open grain; straight, wavy or irregular lines. Often regarded as interchangeable with hickory by the industry. Offering quality, durability and affordability – will also add warmth and interest to your home.

$$$

Red Oak; 1260

Light in color and reddish in tone – open-grained; coarse with pattern (Note: Flake pattern, also known as butterflies or tiger rays, can appear on Quarter Sawn lumber). The 2nd most commonly installed jobsite finished Solid Hardwood Flooring in this region.

*Priced according to plank size, grade (Select & Better, #1 Common, #2 Rustic Grade, Character Grade, etc.) and milling techniques (Plain Sawn, Quarter Sawn, Rift Sawn, etc.) – most commonly used by Floors Etc. is 2 ¼” X ¾” Select and Better, Quarter Sawn.

*$$$

Santos Mahogany*; 2200

Dark brown with lustrous red undertones and streaked grain. Dense, open-grained wood with an inherent, traditional warmth – will add sophisticated elegance to any décor.

$$$

Southern Yellow Pine; 870 to 690

Light yellow to yellowish brown, sometimes with an orange cast, accented by its yellowish white to pale tan sapwood – closed-grain; most often prominently and distinctively patterned and knotted. Hardy, dense, and full of character – rustic elegance defined

$$

Wenge*; 1630

Rich dark brown with thick, almost black, striping with contrasting pale beige sapwood – straight-grained; course; oily texture. From the African Millettia Laurentii tree. Beautiful and durable – an excellent choice for high traffic areas.

$$$

White Ash; 1320

Ranging from deep white to rich cream to very pale tan – distinct grain patterned with twisted, interwoven knots. With excellent shock resistance and good tensile strength, can withstand a long lifetime of lot of heavy traffic.

$$$

White Oak; 1360

most commonly used species for flooring in this region

Pale brown heartwood, some with a pinkish or slightly silver/gray cast, offset subtle sapwood variations in light cream to white – open-grain with sporadic swirls, burls and tight knots. The most commonly installed jobsite finished Solid Hardwood Flooring in this region.

*Priced according to plank size, grade (Select & Better, #1 Common, #2 Rustic Grade, Character Grade, etc.) and milling techniques (Plain Sawn, Quarter Sawn, Rift Sawn, etc.) – most commonly used by Floors Etc. is 2 ¼” X ¾” Select and Better, Quarter Sawn.

*$$$

For even more details about wood species, visit the National Wood Flooring Association.

Floors Etc. is NWFA certified