Why choose hardwood
Stunning hardwood floors can transform a room with ample natural beauty, a touch of tradition, and inherent warmth. You are able to capture a traditional vision or a hip, trending look with different finishes and mixed shade varieties. The organic markings and characteristics produce a unique feel, and genuine hardwood can be refinished and restored over time for an enduring appearance. Also, hardwood floors are the top preferred surface from prospective homebuyers down the line.
Types of hardwood
Explore different hardwood species, tones, textures, and finishes when selecting between different hardwood types. Each respective hardwood species has a specific hardness rating, which will make some varieties better suited for high-traffic areas more than others. Depending on the vision that you aim to achieve, different finishes such as matte or high gloss will produce different effects with light in the room. We also love exploring different visible graining patterns and textures such as smooth, wire brushed, and hand scraped. Mixed-shade hardwood floors can also create a dazzling effect that helps preserve a clean appearance longer between cleanings.
Hardwood Flooring Scale
Each species of hardwood has a different level of hardness. Some common domestic species like walnut, cherry, and birch are less hard in comparison to other common domestic species like maple, hickory, and oak.
The hardness of solid wood is measured according to a system called the Janka Scale. The Janka Scale gives a good indication of how well a wood species can be expected to withstand dents and dings. The scale is determined by the amount of pound-force required to push a .444-inch diameter steel ball halfway into the wood.
Ratings for both domestic and imported species are included in the scale; however, none of these values apply to engineered wood flooring. While Janka values give a general sense of how hard solid wood is, other factors also contribute to the durability of wood as well. This can include things like how the wood is cut and the finish that is applied to the wood.
Hardwood Cleaning Tips
We carry the top brand names in flooring
Hardwood inspiration
Great ideas inspire even more great ideas. When you look through our hardwood inspiration gallery,
make note of your favorite wood species, styles, and design solutions, then bring them to our experts.
