Choosing Hardwood Flooring

Installing hardwood floors is a very important home improvement decision. People often prefer hardwoods over carpets because they are easy to clean, and prevent the accumulation of germs and insects. They are also good looking and add elegance to the environment and value to homes and offices.

Once you have decided that hardwood will be the material for your next flooring installation, you still have to choose the wood species. There are many options, with durability, aesthetic appeal and physical features. The following are the most widely used hardwoods, with brief descriptions about their characteristics, such as color, grain and hardness.

Alder: For people who are not much concerned with their floor's toughness or strength, but still want to have a hardwood floor with lasting beauty, alder is a recommended species. Very consistent in color, varying from light red or pale pinkish-brown to almost white, alder also has a uniform texture.

Ash: Ash is used extensively in the making of quality hardwood floors. The American ash has species of white, brown, and black with color ranging from nearly pure lustrous white, and cream to very light brown. Ash hardwood has excellent shock resistance and good bending qualities, an ideal wood to be used in areas where humidity changes can cause some contraction and expansion to the flooring boards.

Cherry: Known for its impressive woodworking qualities, cherry hardwood is one of the easiest species to work with, especially for flooring. It is highly moisture resistant with minimal shrinkage and swelling. Cherry hardwood is also popular for its rich reddish-brown color which darkens beautifully into a lustrous burgundy with age and exposure to sunlight. It has an exceptionally glossy appearance, adding a warm atmosphere to any interior.

Black walnut Black walnut is a decorative hardwood used widely throughout the world. It is dark brown to purplish black in color. It is noted for its beautiful distinctive grain. This species produces a greater variety of figure types than any other wood. Although, black walnut hardwood flooring has good dimensional stability, it is not recommended in high traffic areas, but is a preference as a general building material due to its ease of use.

Hard Maple: Maple wood is known to be harder than oak. It is a popular choice for homeowners wanting something a bit lighter colored than oak. It is available in a range of textures, from plain white to reddish brown. The texture is not only uniform but also naturally resistant to abrasion, scratches and dents.

Oak: Popular for its heavy and tough nature, oak is one of the most favorite hardwoods. It is quite durable and is termed best for the everyday wear and tear of an active family environment. This hardwood species is also very good looking and is available in a variety of colors, depending on your choice of red oak or white oak. Both red and white oak are known for their usefulness for all applications.