Contact us today and speak with one of our estimators!
Hard Flooring is a popular flooring choice for many business owners like law firms and high-end offices. It is durable, looks great, and is easy to maintain.
There is a large variety of woods that can be used for hardwood flooring. Some types are more durable than others, and some offer easier installation and maintenance. If you’re considering hardwood flooring in your commercial location, it’s important to understand the different types available. Here is a brief overview:
Cedar: This is a popular choice due to its resistance to moisture damage. It has an attractive appearance with beautiful grains, but needs routine cleaning with soap and water to maintain its rich color over time. Though cedar is easy to and less expensive than most other hardwoods, it is not as durable and may dent or scratch more easily.
In the United States, domestic and exotic wood flooring varieties are divided into two categories. Walnut, ash, birch, American cherry, maple, and red oak are some of the domestic wood species available in the United States. Amendoim, Brazilian cherry, bamboo, and tigerwood are just a few of the exotic tree species.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each tree species. Each has a distinct cellular structure that results in varied physical characteristics. Although they are all hardwood floors, their properties differ. Domestic and exotic hardwoods have different grain patterns, colors, and hardness. Furthermore, the cost of flooring wood varies depending on the type.
Here’s a chart comparing the most frequent hardwood flooring types. The five choices, both domestic and foreign wood flooring kinds, are included in this list.
In the United States, oak is the most prevalent wood. It’s the flooring that you’ll find in many residential and commercial locations throughout the country since it’s a useful flooring material. Because it is a low-cost hardwood species, oak is resilient. Furthermore, because oak can be stained dark, medium, or light-colored, it has more aesthetic benefits than hickory. Its big grains hide flaws better than other hardwoods and conceal scuffs and dents much better than others do.
White oak and red oak are two varieties of oak used in flooring. Red and white oaks are known as such because of the bark color rather than the wood, although both have pink undertones. Because red oak’s tinted and natural hue is difficult to describe, it is called red oak. It is more popular than white oak, and it is a popular flooring choice since it accepts stains well, allowing you to use a wider range of colors. This also means you may tinker with the design at a later date. It has an excellent Janka hardness rating of 1290.
Red oak is more difficult to work with than white oak. It has a Janka hardness of 1360, which indicates that it’s a good hardwood flooring choice. Its natural wood color is grayish to golden brown in hue. White oak is widely used by property owners and designers who wish to avoid the red hue of red oak flooring.
The hardest wood species available on the market, hickory has a Janka hardness of 1820. It’s also known as pecan. Hickory was formerly a popular flooring choice, but red oak has been surpassed by newer options. Hickory is gaining popularity in the manufacture of engineered wood. Its rustic look is appealing, which is why it remains a popular flooring option despite its unique color. It has a creamy to medium brown tone.
Maple is a bright, light-colored wood. It has a natural creamy hue and may be yellow in a well-lit environment. Maple will give you the whitewash or grey appearance that you desire most. However, it isn’t as stain-resistant as oak. Maple is an excellent choice for a gymnasium flooring because of its toughness and resistance to scratches and dents. There are many species of maple with various Janka ratings available.
Bamboo is classified as a grass, not a tree, despite the fact that some species are as hard as hardwood trees. It’s also rather cheap. Bamboo is an environmentally advantageous flooring material because of this. Bamboo may be glued to concrete floors and has the advantage of being a cost-effective floor covering, especially in apartments.
Bamboo flooring comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and thicknesses. One disadvantage is that bamboo floors may not last long because some species do not survive. Furthermore, bamboo floors are difficult to maintain and may develop dents and stains over time. They are also sensitive to water. Furthermore, bamboo cannot be sanded like hardwood flooring.
It’s one of the most popular flooring choices in America, and it has a high-end look. It has a Janka hardness rating of 1010, which means it isn’t as hard as other flooring alternatives mentioned above. Walnut is chocolate brown and adds a sophisticated, warm feeling to rooms. With time, the wood will become lighter due to exposure to light. You should use area rugs after six months to avoid color changes on the floor due to light sensitivity;
There is also another kind of Walnut referred to as Ipe, which comes from Brazil. The wood has a Janka hardness of 3600. As a result, it’s suited for high-traffic flooring. It features a wide range of hues including medium brown to medium tan with stripes running through the grain and various designs that create warm and elegant spaces. Over time, the color darkens.
Brazilian Cherry and American Cherry are the two species of Cherry trees that may be utilized in flooring. This hardwood has a delicate texture and is usually left in its natural condition. Its natural hue is brownish-red. Because it gives a space a warm ambiance, it is popular.
The more an American Cherry ages, the more crimson it becomes. However, because it dents easily, it is rather expensive. It has a Janka rating of 995. After six months in light, the wood darkens on floors. If you intend to utilize area rugs, wait at least six months before using them so that the colors do not fade where they are placed from the rest of the space.
On the other hand, Brazilian Cherry has a high Janka hardness. It also includes a wide range of colors, ranging from deep red to reddish brown to blonde. It’s the most popular exotic wood species for flooring. Because the color variations may appear too busy in narrow strips, it’s used in wide boards.
It’s our mission is to provide the highest quality commercial flooring services at competitive prices, while giving delivering high levels of customer service throughout the project. Free Estimates with Competitive Pricing!
Contact us today and speak with one of our experts!
