After determining whether you want floors made of solid hardwood or engineered hardwood, you have the option of selecting flooring made from a variety of wood species, each of which will have a different impact on the aesthetic and performance of your floors.
The following is a list of some of the most common species or types of wood that are available to homeowners as options for their new flooring. By the way, here you can find the advantages of installing hardwood flooring in your homes.
1. American Walnut
Walnut from the United States is a type of soft, dark wood that is known for its distinctively swirling grain. Because of this, the type of wood in question is an arresting option for interior design; nevertheless, because it is prone to denting and scuffing, it should not be utilized in high-traffic sections of a house.
2. Bamboo
Because bamboo flooring consists of compressed strands of bamboo, contrary to popular belief, it is not a natural wood product. However, due to the fact that it appears to be made of wood, it might be classified as wood flooring.
It is also cheaper per square foot and has a tougher surface that is two to three times as hard as most natural woods. Bamboo is a plant that grows quite quickly, making it both environmentally beneficial and readily available.
Since bamboo is more difficult to stain than actual wood, it is more common for home improvement retailers to sell it prefinished and in a variety of color options.
3. Cherry
Cherry wood is a popular choice for flooring, despite the fact that it carries a higher price tag than other options due to its desirable appearance. It may be used in a variety of settings and has a hue that can be described as light reddish brown with swirling grains.
However, due to its high photosensitivity, it is likely to become darker within the first few months after it has been installed.
Additionally, it is the natural wood flooring type that is the most susceptible to scuffing, staining, denting, and warping. Among all the natural wood floorings, it is the softest wood flooring material.
4. Maple
Another well-known species of hardwood that is native to the northern United States and Canada is maple. Flooring made of maple is typically more durable than flooring made of oak and is therefore frequently used for bowling alley lanes and other underfoot areas.
5. Oak
Oak is the most popular species of hardwood that is used for flooring in the United States because it is inexpensive, long-lasting, and simple to deal with. Both red oak and white oak, which has a yellowish-brown coloration, are common choices for flooring.
The former has an appearance that is darker and reddish than the latter. Because it has a hardness level of about 1360, flooring made of white oak can withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic areas of your home.
6. Parquet
The history of parquet flooring can be traced back to the parqueterie courts in France around the 1600s. It is not a species of wood but rather a method of installing wood floors using planks.
To create a parquet floor, little panels of a single type of wood are arranged in a pattern that is geometric and angular.
Parquet floor designs include chevron parquet, square parquet, or herringbone parquet. Although it requires regular maintenance, parquet flooring not only accentuates the natural beauty of the wood’s grain pattern but also increases the value of your home.
7. Pine
Pine is a choice for flooring that is both affordable and environmentally friendly because it is a relatively soft wood that is abundant in both the United States and Canada. Because it is more susceptible to dents and scratches than other types of hardwoods, pine isn’t always the best choice for refinishing.
Despite this, this wood is frequently used in interior design because of its endearing grain and the adaptability of its white and yellow tones.