There’s no question that wood has long reigned as the most popular flooring material, but it’s now enjoying a renaissance, thanks to new products, species, techniques, and “green” considerations. Let’s take a look at the basics of wood and explore some exciting trends in this versatile flooring material.
Hard or Soft?
Woods are classified into hardwood and softwood categories based on their density and ability to resist wear. Some of the most popular hardwoods for flooring include white oak, red oak, maple, beech, hickory, walnut, cherry, ash, and bamboo. These woods are prized for their hardness, which makes them resistant to dents and scratches. Hardwood floors show wear only on the surface and can easily be refinished with a light sanding and reapplication of stain and varnish.
Softwoods, on the other hand, are more prone to denting and scratching, although some consider this wear part of their charm. Popular softwood floors include pine, cedar, hemlock, and fir. These woods offer a rich, mellow tone that is highly regarded for rustic applications, such as in cabins or lodges. Softwoods also mellow into rich, warm colors, especially Douglas fir, which is prized for its yellow-to-red spectrum as it ages. However, softwoods are not ideal for high-traffic areas or spaces with heavy furniture, as they can be easily damaged. Additionally, pets’ nails can cause significant wear. Refinishing softwoods can be tricky, as sanding machines may create low spots unless constantly moved. There’s no doubt that softwoods require more maintenance than hardwoods, but for many, the authentic, rustic warm glow of the wood is worth it.
Better Living Through Science: Engineered Flooring
The most significant recent breakthrough in the flooring industry is the introduction of engineered flooring. Engineered flooring uses a stable plywood base with a surface laminate made of the finished wood, such as oak, cherry, maple, and others. The plywood base (which consists of several layers of wood laminates glued together at perpendicular grain directions) provides dimensional stability, reducing movement and warping, which are common with solid plank flooring. This feature makes engineered flooring much easier to install, as it stays straight and true. Additionally, engineered flooring is often sold in shorter lengths, making it easier to transport and work with, as the butt joints (where two ends meet) will always align straight without warping. Furthermore, since each piece is uniformly deep, you won’t experience the traditional “bump” where the ends meet.
Engineered flooring is almost always pre-finished, so once it’s installed, you’re done! It can be installed traditionally with tongue-and-groove fitting and nailing, glued directly to the subfloor, or, in some cases, with a metal-tab “snap-fit” feature that allows you to click the floor together. Engineered floors offer homeowners more options, such as the ability to install directly onto a cement slab—something that was not advisable with non-stable plank flooring. Engineered flooring is also suitable for use over radiant heat floors, unlike traditional wood floors.
Reclaimed Wood Flooring
Another exciting trend in flooring is the emergence of reclaimed lumber, which is milled into planks or engineered flooring. Reclaimed lumber offers two distinct benefits: 1) It recycles old wood from barns and factories that would otherwise end up in a landfill, and 2) The aged wood offers a richness and character that is impossible to find in new lumber. Popular reclaimed woods include hemlock, Douglas fir, southern pine, and cypress. The grain patterns, distress marks, and mellow tones of these woods create a floor with undeniable character.
New World Order: Flooring from Around the Globe
As the world becomes more interconnected, we’re seeing a rise in exotic woods being used in flooring. Species such as Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), Santos Mahogany (Cabriuva), Brazilian Teak (Cumaru), Bolivian Rosewood (Tiete), Tigerwood (Brazilian Koa), African Rosewood (Bubinga), Ebony, Cork, and Bamboo are showing up in flooring centers and even large home improvement stores. While these exotic woods tend to be more expensive than domestically sourced woods, their wide range of colors and unique styles make them worth considering for a truly distinctive floor.
Green Floors: Eco-minded Materials
No industry is untouched by the global push for environmental preservation, especially in forestry. There are several ways to satisfy your desire for a wood floor while maintaining environmental responsibility. Look for wood that has been grown and harvested in an eco-friendly manner, such as through selective harvesting or farmed wood. Bamboo is considered one of the “greener” flooring materials. Actually a species of grass, bamboo grows incredibly fast and is highly sustainable. There are several organizations dedicated to certifying wood products for sustainability, including The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). Of these, FSC is regarded as the most stringent in its certification process. Ask your dealer to help guide you through their selection of environmentally conscious wood flooring options.
What Lurks Beneath?
Before you replace your existing floor, it might be worth peeling back the layers to see what’s hidden underneath. I’ve come across perfectly good oak flooring with carpet glued or tacked to it, which you would never have suspected, as well as beautiful, pre-war hardwood beneath 1950s linoleum. In older homes, sometimes the subfloor is made of random-length hardrock maple. Explore a corner where you can dig down through the layers without creating an unsightly scar. When you find an interesting floor beneath, chances are it’ll be riddled with nail holes or covered with linoleum adhesive. Don’t worry—the nail holes will add character once you’ve sanded and refinished the wood, and the adhesive (while difficult) can be removed with solvents, scraping, and sanding. These older floors, brought back to life, often add unique charm and a bit of unexpected history to your home.
