American Cherry

american cherryRefined. Charming. Classic.
That’s American cherry.

American cherry wide plank floors have been a mainstay in American homes for generations
because they offer a natural richness that is nearly impossible to replicate. The reddish hues of this species will light up any room with their time-honored charm.

American cherry has a fine, consistent grain pattern and often exhibits significant color variation from plank to plank, ranging from reddish brown in the heartwood to a vibrant red or light pink in the sapwood. Cherry flooring darkens to a deep auburn color within six to eight months of being milled, and continues to darken with age. A linseed oil-based finish or any European hardening oil will accelerate this photo sensitive effect. Wide planks accentuate the natural beauty of this wood.

Because American cherry flooring has a low Janka hardness rating, it is best suited for family rooms, great rooms, studies, or dining areas (not recommended for installation in commercial settings or other high-traffic areas). The wood will readily show any surface damage, so it is recommended that you pair this species with a matte finish.

Although it has a low hardness rating, American cherry is 17 percent more dimensionally stable than the average wood species, making it a good choice for environments that experience significant humidity fluctuations throughout the year.

If you are looking for a floor that offers rich colors and classic character, American cherry will not disappoint.

American Cherry Janka Hardness Rating: 950

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Ash

ash character

Ash wide plank flooring offers the twin benefits of above-average durability and dimensionally stable. Its inner strength is concealed by a muted, creamy appearance.

Ash is similar in appearance to white oak or hickory, but with a slight yellow tint. The sapwood is a light, creamy color, while the heartwood ranges from light tan to deep brown. The grain pattern of ash is bold and straight, with occasional waves. The classic cathedral grain in plain sawn boards is evidence of the growth ring after the board is sawn.

This species makes an excellent choice if you are in need of a floor with exceptional durability and resistance to foot traffic. Ash is the most common wood species used in MLB-regulation baseball bats. If this wood can stand up to a 99 mile-per-hour fastball, you can rest assured that it can stand up to almost anything.

Ash is nine percent more dimensionally stable than northern red oak, allowing this wood to hold up better than average to humidity and temperature fluctuations.

Exhibiting a rare triad of hardness, dimensionally stability, and a smooth-as-silk appearance, ash wide plank flooring is a great choice for those who want a wood species that is tough but easy on the eyes.

Ash Janka Hardness Rating: 1320

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Yellow Birch

birchWhen you choose yellow birch wide plank flooring, it is almost guaranteed that no two planks will look alike. Yellow birch offers plank-to-plank variety that is virtually unmatched in other wood species.

There is a striking difference in color between the sapwood and the heartwood of the yellow birch tree. The sapwood is a light tan to yellow color, while the heartwood is typically dark brown tinged with red. This often leads to a striking contrast in the appearance of the wood.

Most birch planks have a straight, closed grain, while some boards exhibit a wavy grain pattern. Others still have a very subtle grain pattern. The striking difference in graining from plank to plank further contributes to the remarkably variable appearance of birch floors. This is one species where natural finishing is recommended.

With a Janka hardness rating of 1260, yellow birch is just slightly below average. On the dimensionally stable scale, it is average. You should have no problems selecting this floor for a high-traffic area or for an environment with significant humidity fluctuations.

Yellow birch wide plank floors are anything but boring. With significant differences between one plank and the next in terms of both color and graining, this is species is sure to dazzle.

Yellow Birch Janka Hardness Rating: 1260

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Red Birch

Red Birch 1

Red Birch flooring comes from yellow birch trees, but the flooring that bears this name in particular is specifically pulled from the heartwood of any birch tree, exhibiting a rich, reddish hue. Red Birch flooring offers extraordinarily warm tones that will make a statement in any space it is installed.

Like American Cherry, Red Birch provide dimensional stability and is often a good choice for environments where humidity fluctuations throughout the year.

Individuals choose Red Birch flooring for its smooth even texture, however it is common to enjoy a few curly or wavy patterns present in the grain of some of its planks. In certain lighting, Red Birch Select floors can give off a distinct, golden luster that compliments any interior.

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Maple

maple

Don’t let its attractive appearance fool you: hard white maple is commonly used as sport flooring, which means it can stand up to quite a bit of damage.

Hard maple is commonly used as sport flooring because rather than denting, it springs back in response to the weight of an athlete.

Its use as sports flooring means that maple is pretty but tough — it can handle quite a bit of abuse from pets, kids, and daily wear-and-tear. Install maple flooring in an area with heavy traffic and let it impress you with its twin benefits of durability and natural charm.

Maple Janka Hardness Rating: 1450

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Hickory

hickoryHailed for its natural beauty and durability, hickory is a one-of-a-kind species.

Hickory allows you to have beautiful floors without sacrificing hardness.

This species is well-known for its stunning color variation. The sapwood and the heartwood of the tree vary from a light, almost tan color, to a deep, rich brown.

Hickory floors might be easy on the eyes, but that doesn’t mean they’re not tough.

With a Janka hardness rating of 1820, hickory is 41% harder than Northern red oak. It’s also a very dense wood with above average shock resistance. President Andrew Jackson earned the nickname “Old Hickory” for his resilience and tough attitude.

Natural-grade hickory hardwood floors typically contain numerous character markings and knots that make hickory truly stand out from other species.

Wide planks are particularly suited for this species because they really show off the grain detail and character markings.

Hickory Janka Hardness Rating: 1820

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Red Oak

red oakRed oak’s attractive reddish hues add warmth and distinction to any room.

The graining pattern of red oak is straight, consistent, and tight. Red oak wide plank flooring works well in rustic and modern settings alike. The heartwood is brown with a reddish hue, while the sapwood is usually very light, ranging from white to light pink patina.

Red oak serves as the industry standard to which the hardness ratings of all other woods are typically compared. With a Janka hardness rating of 1290, red oak is quite a durable species.

In terms of customizability, red oak can be stained, but it is more difficult to stain than white oak. If you would like to customize your floors with a darker stain, go with white oak over red. Red Oak has very little naturally occurring tannin, so there’s little risk of interaction with certain staining techniques.

Wide plank red oak flooring allows you to fully appreciate the attractive graining pattern and coloration of this beautiful species.

Red Oak Janka Hardness Rating: 1290

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White Oak

white oak

A mainstay in American homes due to its abundance and simplicity, white oak flooring is sure to please.

The fine graining pattern of white oak gives the wood traditional appeal. Wide planks further contribute to the rustic look of white oak floors. The heartwood is light to medium brown, while the sapwood is usually white to light brown in color.

White oak is a sustainable species because it is abundant in the continental United States. Therefore, the carbon footprint of white oak is less than that of exotic species. The efforts of various forestry protection programs to replant oak trees further contributes to the eco-friendliness of this species.

The tyloses in white oak are relatively open, allowing white oak to readily accept stains and paints. Check out this video tutorial for creating a DIY gray-aged stain for white oak.

Wider white oak planks can be milled to exhibit the well-known fleck from the quartering of the log or beam.

White oak is more dimensionally stable than red oak, so choose white over red for added strength and less fluctuation in the wood.

If you appreciate simplicity and character, you can’t go wrong with white oak wide plank floors.

White Oak Janka Hardness Rating: 1360

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Longleaf Heart Pine

longleaf heart pine

Longleaf heart pine offers the traditional look of pine wide plank flooring with added durability.

“Long leaf” refers to the elongated grouped needles of this conifer resembling more of a shaped leaf. The way that the tree is milled makes the knot become a prominent part of the planks. The “heart” part of the name refers to the fact that this flooring is derived from the heartwood of the tree, which results in an orange-red color in the flooring and relatively high durability. This species is one of several grouped in the “Southern Yellow Pine” or “Long Leaf” yellow pine category.

Longleaf heart pine flooring works well in applications similar to “hit or miss” flooring. This species of wood was typically found in older homes from the 1800s, so it’s ideal for those interested in a unique decor that harkens back to earlier times.

Longleaf pine is similar in character to white pine, but the wood is denser because the longleaf pine tree contains more sap. With a Janka hardness rating of 870, longleaf is still a softwood, but it is more durable than eastern white pine.

Longleaf Heart Pine Janka Hardness Rating: 870

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Reclaimed Heart Pine

reclaimed heart pineHeart pine is known as such because it has a thick core of heartwood surrounded by a thin layer of sapwood. This species offers the characteristic knottiness of yellow pine with more durability and rich reddish hues.

Yellow pine is renowned for its knotty character, but it is also notorious for being a softwood. Reclaimed heart pine flooring lets you have the knots of yellow pine without the softness.

While the Janka hardness rating of southern yellow pine (link to glossary) is only 690, the Janka hardness rating of heart pine is 1225, rivaling the hardness of northern red oak.

Heart pine’s durability isn’t the only thing going for it: this flooring features rich red and brown hues that are sure to impress. This is an excellent species to install in high-traffic areas, and virtually anywhere that you would like to achieve a rustic look. The worn appearance and extra durability of reclaimed heart pine means you don’t have to worry too much about dings and scratches.

If you want the knottiness of yellow pine and the durability of a hardwood, reclaimed heart pine is the perfect option.

Reclaimed Heart Pine Janka Hardness Rating: 1225

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Reclaimed Oak

White oak and red oak are both hailed for their traditional appeal. Reclaimed varieties of these floors amplify the classic look of oak, bringing warmth and character to any space.

White oak is a traditional American flooring choice. The knots, the light hues, the rustic character — it all comes together to produce a timeless look. Its counterpart red oak possesses naturally rich hues and a depth of character that is difficult to come by in other species.

The reclaimed variety of these species amplify their traditional appeal and makes either one the perfect route to a rustic look — it’s up to you to make a judgment call between the two.

White oak is more water resistant than red oak because of its closed cell system, so it’s better to install in outdoor applications, bathrooms, and kitchens. And although both varieties of oak can be stained, the fact that white oak has less naturally-occurring tannins means that it more readily accepts dark stains.

Since the wood is reclaimed, you can expect knotholes, wormholes, and other mild defects, which contribute to its rustic appearance.

Whether you select white or red, our reclaimed oak floors are sure to light up any room with their classic appeal.

Reclaimed Oak Janka Hardness Rating: 1360 (White Oak); 1290 (Northern Red Oak)

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American Walnut

walnutDark. Regal. Refined. That’s walnut.

American walnut flooring features unique markings, graining patterns, and occasional checking. Walnut is also well-known for its beautiful burls. Its rich, variable hues range from a deep chocolate to a light brown, bringing an air of sophistication into any space.

The heartwood of walnut offers the dark color that the species is renowned for. The sapwood is lighter in color, but mills often bleed the sapwood and heartwood into one another by steaming it to reduce the difference.

This wood has a uniquely timeless appearance, allowing it to complement modern and rustic settings alike. The dark hues of walnut will be sure to charm.

For a gorgeous wood floor with character, rich hues, and a sense of warmth that is practically unrivaled by other species, walnut is the perfect choice.

American Walnut Janka Hardness Rating: 1010

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