Whatever kind of flooring you have, if you don’t like it, it’s unescapable. There’s no number of throw rugs you can pile on top. You see it every day, and it constantly bothers you.
When you have a floor you love, walking across it is a daily pleasure. The science to this is simple—the floor you choose is what all other decorating decisions are built off of in a given space. Changing your floors means changing the characters of a room, or even of your whole home.
It comes as no surprise that new floors are at the top of many homeowners’ project “wish lists.” And for generations, many families have specifically been wishing for wood flooring. It’s character, beauty, and durability are legendary. Who wouldn’t want hardwood floors?
Belleville, O’Fallon and surrounding area neighbors have some beautiful homes to work with when making flooring decisions, too. When someone calls us about installing a new hardwood floor, it’s always a pleasure to see the space that family is about to transform.
Before the installation, however, a lot of decisions have to be made. What kind of wood species should they select? What kind of grain? Pre-finished or site-finished? Solid or engineered wood?
Your questions are about to get answered
Valor Home Services looks at each space and every home holistically. Part of that is giving homeowners the most information possible to make informed decisions.
This week, we’ll be looking at the wood species you can select for a hardwood floor install. The industry has evolved a lot in the last 20 years, especially with plank width, finish type, and installation options. But first things first—what are the common wood species in hardwood flooring?
- One of the most popular wood species used in flooring is white oak. It’s got a classic look, it’s durable, and there’s plenty of it available. It also takes stain particularly well.
- Hickory is another common choice. It has many color variations, including both light and dark tones. This means many homeowners choose not to stain it, but instead finish it with its natural tones.
- Walnut is a popular option for a rich, darker brown.
- Maple and birch are both popular options for lighter tones.
If you’re still unsure after googling photos and talking amongst yourselves at home, let us come in on the conversation. We can help you identify the wood used in other elements of the room you’re installing the flooring in. For example, what is your cabinetry made of? How can you match the wood floors to that?
Valor Home Services is your local expert in the installation and refinishing of hardwood floors. Glen Carbon, Caseyville, Belleville and surrounding towns have been part our service area for over 20 years. Schedule an appointment with us right here on the website!
