You might have already decided that a timber floor is the right choice, so you don’t need to be convinced. You already know that timber flooring is easy to maintain, helps increase home value, and comes in a wide range of styles. Still, more choices remain, such as what is the best type of timber flooring.
Hardwood Or Softwood?
You can start by looking at two big categories, hardwood and softwood. Each has its own pluses and minuses, although there is a more popular pick between the two. The main difference: the trees that grow faster yield softwoods, while the trees that take longer to grow are the hardwoods.
Softwoods, like cedar, pine, and fir, are more abundant and cheaper, but they need more frequent maintenance and they aren’t as durable. Their abundance makes them more eco-friendly, and they certainly last longer than plenty of other flooring options.
Hardwoods are a great option if you can afford them. Their longer growing time makes them a scarcer resource, and a more expensive option, but they’re also more durable and last much longer with less maintenance. A pine floor can last longer than carpet, but an oak floor could last several generations.
Types Of Hardwood
There is a long list of options when it comes to which hardwood timber flooring is best, assuming that’s the route you’ve opted to take. Here are several of the most popular:
- Oak – The most popular option, oak can vary in hue, from a classic yellow-brown to something closer to redwood, with a white-gray possible as well. When maintained properly, it can last around a hundred years.
- Maple – Not as popular as oak, but ahead of the rest, maple has a predictable appearance, and is very durable. It’s used on basketball courts for a reason.
- Hickory – This wood offers an option that appears similar to oak, but offers even more durability as it is a much harder wood. This also makes it more expensive.
- Brazilian Cherry – Another durable option, Brazilian cherry is worth noting for its unique red hue that will intensify over the course of several months as it is exposed to the sun.
- Bamboo – A bit of a curveball since bamboo is technically a grass, but manufacturers rate this new option for 25 years. It’s also a more eco-friendly option since it can be grown and harvested in less than five years, while hickory might take 200.
Flooring Types
Once you’ve chosen a type of timber, you’ll still need to select the flooring type best suited to your needs. These include:
- Engineered hardwood is cheaper, which makes sense since it’s composed of a base with a hardwood veneer.
- Pre-finished flooring is sanded and sealed by the manufacturer before it arrives, which can save time during installation.
- Distressed wood offers additional character, as what would ordinarily take decades is added through processing by manufacturers.
- Reclaimed flooring is made of wood that has been used previously elsewhere. This option can help reduce the environmental impact of a new home’s flooring, while giving you access to heartwood, with all the strength and beauty that goes along with it.
Which Is Best?
There’s actually no definite answer, although hardwood is probably a good bet if you can afford it. Overall, keep durability, design, and price in mind while you make your decision. If you do, you should end up with something that can last as long as your house does, and will gain character as you do.
