WOODCARVING & ACCESSORIES

Selecting Wood Flooring To Suit Your Home

Hardwood is beautiful and wonderful for flooring. It looks classy and 100 % natural, and there are many different types of timber to choose from. From light coloured woods to dark, you can find a wood out there to complement your home and personal taste

Any timber that you make use of for flooring will have been tested using the Janka scale. This checks the hardness of the wood and consequently determines its suitability for use on the floor because of the wear and tear it will get from people walking on it and putting household furniture on it. At the top end of the Janka scale are woods such as Brazilian ebony and Bolivian cherry and at the bottom end are the softwoods such as Balsa and Eastern White Pine.

Undoubtedly the most popular is oak flooring and oak is available in two types: red oak and white oak. The red oak remains the most popular because it is warm colour and generally available, but the white variety is becoming more popular with trends for paler colours. White oak is also good for areas of the home which might get wet such as the kitchen because it is relatively impermeable to water. Oak is an enduring flooring favourite and the flexibility makes it simple to lay. It also takes colour stains very well if you wish to change the shade.

Maple is a popular solution if you want something dent and scratch resistant. It is not as stable as oak so may potentially need a perimiter border to protect it from damage because it expands and contracts. The grain of this wood creates interesting patterns and if you choose this wood it will be to some extent because of this. The wood won’t take a stain very well so make sure you are contented with the shade and grain before you decide to lay it in your home.

Warm coloured woods for the floor include cherry and walnut. Cherry, like oak, is supplied in two types: American and Brazilian. The Brazilian is the darker of these two and is very hard. The American is a delicate pink and one of the softer hardwoods. Both can change colour after being exposed to the sun’s rays so don’t expect it to remain the exact same shade as when it was laid.

Walnut is a gorgeous wood but also very expensive. It is not likely that you would lay a complete floor in walnut but it can easily be used as an accent in small areas. It is very strong and flexible with an even, fine grain. If you’re able to afford walnut on your floor, you won’t be sorry.

For those who are more in to paler wood, ash or birch could be the way to go. Paler woods are especially great in small rooms due to the fact they make the room look much bigger. If you couple this with a pale wall, the room will look much bigger than if you used darker colours. Ash is long-lasting and very strong. It isn’t susceptible to splitting and has great shock resistance. An additional advantage is that it also takes a stain well should you wish to vary the colouring.

Birch can be creamy in colour but is also available in redder shades. Young birch will be at the creamy end of the spectrum, whilst the older birch (the heartwood from the middle of the trunk) is at the redder end. It is a particularly good wood for high traffic areas of the home.

If reclaimed wood is a bit more your thing, beech might be a great choice. It is one of the most well-liked reclaimed woods used for recycled flooring and it will take a lot of wear. It is strong and resistant to splitting. You will frequently find floors of beech with a clear urethane covering to help protect it. The grain is straight and is also fine, giving it a consistent overall look. You will find it available in dark brown to pale white.

You will never go wrong with a timber floor, but be sure you select something that is suitable for your house and budget. So why not find a hardwood flooring supplier now?
Relief Wood Carving…Roughing out hands