Regardless of which hardwood species you choose, wood floors are considered the gold standard of flooring surfaces and add value to your home. Wood floors are said to last a lifetime (with proper maintenance) and gain more character with age. So, it's no wonder this flooring option is so popular!
What to Consider When Buying Hardwood Flooring
You may have already envisioned the color range of hardwood that fits your style, but color is only the beginning. You also need to consider the following important things when shopping for hardwood flooring:
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Budget: Be sure to calculate your estimated costs using cost per square footage multiplied by your room square footage, or talk to our team to help you plan project costs with precision.
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Hardwood vs engineered hardwood: Engineered hardwood is a fantastic, slightly more affordable alternative to solid hardwood flooring.
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Aesthetic and stains: Hardwood wood species come in a variety of light and dark colors and patterns.
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Wood grain pattern: Along with color and vibrance, wood planks come in a variety of grain patterns based on the species and how the wood was cut.
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Hardness and durability: Also known as the Janka rating, hardwood has different densities, making some wood species harder and more durable than others to withstand foot traffic, pets, and overall wear and tear.
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Photosensitivity: Some wood species are more susceptible to direct sunlight, like Cherry hardwood, which can result in the wood changing color over time.
Different Types of Hardwood Floors and Wood Species
When deciding to go with hardwood, you’ll have to choose between a traditional or exotic hardwood species. Both types of species can come in solid or engineered hardwood flooring.
Let’s break down the most common hardwood floor species today and hopefully make that decision just a little easier!
Oak
Oak hardwood floors are some of the most popular flooring choices. They’re durable, easy to maintain, and look timeless even after years of use.
Oak hardwood floors typically come in red oak and white oak, but European oak is also gaining popularity among U.S. homeowners. Here’s how these three options compare.
Red Oak
Red oak is the most common wood flooring option today. Its warm tones range in color from creamy pink and golden red to rusty brown. It also is known for having visible graining and color variations from plank to plank.
|
Feature |
Red Oak Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$2-7 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Wider, free-form grain |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1290 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
White Oak
White oak is said to be a "harder" wood product, which makes it a good choice for high traffic areas. It has grain patterns throughout and has a tendency to vary slightly in color and grain pattern from one board to the next.
Both oaks complement diverse décor styles, including classic, rustic, and contemporary.
|
Feature |
Red Oak Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$5-8 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
smaller, tighter grain |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1360 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
American vs European Oak
European oak is characterized by its tighter, straighter grain. This doesn’t just give it a more consistent pattern as compared to American oak—it makes it harder and more durable. European oak flooring typically comes in lighter, more neutral shades of beige.
|
Feature |
European Oak Hardwood |
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Origin |
Europe |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$3-10 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
tighter, straighter grain |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1360 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
Hickory
If you're keen to choose a homegrown hardwood floor species but are looking for something with a distinct character, then hickory flooring might be the best option for you. It's known for its strong shock resistance and density, which makes it an ideal hardwood to choose. Untreated hickory has quite a strong color contrast, going from a gorgeous deep brown to a creamy white shade.
Apart from its fine looks, one of hickory's other top qualities is that it's the hardest domestic wood species on the market. Hickory is also good at retaining stain, which means there are many color options that will fit your home decor style.
|
Feature |
Red Oak Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$6-12 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Distinctive knots and streaks |
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Hardness & Durability |
Very durable (1820 Janka rating) |
|
Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
50-70 years |
Ash
Ash is known for its color variation of pale white to medium brown. Its graining is bold and can appear either straight, wavy or curly. It's also very similar to white oak but adds a bit more excitement to a space thanks to that nice bold graining.
|
Feature |
Ash Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$5-8 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Straight grain with some knots |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1320 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
50+ years |
American Cherry
The American Cherry is a common tree grown in and harvested in North America. It is known to be a softer hardwood species than some of the others but has a distinctive appearance with its natural graining and color tones that vary from board to board.
One disadvantage to keep in mind is that cherry hardwood, in general, is a photosensitive hardwood, meaning it's known to change color when exposed to direct sunlight.
|
Feature |
American Cherry Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$3-10 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Wavy grain |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (995 Jank rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
High |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
Maple
Maple hardwood flooring is a beautiful addition to any room. It's one of the hardest of all domestic hardwood species, making it perfect for even the highest traffic spaces—like bowling alleys! Maple's color has a warm hue and is typically a very pale, creamy white color with light shade difference between boards. The graining is also very light and sometimes not even noticeable.
|
Feature |
Maple Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$6-11 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Straight grain pattern |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1450 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
40+ years |
Walnut
Sometimes referred to as Black Walnut or American Walnut, this hardwood species is known for its rich brown color and fine graining. Due to its rich brown color, walnut instantly adds warmth to a space. There is some color variation from plank to plank and walnut is often described as having character because it shows knots and other grain variations. It is important to note that this is a "softer" species of wood and would not be recommended for high traffic areas due to the possibility of denting over time.
|
Feature |
Walnut Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$7-16 |
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Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Swirling grain pattern |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (Janka 1010 rating) |
|
Photosensitivity |
High |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
50+ years |
Vintage American Walnut Hardwood
Birch
Birch hardwood flooring is a great choice for any style. Planks can range from white to light blonde to warmer browns. It has a medium hardness that can resist minor scratches from everyday wear and tear, though it isn’t quite as tough as oak.
|
Feature |
Birch Hardwood |
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Origin |
North America |
|
Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$5-8 |
|
Aesthetic |
Traditional |
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Grain Pattern |
Smooth grain with minial knots |
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Hardness & Durability |
Durable (1260-1470 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
Low |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
Brazilian Cherry
Sometimes referred to as Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry is known for its extreme color variation and is one of the most popular exotic species for hardwood flooring. The coloring tends to include reddish and brown tones with some highlights of a lighter or "blonde" color throughout.
|
Feature |
Brazilian Cherry Hardwood |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$7-9 |
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Aesthetic |
Exotic |
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Grain Pattern |
Interlocked grain pattern |
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Hardness & Durability |
Very Durable (2350 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
High |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
50+ years |
Cosmopolitan Brazilian Cherry Hardwood
Tigerwood
The graining of this wood species is what makes it so unique. Tigerwood is known to be pale gold in color, with some boards shifting to a medium brown, but it always features a dark, thick striping. We tend to see this exotic hardwood species in wider plank offerings to help eliminate the "busy" appearance that could appear with smaller blanks and dark highlights/striping. This is another species that is prone to change over time with exposure to light.
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Feature |
Tigerwood Hardwood |
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Origin |
South America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$7-10 |
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Aesthetic |
Exotic |
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Grain Pattern |
Striped grain appearance |
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Hardness & Durability |
Very Durable (2160 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
High |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
30+ years |
Brazilian Teak
Brazilian teak is one of the hardest exotic species available for hardwood flooring and its color ranges include tan, medium brown, and some red highlights. Over time, with exposure to light, the range of colors will even out and make a more uniform appearance in color to a more medium brown color. Brazilian teak is also known for minimal graining.
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Feature |
Brazilian Teak Hardwood |
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Origin |
South America |
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Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$9-13 |
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Aesthetic |
Exotic |
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Grain Pattern |
Minimal graining |
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Hardness & Durability |
Very Durable (3540 Janka rating) |
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Photosensitivity |
High |
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Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
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Lifespan |
50+ years |
Brazilian Walnut
Commonly referred to as Ipe, Brazilian Walnut is a very hard wood species and works well in high-traffic areas. Known for a medium brown and chocolate brown color, this rich flooring makes any space look warm and elegant with ease. Its natural graining includes straight and irregular patterns, creating a one of a kind visual for your space.
When it comes to color, both American and Brazilian are similar in that they both have reddish hues, though they can be stained in a variety of colors.
|
Feature |
Brazilian Walnut Hardwood |
|
Origin |
South America |
|
Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$5-10 |
|
Aesthetic |
Exotic |
|
Grain Pattern |
Straight, irregular, or interlocked |
|
Hardness & Durability |
Very Durable (3680 Janka rating) |
|
Photosensitivity |
High |
|
Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
|
Lifespan |
50+ years |
Pecan
Thanks to its durability, pecan hardwood is a great option for high-traffic areas of your home. It’s highly resistant to scratches, which makes it one of the best hardwood floors for dogs. Colors range from a whitewash to a dark brown.
|
Feature |
Pecan Hardwood |
|
Origin |
North America |
|
Avg. Cost (Per sq. ft.) |
$5-11 |
|
Aesthetic |
Traditional |
|
Grain Pattern |
Swirled grain |
|
Hardness & Durability |
Very Durable (1820 Janka rating) |
|
Photosensitivity |
Moderate |
|
Maintenance |
Easy to maintain |
|
Lifespan |
50+ years |
Installing Hardwood Flooring Once you’ve selected your wood, you’ll decide between three installation methods: glue-down (adhesive), click-lock (floating), and nail-down. You’ll also want to consider the direction of your planks.
If that all sounds challenging, no worries! Avalon Installs can take care of the install process for you. We offer professional installation teams with warranty-backed service.
Learn More Hardwood Installation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does hardwood flooring cost?
The cost of your hardwood floor will depend on factors like the size of your home, the type of wood you select, and whether you go with engineered or solid hardwood floors. And don’t forget to factor in the cost of installation! On average, the cost of hardwood floors (including materials and labor) is around $19-25 per square foot.
What is the best hardwood floors for dogs?
Pup owners will want to make sure to choose a hard and highly durable wood to prevent scratches. Woods like hickory, cherry, and walnut are among the best hardwood floors for dogs.
How is hardwood flooring made?
Manufacturing of a hardwood floor starts with the tree itself. After trees are cut into logs, they are then cut into rough planks and then graded for look. Next, the boards are evened on all four sides to smooth the saw marks and level the plank.
A machine then cuts the tongue and groove edges that make the boards fit together tightly. This construction allows the boards to expand and contract, without creating gaps between the planks in the installed floor. At this stage, the planks may go through a distressing process to give them an older, antique look. This may be accomplished by hand or by machine.
The final step is either sealing or staining with several coats of protective finish or shipped unfinished to wherever it needs to go.
