7340 Miramar Rd #100 San Diego, CA 92126 | (858) 549-2900

Characteristics

Selecting the perfect hardwood floor for your home is always a matter of personal taste. Trust your instincts as you compare hardwood flooring that offers different appearance and performance characteristics.

Color

Color will have an enormous influence on your buying decision. The many colors available are the result of the natural color and graining of the species and the stain applied to the wood. Your home's lighting will also play a role, so be sure to ask your retailer for samples to look at in your home before making your final selection.

Lighter-colored floors tend to make a room appear brighter and larger.
Darker-colored floors may create a more dramatic environment.

Species

The species of wood influences its appearance and durability. Traditional Oak species have pronounced variations in grain and shade that add character; while Maple's wood grain is cleaner and more understated. There are many exotic species available (such as Kamala, Kempas, and Brazilian Cherry) that take their distinctiveness from a combination of origin, color and surface characteristics. Not all species of hardwood are equally hard. If your floor is likely to take a lot of abuse, consider Oak, Maple, or Ash, for extra durability.

Width

Hardwood flooring is commonly described by board width: as Strips (under 3 inches wide) and Planks (3 inches and wider). The width of individual boards will have a dramatic influence on the final look of the floor. Select the look you like best and that harmonizes with the style and architecture of your home.

Edge Detail

The way the edges and ends of boards are cut is called edge detail. There are many edge/end detail options (such as square, beveled and eased). If you are looking for a high-contrast dramatic effect, select a bold edge/end detail that emphasizes the definition of individual boards. Square edges/ends achieve a low-contrast effect by creating a more seamless appearance. The smooth look of square edges/ends is now available in pre-finished as well as unfinished hardwood flooring.

Gloss

Since the gloss level of hardwood flooring does not affect its durability or performance, your choice of high gloss or low gloss is a matter of personal preference. However, low gloss floors tend to hide the appearance of minor surface scratches that build up over time.

Style & Texture

Whether your taste is rustic, traditional or contemporary, today's hardwood flooring manufacturers offer a wide variety of styles and surface textures to meet your needs. Before making your final selection, explore the many looks available; from sleek, sophisticated contemporary to casual, hand-scraped rustic.

The finish

Hardwood “finish” will play an important role in determining the look, the care and the lasting quality of the hardwood floor you select. The combination of hardwood's natural durability and today's high-performance urethane finishes means hardwood flooring will stand up to the punishment of active families, and still keep its beauty. Many manufacturers offer extra-tough urethane finishes containing aluminum oxide additives applied at the factory. Urethane-finished floors are significantly easier to care for than the floors of the past that required waxing. And, they maintain their luster for years, without the need for waxing or refinishing.

Type of harvesting

Dry solid Sawn: Firm grain and smooth, splice-free appearance. Solid hardwood floor look with natural color variation, consistency and beautiful grain. (Virtually free of end checks, chipped corners and edge splinters).
Rotary Peeled: Ultra-thin hardwood veneer unsuited to re-sanding. Plywood look, repetitive patterns (End checks, chipped corners and edge splinters).
Sliced: Rougher surface and face grain tear out. Solid hardwood look, but includes sliced veneers. (Chipped corners and edge splinters)

Style of hardwood floors

Looks

Traditional
Contemporary
Machine Distressed
Handscraped Rustics

Widths – The width of individual boards will have a dramatic effect on the final look of the floor. Hardwood flooring is often differentiated by board width.

Strip – boards under 3 inches in width
Plank – boards 3 inches wide and wider Wide-width planks work well and may be more scale appropriate in mid-size and larger rooms.