When replacing old flooring or installing a new floor, it's important to look for woods that suit the size of rooms and style of furnishings. The right wood can transform a room and when maple doesn't fit the plan, it's easy to find a suitable alternative.
Most consumers are familiar with traditional hardwoods for flooring, but there is a broad variety of alternative woods available, each with their own advantages. Depending on the style and decor of the home, different types of hardwood floors can offer an almost infinite variety of shades, grains, hardness and texture.
Red Oak, with a darker hue than maple, is a beautiful wood that adds class and distinction to any home. A polished oak floor hints at the luxury of an old English country house. It is more stable than maple, resilient, with a lightly textured surface that is great for disguising dents and scratches
Ash floors are also more stable than maple, with a more distinctive grain. It's a tough and very practical choice for floors that get a lot of use. Available in select and rustic grades, ash creates a relaxed and casual look that is attactive in almost any home.
American Cherry floors, though softer than maple, have a soft pleasing grain and an attractive red-brown color that, like fine wine, matures to become rich and mellow. Select boards look very elegant, but even the rustic grade can be a stunning addition to any home.
For something a little more exotic, Brazilian Walnut flooring can deliver show-stopping results. This is a seriously hard wood compared to maple, with a striking color, varying between light to dark olive brown, flecked with hints of golden-brown or gray-brown. The polished boards can give a home a really luxurious feel. The beauty does not come at the expense of practicality. The toughness is reflected in its characteristic smooth finish.
The wide variety of hardwood floors available can offer solutions to every situation. The key is to look at the practical requirements of your home, consider the degree of wear the floor will undergo, and the amount of natural light in the rooms.
A hardwood floor appeals for practical and aesthetic reasons. Nothing looks as stylish and elegant as polished hardwood flooring.
