Domestic Hardwood Floors: The Beauty Right at Home

Rod Lorenz

If you love hardwood floors and live in North America, you’re in the right place. This continent is home to some of the best trees for hardwood flooring in the world.

And the farther north you live, the better off you are. Domestic species from Canada and northern states—such as Wisconsin hardwood—are known for being harder and more durable than the same types of hardwood farther south.

You can see it in many northern trees’ tighter growth rings, which in addition to generally being a sign of superior hardness also create an appearance that appeals to many homeowners.

The great thing about being able to get excellent hardwood in your own backyard is that the abundant supply and lower transportation costs result in a great deal! At Ralph’s Hardwoods, we gladly source our materials locally, providing our customers with the wonderful hardwood that Wisconsin produces, at reasonable prices. When the best is right here, why go anywhere else?

Some of the most beautiful and most popular species anywhere in the world are readily available from Ralph’s, including:

Maple 

Maple offers a beautiful blend of warm heartwood and creamy sapwood. Light stain tames the color variation, adding warmth to Maple’s overall appearance.

Walnut

Walnut provides dark rich browns with just a touch of creamy sapwood. It can be steamed to bring out a richness sometimes lacking in walnut floors.

Red Oak

A relatively consistent open grain is present in Red Oak. It’s very hard, with a mild texture in the surface that may help your floor look great longer.

White Oak

The abundant light tones of White Oak give a crisp, clean feel. It displays a combination of deep grayish-brown heartwood and creamy tones.

American Cherry

This hardwood has a reddish-brown, satiny look with a fine grain that will age to a rich patina. American Cherry is one of the most sought-after of the northern hardwoods.

Yellow Birch

Yellow Birch is a closed-grained, even-textured hardwood with warm undertones. It’s similar to maple in grain but with more reflective-light properties.

Peshtigo River Cherry

Taken from the heart of the maple tree where the warmest colors are present, Peshtigo River Cherry has a softer, warmer look than traditional maple.

Red Birch

Handpicked for its deep, rich auburn color and intriguing grain, Red Birch’s warm, cherry-like color creates a dramatic look.

Ash

Ash displays pronounced grain and moderate golden tones. It’s a highly stable wood that performs terrific in environments where humidity is difficult to control.

Hickory

Hickory is the hardest domestic wood. It has rich color variation, with tones ranging from creams to deep browns. Hickory is available in rustic, select, and heart, which is more-subtle with mostly medium to dark-brown tones.

Takeaway Point

If you’re looking for gorgeous hardwood floors, there’s no need to look any further than the hardwood that’s available in this region. Please visit us at our showroom to see samples and discuss which locally sourced domestic species will provide just the look and performance you’re seeking.

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