While surfing the Internet recently, I came across an article from a website of a popular home decorating channel. I had a really good chuckle while reading it.
It reminded me why the phrase “I found it on the Internet, so it must be true” is so hilarious. There's so much false information on the internet -- even from supposedly reputable sources -- that you just have to laugh.
My curiosity for how other professionals guide homeowners in the selection of hardwood floors is what led me to this site. While reviewing options, species, widths, colors, finishes, etc., I found a lot of misinformation.
The bad info that stood out the most was the statement that exotic woods are typically not as durable as domestic woods. Where'd that come from?
Think of Brazilian cherry, which is quite popular these days. If you have ever had the pleasure of living on a Brazilian hardwood floors, you would know firsthand that they're extremely hard and wear very, very well.
All species have their place, even a wood as soft as American cherry (although still in the “hardwood” category) is absolutely lovely in a master bedroom or a formal dining room where traffic is typically light. The grain has a soft, elegant look that is truly stunning. If you fall in love with this look but require a more durable type of hardwood, then Santos Mahogany would be a great alternative. It is similar in appearance and is more than twice as hard.
And it's not just Brazilian cherry and Santos Mahogany. If you look at the ranking of the hardest woods in the world (the Janka scale), you'll see that exotic hardwoods dominate the top of the list.
Expert hardwood floor professionals, like the ones at Ralph’s Hardwood Floors, know wood. They know how durable it is, how it will change over time, and how it functions in different environments. They will get to know your lifestyle and make solid recommendations based on almost 50 years of experience in the hardwood floor industry.
