Types of hardwood for floorsHardwood flooring is a classic material which has been used in the United States since it’s founding to create beautiful floors.

Besides its attractiveness, hardwood flooring is also very practical because it is long lasting and low maintenance.

There is a wide variety of wood types, colors, grains and patterns are available to homeowners.

We’ll start this process by dividing into two lists: domestic hardwood flooring and exotic hardwood flooring.

Domestic hardwood is made from trees native to North America. Exotic hardwood comes anywhere outside North America, most commonly Asia and South America.

Below are some of the most popular types of wood used in hardwood flooring.

 

Types of domestic hardwood flooring:

    Oak hardwood floor

    Oak hardwood floor

  • American Cherry
  • Ash
  • Beech
  • Birch
  • Douglas Fir
  • Hickory
  • Maple
  • Red Oak
  • Walnut
  • White Oak
  • Yellow Pine

These are the traditional wood used for hardwood floors in the United States. They are made from native and locally grown trees and are the types of flooring you are most likely to find in homes.

 

Types of exotic hardwood flooring:

    Tigerwood hardwood floor

    Tigerwood hardwood floor

  • Amendoim
  • Bamboo
  • Brazilian Cherry
  • Brazilian Maple
  • Brazilian Teak
  • Brazilian Walnut
  • Kempas
  • Merbau
  • Santos Mahogany
  • Tiete Chestnut
  • Tiete Rosewood
  • Tigerwood
  • Timborana

In today’s global economy, exotic hardwoods from other countries have been a growing trend for hardwood flooring. They often have more color variation from board to board and more unusual grain patterns. Most exotic hardwoods rate as harder on the Janka Hardness Scale than domestic wood varieties.

 

What is the most popular wood for hardwood floors?

Oak is the most popular type of hardwood floor material in the United States. It is native to the area and abundant, making it generally less expensive. Because of its strong graining, oak helps hide scratches and dents better than most other hardwoods. Oak is easy to sand and refinish with different stain colors, so it is easy to change the color when you are refinishing the floors.

 

Art Z Flooring logoArt Z is one of the most trusted installers of hardwood floors in the Chicago area.  

Contact Art Z to learn more about our available hardwood flooring options and installation services.