African Padauk
Hardness: 7.3 Stability: Good
Another spectacular colored wood, this time from Africa. Padauk is orange red with a lovely flowing grain. Padauk is harder than oak, relatively stable and finishes very well. This stunning wood is again for the person looking for a dramatic floor that makes a statement.
Caribbean Heart Pine
Hardness: 5.2 Stability: Average
Caribbean Heart Pine is made from a pitch pine found in Central America. This wood, which grows in vast quantities in countries like Honduras, is a perfect wood for flooring. The high sap content makes this wood very hard for a pine, only 4% softer than red oak. As we pick only the heart or middle of the tree for our floors, this is one pine that is not only beautiful but very practical as well. We select the boards for a consistent knot count and because of the natural size of the tree we are able to offer this wood in widths up to 8.1/2”.
Hard White Maple
Hardness: 6.7 Stability: Poor
Maple is a heavy, dense wood which has a very fine texture. It has the ability to promote light in even the darkest room and is a great choice for a kitchen, or perhaps a contemporary home. Be warned however, Maple is among the least stable of flooring woods and is extremely difficult to stain, so you have to like the color.
Naturals & Country Cuts
Hardness: Various Stability: Various
Naturals, like rustics, are a character grade containing the same kind of blemishes. The only difference is these cuts will just have less of these natural growing marks. Natural Ash for example has no knots like Rustic Ash, but will contain a higher degree of color variation than White Ash. For many people this grade is more attractive than a clear grade, but of course the price is generally that much less. For specific information on these grades please check with a sales person.
Northern Oak
Hardness: 5.7 Stability: Average
Basically the same characteristics as regular Red Oak, Northern Oak is a red oak that grows in colder climates. It grows more slowly and is generally more dense. Therefore it is a little harder, which is never a bad thing with house full of children! The other main difference is its delightful even wheat yellow color.
Old Growth White Oak
Hardness: 5.8 Stability: Average
For those looking for an older looking rustic floor, this old growth rustic white oak could be the one for you. Milled in a 7 inch board width, with a beveled edge to exaggerate the plank look, it is made from a grade of oak that contains knots and other growing marks. This is more typical of the floors you would see in turn of the century country homes.
Purpleheart
Hardness: 7.9 Stability: Average
Purpleheart, and yes it is purple! The color really has to be seen to be believed, certainly not to everyone’s taste but if you are looking for a very hard wood floor with a difference then this could be it. Purpleheart will move with the seasons but finishes well and will catch the eyes of every visitor to your home.
Quarter Sawn
Hardness: Various Stability: Very Good
Many woods are available Quarter Sawn, like Oak, Ash, Cherry and more. The logs are cut in a totally different way, parallel to the rays radiating like the spokes of a wheel from the center of the tree. The grain pattern achieved is very attractive and when used to make flooring it can all but remove the problem of board shrinkage and expansion. The only draw back is that this method is much more wasteful, therefore more expensive.
Red Oak
Hardness: 5.5 Stability: Average
Probably the most popular wood used for flooring, it has a deeply defined grain, which is instantly recognizable. Red Oak will take stain well and is a hard-wearing floor. Pale yellowish brown with a pinkish hue, Red Oak is always a good choice.
Rustics
Hardness: Various Stability: Various
The Rustic versions of these woods simply contain knots, open knots, checks, cracks, and natural growing marks. All other characteristics are identical. For some this is exactly what they are looking for, the so-called blemishes are as nature intended and only serve to enhance the style of the floor. The prices are also very attractive. Rustics can produce a floor of unique quality and unrivaled character, and for some the rougher the better.
