Hardwood floors are, as anyone knows, absolutely gorgeous. There is just something about wooden floors that put us at ease. The warm look of the wood. The beautiful shine of the resin or glaze that helps to protect and preserve it. That satisfying clack or thump of shoes and boots against hardwood. There are so many different shades, styles, and wood species that you can choose from – how are you to choose?
Wide plank hardwood flooring is essentially just what it sounds like. When you request this to be installed in your home, you will find planks of wood being brought in and carefully laid down as you have indicated. Despite the term “wide,” this particular type of flooring is actually available in a variety of widths. Depending upon your specific needs, you can order wood anywhere from 3″ to 12″. You can also have variations, such as random placements of 4, 6, and 8″ widths, or even random placement of 8, 10, and 12″ widths. Of course, if the company you hope to work with doesn’t have quite what you were looking for, you can always ask. Many will provide custom manufacturing services in order to give you the specifications you are looking for.
You can also choose the wood species you want for your wide plank hardwood flooring. There are a lot of species for you to consider, but if you already have an idea of what you want in your home, that can make your choice easier. For example, if you are looking for a darker, more rustic wood, species such as walnut, cherry, sapele, African mahogany, and even hickory can be excellent possibilities. Or if you have a more open home and want the light to really bounce around in your room, then lighter woods such as maple and northern white ash can be perfect. Some homes are best without either extreme, and instead look beautiful with warm, medium woods such as white oak or red oak.
If you have ever walked on hardwood flooring before, you may have noticed the variances in the grain and color. There are different ways to cut wood, and each one will offer something different in terms of how the wood looks. There are flat cuts, in which the length of the log is sliced, there are Quartered cuts which are angled from the center outward, and rift cuts, which are similar to quarter cuts but are slightly off-kilter in order to avoid flaking.
With so many choices, you may find yourself a little lost. But don’t worry – you can always talk to the manufacturer and get a clearer picture of what kind of wood and style you want in order to get the perfect floor for your home.