Flooring: A Primer on Solid Wood Floors

Flooring is one of the most impactful changes you can make in a room.  Pulling up old, shag green carpet and replacing it with shiny new hardwood floors will instantly update the look and feel of any room.  

Here we will review the pros and cons of several types of flooring, including:  oak, ash, pine, maple and solid bamboo.  "Not all wood floors are equal, and the many species of wood that get made into floors have different characteristics. Understanding these characteristics will go a long way to help you choose the wood floor right for you."

Below we will share the guide provided by Houzz on the pros and cons of the different hardwood floors.  

Oak. The most common wood floor used in North America is oak, specifically red oak. Red oak is the name of the tree, not the color of the wood. What ever the reason for its name, a red oak floor is a surface that will hold up to wear and use. Due to its hardness, red oak resists dents, an important consideration if you're not planning to use area rugs. 

Oak pros: Highly resistant to dents and deep scratches 

Cons: Has a grain pattern that may be too attention grabbing for some 
Cost: $8-$20 per square foot 
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens

Ash. A similar wood to oak that's even harder is ash. Baseball bats and garden tool handles are usually made from ash, just to give you a sense of how hard it is. 

Ash pros: This is an extremely hard, hardwood floor 

Cons: Can be too light for some; tends to cost more than oak 
Cost: $10-$20 per square foot 
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways, baths and kitchens

Pine. On the opposite side of the hardness scale sits pine, which is technically not a hardwood at all. Pine is a soft wood, though its hardness varies wildly with the species of pine used. If you're buying a pine floor, be sure to find out what kind of pine it is. 

Pine pros: The original character floor 

Cons: Tends to be relatively soft when compared to other woods, tends to dent under heavy furniture. 
Cost: $5-$20 per square foot 
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens

Bamboo. Bamboo floors have been available around the world for about the last 20 years. In those 20 years, they've become so widely adopted that their use is no longer unique. 

Bamboo pros: Sustainable and long-lasting 
Cons: Lends a modern air that may not be intentional 
Cost: $8-$15 per square foot 
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways, bath and kitchens

Maple. If you're looking for a hard, light-colored floor, consider maple. It's a close-grain hardwood, meaning that its grain pattern is more subtle than a lot of other woods can be. 

Maple pros: Hard and dent resistent 
Cons: Doesn't hold dark stains well 
Cost: $7-$16 per square foot 
Suggested uses: Living areas, hallways, entryways and kitchens

Alix Bragg Interior Design

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EmailPine. On the opposite side of the hardness scale sits pine, which is technically not a hardwood at all. Pine is a soft wood, though its hardness varies wildly with the species of pine used. If you're buying a pine floor, be sure to find out what kind of pine it is.