Colors of Hardwood

The appearance of floor covering is the most important factor for any consumer. Fortunately, wood offers a rich variety of species and colors to choose from, so you can create a distinct look for any room of your home. The most common type of species available are domestic species, or ones that grow naturally in North America. These floors commonly include trees like Oak, Maple, Cherry, Hickory, Walnut, Ash, Birch and many others. One or more of these floors are usually available from any manufacturer, often with a variety of stains and colors. The other types of species that have gained in popularity is exotic species, or ones that grow naturally in areas other than North America. The most popular type of exotics come from South America, including Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahoganey, Rosewood, Patagonian Cherry, Cumaru, Brazalian Walnut, Tigerwood, Angelim Pedra and others. Other popular species include African species like Tali, Doussie, Kambala or Wenge, Asian species like Merbau, Ipe, Bangkirai or Acacia, and even Australian species like Australian Cypress, Spotted Gum or Sydney Blue. These are just a few of the exotic species available on the market, and more become available every year. Exotic species are typically only available in their natural colors, but come in enough distinct patterns and colors that you can easily find one that will make a bold statement in your home. So how do you decide which species to buy? Well, for starters, not all species are as durable as others. Red Oak is the most popular choice, but it is less durable than White Oak or Maple. And all three are not as durable as Brazilian Cherry, which is not as durable as Tali. Two tests are commonly used to test the durability (hardness) of different species: the Janka test and the Brinell test. Ratings for species can be found from the manufacturer and usually can be found online. While purchasing a floor with a higher hardness rating will not guarantee a longer lasting floor, it will definitely make the floor withstand more wear. The other issue to be concerned with is price. Oak is easily the most commonplace hardwood in flooring, and generally speaking, oak floors will be cheaper than others. Other common domestic species like Maple, Cherry, Hickory, Ash and others tend to be slightly more expensive, but not by much. Even some common exotics like Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Tali and others won't be as expensive. But some of the more rare species, particularly exotics, will often be a bit more expensive thanks to the cost of importing them. So remember that the species can sometimes affect the price. Another way to find distinct colors and styles in hardwood floors is to find the right stain. Usually found on popular species like oak or maple, stains are usually applied before the finish layer, and are created to give homeowners options within the most affordable and plentiful wood flooring choices. Typically, stains will fall within shades of red and brown. These shades are called by many different names and colors, but generally, you'll be most likely to find the same colors from most manufacturers. Dark red or brown stains are not as common as the medium ones or naturals, but there are some fairly standard colors. The first is a dark, very red stain that is close to the shade of red wine. This will often be called something like Cognac, Bordeaux, Wine, Brandy, Merlot or something similar. Another popular one is a dark but warm brown shade like dark leather. This is usually called something like Vintage Brown, Metro Brown, Ebony, Saddle, Rawhide, or something along those lines. The other common dark color is a very dark, very brown color, nearly black. This is usually called something related to coffee, i.e. Coffee, Mocha, Espresso, Cocoa, Chocolate, Cappuccino, etc. Medium shades are the most popular stains, and you can find quite a few varying shades. One of the most popular is a warm shade of brown called Gunstock. Another is a fairly light caramel colored mix of red and brown called Caramel, Butterscotch, Toffee, or something similar. Then there is a warm reddish brown shade called Cherry, Brandy, Whisky, etc. Another is a shade just slightly brighter than gunstock called Harvest, Spice, Mellow or something similar. There are many different shades, and products with the same color name from different manufacturers can be very different shades, so go by appearance. Most of the lighter shades are natural colors, since (with the exception of walnut), most domestic species are very light in their natural shade. Ash, Birch, Hickory and Oak have some visible patterns that give them a nice feel, but Maple, Beech, Cherry and some others are very bright shades that often have a very similar look across all boards for a solid visual appearance. So if you want a relatively light wood floor that doesn't have an appearance that stands out, try one of these species. While the majority of wood stains are in between red and brown, some floors feature colored stains. These floors are rare, but can occasionally be found in fairly trendy styles, usually in shades of dark green, purple, black, and other shades. The other option to consider when deciding on a style is the mood of the room. If your room has a light, stylish feel, consider a very light Hardwood Strip made from Maple, Cherry or another light, muted shade. If the room has an eye-catching appearance and you want the floor to really "pop", exotic may be the best way to go, like Brazilian Cherry, Tali, or even a dark Wenge or Ebony. If your floor has a relaxed, informal feel, get a floor like Oak, Hickory with a warm brown shade. You may even consider a handscraped or beveled edge floor with wide planks to give your floor a timeless appearance that looks like one installed a hundred years ago.