Everyone seems to love a hardwood floor. There’s just something about the way the light catches the grain and how it feels under your feet that really makes it a perfect choice for most any home. Of course, there are quite a few different choices when it comes to your hardwood floor. Different species of wood will create a different look. Here are a few of the more popular choices:
Maple
Maple is a very popular option for hardwood floors. It is durable, and has a nice light colour. There is evidence of grain, but it is very slight.
Ash
If you choose an ash floor, you can expect a very uniform, light texture and grain. Ash is a popular member of the hardwood family and is usually chosen for its beauty and strength.
Pine
Pine has traditionally been a very popular choice for flooring because it was always readily available. It is in the softwood category, and throughout history you could usually expect to see it in older, more rustic kind of homes. Now, because it is so easy to look after and has a nice look and feel, we are seeing it more and more in modern homes.
Birch
Birch is a soft wood, but it deserves some mention because it really can make a room look great. It has knots and swirls on its surface, very similar to pine.
Bamboo
Bamboo is officially considered a grass, but has exploded in popularity as a flooring alternative. It’s considered an “exotic” type of wood, and is actually stronger and more durable than most of the hardwood species. The reason so many people are opting for bamboo flooring these days is because the plant can be harvested every five years and is affordable.
Fir
Some people feel that a fir floor makes too much of a statement in their home. It is a softwood and features large patchy areas of dark grain. It is definitely a love it or hate it kind of floor.
Oak
An oak floor will give you a wide variety when it comes to colour, showing up in everything from a light honey to a bold, rich amber. It has a dark, tight grain and is still the most popular choice in hardwood floors because of its affordability, beauty, and strength.
