Hardwood floors are durable and look beautiful in most areas, but they can be susceptible to heavy foot traffic and sunlight damage. Keep them clean by sweeping or vacuuming regularly, and consider putting runners and doormats in every entryway. Domestic species like oak, maple and cherry are popular choices. You can also find hickory hardwood Flooring Fairfield NJ which is even harder and resists wear better than oak.
Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring is a popular choice for homeowners looking to add a rich, warm aesthetic. This exotic wood is available in various shades, making it easy to pair it with other wood furnishings and create a warm look in any room. It is also durable enough to withstand the heavy foot traffic typical of many homes and can endure a variety of spills, stains, and other damages with minimal damage.
This wood’s high Janka hardness rating makes it one of the toughest options for a hardwood floor. This is especially important for areas of the home where children and pets play, as it can withstand their rough treatment without losing its luster. It is a good choice for rooms that get a lot of sunlight, as it will help to absorb some of the light and prevent the room from being too bright.
Like most types of hardwood, Brazilian Cherry can be prone to darkening with prolonged exposure to sunlight. This is an issue that can be easily avoided by rotating rugs and cleaning your floors on a daily basis to remove dirt and dust before it has a chance to set in.
Hurst Hardwoods offers a large selection of both finished and unfinished Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, with a nice mix of solid and engineered planks. They have a number of different brands to choose from, including Ark and IndusParquet engineered floors as well as Bellawood and Colston solid wood. Some of their prefinished products are GreenGuard Gold certified for low chemical emissions, while others have a limited lifetime warranty.
This species of hardwood is harvested from rainforests, so it is best to look for FSC-certified products if you are interested in eco-friendly options. You should also look for wood that is harvested from secondary forests, as this will reduce the impact on the primary forest. Additionally, you should only purchase this flooring from reputable companies that have been vetted to ensure they are using responsible harvesting practices. This will help to keep the Brazilian Cherry ecosystem healthy.
Santos Mahogany
Santos Mahogany is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods on the market. Its stunning reddish-brown color and deep, rich tones add elegance to any room and complement a wide range of decor styles. Its impressive hardness ranks high on the Janka scale, making it a tough wood that resists damage from daily wear and tear.
Santos mahogany is a tropical species that grows in Brazil and Central America. It is a dense, heavy wood that sands well and has an excellent natural polish. Its high density also means it is less prone to warping or cupping in areas with varying humidity.
The heartwood is moderately to distinctly striped and sharply demarcated from the white sapwood. The texture is fine to medium and the grain is typically interlocked. The luster is medium to high and the wood has a pleasant spicy aroma when cut.
While the wood is a durable choice for flooring, it can be more challenging to maintain than some other types of hardwoods. Its dark color makes it show dirt, crumbs and pet hair easily, so cleaning requires more frequent dusting. Additionally, the wood changes color over time, so stain colors should be tested in a small area before applying them to the entire floor.
Many species of hardwood have been given the name mahogany, and buyers can be confused by the many options available. It’s important to purchase only authentic mahogany, not a look-alike such as khaya or sapele. These woods may be cheaper, but they don’t have the same strength or durability as authentic mahogany.
While genuine mahogany is expensive, santos mahogany is an affordable alternative that offers similar beauty and durability. It’s available in solid and engineered forms, prefinished or unfinished and comes in widths ranging from 3” to 7”, random lengths up to 7’. Our prefinished santos mahogany floors feature an 11-layer Aluminum Oxide finish and UV cure protectant that will last for a lifetime. When properly cared for, santos mahogany floors can be enjoyed by generations of families. Learn more about this beautiful and durable exotic wood by speaking to an expert at Fantastic Floor today.
Brazilian Teak
Teak is one of the hardest hardwood species, and as such, can withstand many forms of damage. It’s resistant to dings, scratches, and dents that are often caused by heavy traffic. Teak also resists the infiltration of water and moisture that can cause other types of damage to floors. Additionally, unlike some other wood flooring options, teak ages beautifully, turning a silvery gray color with time.
In terms of maintenance, Brazilian teak requires very little care. A simple sweep and mopping are all that’s needed to keep your floor looking its best. You’ll likely only need to refinish the floor once or twice in its lifespan.
Another benefit of using Brazilian teak in your home is that it does not splinter. This is an important consideration for people with children or pets, as it eliminates the need for area rugs and carpets that can easily rip or tear. Additionally, the natural oils in this wood prevent it from absorbing odors and moisture.
Teak wood is known for its impressive hardness and durability, which makes it a popular choice for high-traffic areas and households with kids or pets. This durable species is available in both solid and engineered forms, allowing you to find the right option for your home.
Like other hardwood flooring, Brazilian teak needs to be sealed regularly to protect the surface from stains and odors. It’s also a great choice for exterior use because it will not rot or decay.
The drawback of using this hardwood is that it takes a long time to grow, meaning many varieties are endangered due to over-harvesting. To avoid logging or harvesting this type of tree before it matures, consider purchasing teak from a supplier who offers ethically sourced and planted trees.
Cumaru is a beautiful and durable exotic hardwood that can make an excellent addition to any space in your home. Its warm brown color and straight grain pattern make it a good match for many traditional decor styles, and it looks gorgeous in any room. Its impressive hardness, long lifespan, and dense construction make it a smart choice for many homeowners.
Brazilian Walnut
If you’re looking for a hard, dense wood that resists rot and bugs, then Brazilian walnut is the perfect choice. Also known as Ipe, this durable hardwood can withstand a lot of wear and tear without needing to be refinished often. It has a high Janka rating and an excellent fire rating, and it is even capable of withstanding radiant heat systems with ease. Ipe is so incredibly dense that it doesn’t have the same splintering issues as other softwoods, and it is naturally resistant to moisture as well. In fact, Ipe was used for the boardwalk slats along New York City’s Coney Island for over a quarter of a century before it needed to be replaced.
Because of its extreme hardness, ipe can be difficult to work with for non-professionals. It requires industrial strength tools to cut and trim, and it can be challenging to sand and nail. It’s not a do-it-yourself project, and most people will opt for professional installation of this exotic hardwood flooring.
Depending on how you care for and protect your floors, Ipe can last for up to 50 years. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will remove any loose dirt, and you can use a special floor cleaner to clean your ipe floors as needed. You can also use pads under your furniture to reduce the risk of indentations, and these are a great preventative measure.
While Ipe is not prone to water damage, it’s still a good idea to protect your floors with a moisture-resistant finish. This will help keep the ipe from expanding and contracting in areas that might be exposed to more moisture than others, like bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. If you choose to go with a pre-finished hardwood flooring, there are several different options available to you, from smooth to hand-scraped.
You can purchase Ipe flooring at most local hardwood specialty stores, and you can also buy it online. You’ll likely have to pay a premium price for this hardwood, but it is well worth the investment if you’re looking for long-lasting floors that can stand up to the test of time and harsh weather conditions.
