Into The Woods
Story: Tamarisk McNalty Stephens
There’s no doubt that integrating the timeless beauty of natural wood adds character, warmth and value to your home. Here’s a review of several species to help determine what selection may be right for you. Remember, as a conscious consumer, select FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood to ensure that it has been sourced in an environmentally responsible manner.
Hickory
A very hard wood that offers a distinctive character due to bold graining (which is best showcased in wide floorboards), but also requires added care during installation to achieve a cohesive aesthetic, especially in large open-concept spaces. Take note that most hickory flooring (including engineered products) cannot be installed over radiant floor heat.
Oak
A common option for flooring as it is incredibly durable, stable (when it comes to moisture and humidity) and offers a dynamic grain pattern that can hide imperfections such as scratches and dents more than other species. Red oak is more affordable than white oak, although there is a rosy undertone that the name implies. Oak generally receives stain well.
Maple
Its subtle grain pattern provides a consistent look and when combined with its strength and durability, it can perform well in applications like cabinetry, flooring and furniture. However, maple is notoriously difficult to stain (proper procedures must be followed to avoid blotchiness) so prefinished from the factory is the best option when selecting maple hardwood. If you’re looking for a solid wood cabinet instead of MDF or HDF (medium- or high-density fibreboard), maple is a great choice. Birdseye maple has a distinct pattern found in some sugar maples and makes a beautiful statement for custom furniture pieces.
Pine
An affordable, lightweight softwood that is not the best for floors as it can scratch and dent easily (although heartwood is harder and more durable). Generally suited for a rustic aesthetic due to the dark knot, though clear pine comes without knots. Although pine takes paint well, you’ll want to seal the knots so they don’t bleed through. Great for wood trim.
Walnut
A more costly wood, walnut has a distinct aesthetic with tones that can vary from dark chocolate brown to a lighter butter brown. Although strong and stable, walnut does scratch and dent more easily than hickory, oak or maple. Clear-coating or oiling walnut is the preferred finish to highlight its natural beauty. Great for statement pieces.
Cedar
Western red cedar or eastern white cedar is a fragrant wood most suitable for exterior applications because of its ability to resist moisture (think cedar shakes), decay and insects. Exterior soffits and interior wood ceilings with tongue-and-groove cedar add warmth. You’ll often see clear cedar as smooth ceiling details in modern builds.
Ash
A hardwood that has a lively graining similar to oak. It is naturally pale in colour. Even with its strength and density, ash is relatively lightweight compared to other hardwoods like hickory and oak.
Poplar
Generally painted as it’s not necessarily the most attractive wood. If you’re looking to avoid the use of synthetics and MDF materials, paint-grade poplar is a great solution for interior trim, mouldings and doors.
Birch
Similar to maple in appearance, although not as hard. Can have a unique flame appearance when cut on the saw in a certain way. Sometimes used in engineered hardwoods to achieve an aesthetic similar to maple, but at a more affordable price tag. But remember, it is not as hard or durable as maple.
Cherry
A beautiful and expensive hardwood with a fine straight grain and a rosy hue that reddens with age. Often used in cabinetry and furniture.
Reclaimed woods
These offer a great way to reuse materials and prevent more trees from being harvested, while providing a unique, timeworn aesthetic with a sense of character and history. Reclaimed wood is often denser and more stable due to being harvested decades ago from mature trees that were able to reach a larger size, which can be beneficial for flooring as wider plank sizes are available.
Exotic Woods
As the name implies, these woods are generally imported from international locations. One fairly expensive option is zebra wood, which is harvested from central Africa and offers a distinct striped-grain pattern from pale yellow to dark brown. Another exotic wood is acacia, which is a fast-growing and affordable import often used in furniture.
Engineered vs. solid wood flooring: Although cost is generally comparable, solid hardwood can be sanded down and refinished whereas the thickness of the wood veneer on engineered products will dictate whether or not it can be refinished. Engineered hardwoods are more stable and less susceptible to contraction and expansion with changes in humidity compared to a solid product. This also allows more engineered products to be available in wider plank sizes than solid hardwood.
Tip: When selecting a flooring material, consider thickness and the transition to other flooring materials (such as tile). For example, a half-inch engineered product may require an underlay so that you have a level transition from one material to the next, while a solid three-quarter-inch wood may not require an underlay to match height with adjoining flooring. OH
Wood samples courtesy of Arboreal Tree Care