Flooring is easily one of the largest surfaces in any room—so, it deserves its fair share of attention. This doesn’t apply only when laying down a new floor or revamping an existing one. In fact, wood flooring requires the right care after being installed as well, so your investment can last you for years to come. This means it’s incredibly important to learn about your flooring so you can make an informed decision and give it the right care afterward.
For our blog today, we’ve interviewed an expert well-versed in wood flooring and other types of flooring, Jordan from Cochran’s Lumber. We asked him for insights and tips—keep reading to learn them along the way!
From left to right: Cochran’s Lumber – European Oak Character Mountain Mist Matte, Frisco Matte, Sandy Dunes Matte, Character Invisible, European Oak Select Clear Water Matte, Select Polar Frost Matte, European Oak Character Smokey Cove Matte, Coffee Bean Matte
What are the Different Wood Species?
When looking for hardwood flooring options, the choices are endless! Let’s discover the most famous of these below, along with a short summary of their pros and cons.
White Oak and European White Oak
These two options are by far the most popular for wood flooring. They’re extremely durable (Jenka scale rating of 1360) and come in an endless number of color tones!
“This material is very easy to source, and in comparison to the other woods out there, this will be the most affordable option for the quality. Honestly not a whole lot of cons with this material. We love working with it!”, says Jordan.
Walnut
With a unique purplish brown natural look, this wood is one of the most beautiful flooring materials. Once a clear coat and sealer are applied, the brown undertone takes over and it is stunning! This material is also decently durable with a Jenka reading of 1010. However, the unique tones mean it can be difficult to create color. And walnut is 100% luxury flooring, which means it can get pricey.
Jordan recommends buying this species with just a clear coat because of its natural beauty. It’ll create a subtle statement in your interior just like that.
Hickory
Hickory is hickory. The uniqueness of this flooring is recognized not only by people who know their woods but also by people who have an eye for something different. With a Jenka scale reading of 1820, this stuff is heavy and solid!
Jordan shares his tip, “I would highly recommend this species to clients who want extreme character in their house and have somewhat of a bigger budget.”
Like walnut, because of the nature and natural tones of the wood, it can be difficult to color. So, you’d want the flooring in its natural state (in this case, a clear coat suffices).
Heart Pine
Heart Pine is a soft material with a Jenka scale reading of 1225. This material has a natural yellowish-brown tone to it and looks amazing with white stains as well as brown colors.
Jordan says he sees a lot of this in old home renovation and rustic designs. And that comes with its own reasoning. Because heart pine is soft, it can easily dent. And when used for older styles and designs—that’s not a problem.
Reclaimed
“This stuff is so cool! Reclaimed material is collected from old barns and homes that we mill into flooring. We have a crew of guys that go out, hunt down these old buildings, and take as much as they can for us to refurbish.” , says Jordan.
This means reclaimed wood has a story to tell. When you buy this material for your house, it lives on in another home instead of rotting away! The only downside is that it can be difficult to source at times.
To have a look and feel of each of these, browse through Cochran Lumber’s collection of products!
Cochran’s Lumber: European Oak Character- Mountain Mist Matte, Sherwin Williams Paint – Indigo Batik, Sea Salt, Pottery Barn Fabric –Vintage Blythe Print, Z Gallerie Fabric – Opulent Chenille Blueberry
Should I choose Solid Wood Flooring or Engineered Flooring?
Solid or engineered flooring—which one is for you? Let’s develop a better understanding by diving into their pros and cons, as shared by the expert, Jordan.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid flooring is created by taking a piece of milled material and shaping it into one plank of flooring.
Pros: Solid will be more budget-friendly because it cuts out a whole step in the manufacturing process. Jordans tells us about how it’s done, “all we have to do is pull the material and run it straight through our mill.”.
Cons: Since it is a solid plank of wood, it is prone to become wavy. This can make it a little difficult when laying. As long as this material is kept in a climate-controlled environment, it will cut back a ton on any expansion.
Engineered Flooring
Engineered flooring is created by a thin veneer of flooring material that is glued down to special plywood. This produces a stronger hardwood plank.
Pros: It is the straightest and truest form of hardwood flooring you can buy. Bonding the flooring to this special plywood makes the planks way more workable when laying. “We are also able to dial in our finish process on this material as exact as possible.”, says Jordan.
Cons: It is more expensive, and does take a little longer to create (this is because it has to be run through more steps in the manufacturing process).
Both solid and engineered flooring are outstanding products, but they do vary from each other. The choice to make depends on your particular needs.
What are the Best Wood Flooring Species for Your Home’s Environment?
With hardwood flooring, humidity is at the forefront of considerations. Jordan shares his valuable insights,
“When dealing with beach homes, anywhere coastal, or high humidity areas, I will always recommend engineered white oak, walnut, or European white oak. What these species have in common is they take humidity well. Engineered is always the way to go with this climate because the wood veneer is small and glued to a plywood that will hold it in place as best as possible.”
When dealing with any other areas, most flooring species will do extremely well as long as the material remains climate-controlled. If you live in a home with an HVAC system, expansion and contraction will not be a problem.
What are the Best Wood Flooring Species According to Lifestyle?
“If your lifestyle involves high-traffic activities, kids, pets, or hosting events, I will always point you in the direction of flooring with a high Jenka scale reading and a urethane finish.”, says Jordan.
This finish, especially with urethane products, is bulletproof. This is also why Jordan calls it “one and done flooring”. Cochran’s urethane process has evolved over the years, and they now have it down to a science. Depending on the color choice, they range from 4 to 6 protective coats. This finish type can be more pricey—but you definitely get what you pay for.
On the other hand, if your lifestyle is low traffic—and you don’t mind doing some easy touch-ups—Jordan recommends oil finishes. Being incredibly smooth, these look absolutely stunning! Plus, they’re available in so many different colors, and make for the most affordable prefinished flooring offered at Cochran’s Lumber.
Oil finishes are preferred for low-traffic areas because they can wear down a bit. You can order the touch-up oil and all you have to do is rub it on the woredown area and let it dry. That’s it! Also, oil finishes are completely environment-friendly and are the best health-conscious finish you can use. (Holistic designers love it!).
What Maintenance is Required for Hardwood Flooring?
The maintenance requirements depend on the finish you choose.
Urethane finish
For this finish, the cleaning process is very straightforward—and probably what you’re already used to. Just simply vacuum and mop with a water-based cleaner.
Oil finish
Oil finishes are extremely easy to clean as well! Jordan recommends, “first, you vacuum up the dust and crumbs, then use a special oil finish cleaner for mopping the flooring.”
What are the Common Misconceptions About Hardwood Flooring?
“The biggest misconception I run into with hardwood flooring is people think it’s going to have one flat color tone,” says Jordan.
Whether it is a natural, invisible, or stained finish, the pores of the wood will take everything slightly different and that is the unique beauty of real hardwood.
Wood Flooring and Sustainability—What’s the Link?
When making any interior design choices, it’s important to take sustainability into consideration.
Jordan tells us about the brand he represents, Cochran, “We take waste extremely seriously and we make our lumber stretch as far as it can go, so we are using less resources”.
Jordan adds on about how his company boasts of its oil finish line and reclaimed flooring collection.
“I said earlier that oil is the cleanest form of finish on the market, it is completely VOC-free. Also, our reclaimed ability is awesome! I love being able to recycle old material and use it for something new!”.
What are the Trends to Look Out for in Hardwood Flooring?
Flooring is an essential—but it also gives you the opportunity to align your home with the latest trends!
Tones
Neutral and earthy tones are becoming increasingly popular in hardwood flooring trends. We love the collection based on upcoming trends by Cochran, called “The Prestige Collection”. Basically, it’s all about light and subtle brown tones, whites, and greys. Also, invisible finishes will never go out of style and are easy to match with a number of design styles, too!
Flooring planks and species
According to Jordan, wide plank flooring (6” to 9” in width) is getting extremely popular. The flooring expert recommends white oak, European white oak, and reclaimed hardwood for the next few years.
What is Some Advice for Budget Consumers who Want Good Quality Flooring?
If you want a bang for your buck, Jordan shares his top tip—“I will always point you in the direction of our pre-finished engineered European hardwood flooring”. It is of amazing quality, and for the price, you simply can’t beat it. If you get an oil finish on the European oak, it’s very affordable!
Final Words
And, that’s a wrap, folks! We absolutely loved interviewing Jordan from Cochran’s Lumber, and are super excited to work with them in future projects.
Double-minded about your flooring decision? Connect with us today for a one-to-one consultation!
Phone: 347-941-1234
Email: info@craftbyanika.com
