What hardwood species are native to my area?
The question you should be asking is: “What hardwood species answer my style and needs,” because not all wood floors are the same. While there are many varieties grown in Texas, including ash, hickory, oak, pine, and walnut, among others, it’s important to remember that they all have different levels of strength. It also depends on your shade preference -- whether you prefer light, dark, or medium-toned wood floors. Discuss your needs and style preferences in detail with your flooring specialist when shopping for wood floors in Arlington.
Domestic vs. exotic species
This is a question you should ask yourself because it affects style, performance, and price. Species harvested within North America are domestics, while those harvested in Indonesia, Brazil, and Africa, are exotics. Domestic species tend to be warmer and more traditional, while exotics are ultra-hard, dark, dramatic, and, some say, more contemporary. Exotic species are often more expensive than domestics.
Other questions to ask yourself
Before you even start shopping, ask yourself if you have specific preferences, such as grain patterns. There are three ways a log is cut: live-sawn, rift-sawn, plain-sawn, and quarter-sawn, each having its grain motif. Some have other characteristics; for example, live-sawn hardwoods tend to be used in wider planks.
You also need to determine if you like many knots, raised grains, and swirls or if you’d rather have a more subtle wood. Knots, incidentally, are not imperfections but, rather, features that add character. A lot will also depend upon your home's overall decor; light woods are airier and more contemporary; dark floors are traditional, and medium tones show off those quirky knots and grains.
As you can see, shopping for hardwood flooring isn’t a simple matter of choosing a color. It’s also a significant investment in your home, as is all flooring. We’ll help you sort it out, so come into the All-Pro Floors showroom in Arlington, TX. We work with homeowners in and around Arlington, Mansfield, Dallas, and Fort Worth and offer free in-home measuring for your hardwood flooring upgrade.
