As far as durability goes, hardwoods such as oak, maple and cherry, are among the most durable species, making them ideal for long-lasting looks in a busy household.
With regards to durability on flooring that's made from hardwood, hickory is hands down the most durable there. No question. Maple next, then oak and last birch.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Prime grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality of hardwood flooring that you can find. The wood in this grade has been carefully selected, and it features a minimal amount of natural defects like knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities.
Apply “The Rule of Three” to Home Flooring
This rule says you should use three flooring types at maximum throughout the whole home. For example, you might use hardwood in public areas of the house, except the kitchen and bathroom, where you use vinyl linoleum.
Typically, solid hardwood flooring is between 5/16 and ¾ inches thick. Those are pretty standard thicknesses that serve most needs. Engineered hardwood can come in different thicknesses but generally, it's about the same offerings as solid hardwood.
For example, Brazilian Walnut owns a Janka rating of 3684. That makes it an exceptionally durable material for hardwood flooring. Brazilian Cherry is another durable exotic species with a 2350 rating. Among domestic hardwood species, hickory tops the charts with an 1820 rating.
If you enjoy lighter flooring, white oak and white maple are two of the best choices for a neutral color that won't go out of style anytime soon. If darker tones are more your type, walnut and cherry woods are both classic looks, according to Washco for Martha Stewart.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is one of the best waterproof and scratch-proof flooring options. It gives a natural hardwood look and offers great durability and resistance to water and scratches. Luxury Vinyl Plank is made up of multiple layers, including a tough top layer that protects against scratches and dents.
Zebra Wood
This is probably the most expensive hardwood floors in the world. It is an exotic wood with an appearance that resembles the striping of a zebra. The zebra wood was a favorite choice among the rich – it was used inside luxury cars such as Mercedes Benz, but also in Prada's flagship store in Manhattan.
Looking at the current wood floor colour trends 2024 and potentially into 2025 we can see that natural browns and white wood floors are the most popular. Natural browns are the most popular wood floors followed by white wood flooring. Natural brown and white are hardwood floor colours that never go out of style.
If you're on a budget or simply looking for maximum levels of practicality, then an LVT can be a fantastic choice. If you have a slightly larger budget and looking for real quality, it is well worth investing in solid wood or engineered wood flooring.
What are the Best Wood Species for a Solid Floor? In our opinion trees from the following species are all capable of producing high quality solid planks: Bamboo, Cherry, Jatoba, Hickory, Canadian Maple, Teak, Brazilian Walnut and Wenge.
Floors with a white finish go with almost everything. A light burlap-like color is a great choice because you still get a light floor, without installing a truly “white” floor. You can use a variety of wood species to create a light floor.
What are the most popular low-maintenance flooring options? Popular low-maintenance flooring options include ceramic and porcelain tiles , luxury vinyl tile, engineered hardwood , stone, concrete and carpet tiles .
The Best Time of Year to Buy Flooring
In fact, it's usually right around the New Year. Unlike cars, boats, and appliances that change models every year, flooring prices drop around the New Year because that is when demand is at its lowest and warehouses are willing to make deals to move product.
Wider boards are usually used for flooring because they better reflect the design and patterns of the wood. Although hickory wood is harder than many other kinds of wood, a major drawback is that it is very prone to swelling.
Pale Brown and Medium Brown are the epitomes of timeless hardwood floor color. These shades offer warmth and versatility, blending seamlessly with various decor styles and color palettes.
Select Grade: The highest quality and most expensive flooring grade. It has few if any, knots or other natural imperfections. Generally, it has uniform color and a consistent grain pattern. Natural Grade: This grade features wood with slightly more natural imperfections than clear grade.
Most of the time the expansion gap will be hidden beneath a skirting board or beading so it is recommended that a 15mm expansion is left. There are some circumstances where it would be preferable to have less of a gap than 15mm, but we recommended consulting with us first.
Standard boards today are generally four to five inches. But wide boards from seven to even 24 inches have become stand fare. It's interesting to note that engineered hardwood flooring often uses wider planks in its construction.