Your flooring is more than the foundation of your house. It’s the foundation of your aesthetic, comfort, and lifestyle. 

Hardwood flooring is considered a timeless building material that brings a sense of warmth and beauty to any environment, but choosing which type is best for your remodel or new home build can be intimidating. You might be excited about your new flooring project, but with so many choices, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. 

You know you want hardwood flooring, but which type? 

Fortunately, our expert insights should help. Keep reading to learn the different types of hardwood flooring and which may be best for you. 

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hardwood flooring types of wood

What Type of Hardwood Flooring Is Best?

The best type of hardwood flooring is the one that fits your tastes, preferences, and lifestyle. 

Since hardwood floors are long-lasting, whichever type you choose will be with you for years to come, so you’ll want to make the best decision for you and your home. 

While installing new flooring can be exciting, the decision can be overwhelming, especially if you aren’t a flooring expert. 

A professional flooring company can help you explore your options and view samples. 

At Interior Motives Flooring, we are passionate about helping Auburn area property owners find the best type of hardwood flooring for their build or remodel project. We promise that our help will make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible. 

Hardwood Floor Buying Tips

When considering the best hardwood flooring options for your home, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

  1. Where will the flooring be installed? Consider the rooms your hardwood flooring is going in, how much traffic they get, and how much moisture or humidity the floors will need to withstand.
  2. What type of subfloor will the flooring be going on top of? Whether you have plywood, an existing wood floor, a concrete slab, or tile can determine the best choice for your type of hardwood.
  3. What is your decor preference? Do you prefer a traditional, modern, or country look? Do you want something that will blend in or stand out and wow everyone? The answer to these questions will affect your choices.

If you need guidance with the information above, one of the seasoned pros at Interior Motives Flooring will be happy to help you decide. We’ve been in business for 35+ years and have installed hundreds — if not thousands — of hardwood floors.

Let’s delve into the various types of hardwood floors, along with details like their look, hardness, and pricing so you can decide which one might work best for your home.

best hardwood flooring

Best Wood Flooring Options: Categories of Hardwood Floors

From traditional oak to extravagant Brazilian teak, many species of wood are used for flooring, each with its own level of hardness, look, and feel. Some are more common and relatively affordable, while others are rare and expensive. 

Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of types, including: 

  • Classic
  • Exotic
  • Manufactured

Knowing the different types of wood flooring will help you narrow down the options when selecting the right wood flooring for your needs.

Classic Hardwood Floors

These common types of hardwood floors all have similar advantages, including:

  • Appearance
  • Durability
  • Longevity
  • Low maintenance
  • Increase home value
  • Improved acoustics
  • Sustainability

Let’s look at some of the most popular varieties.

Oak

Oak is a common wood species often used for hardwood flooring. Known for its durability and longevity, experts claim that oak flooring makes up 70% of the total flooring market. 

Oak flooring comes in two categories: white oak and red oak. 

White oak can be distinguished by its tight, uniform grain, whereas red oak has a more free-form swirling pattern. White oak’s tighter grain means it’s more stable and dense, making it an excellent choice for kitchens and bathrooms, as it is more resistant to liquids. 

Although you may think red oak would be darker, white oak’s color ranges from beige to dark brown. Red oak doesn’t refer to the color of the wood but rather the color of the leaves. However, red oak has a slightly reddish tint and may appear deep red depending on the stain. 

Both types of oak are highly durable, having a hardness score on the Janka hardness scale of 1360 (white oak) and 1290 (red oak).

The average price of oak flooring may range between $2-$7 per square foot for white oak and $5-$8 per square foot for red oak.

Hickory

This type of hardwood flooring has tons of character, as evidenced by its unique knotting and interesting wood grain, which varies from wavy to straight. Its distinctive look surpasses other common wood flooring types in class and timelessness. 

Whether you’re considering hickory for its interesting patterns or its distinctive warm yellow to reddish brown colors, it’s an excellent flooring choice for modern and traditional-style homes alike. 

With a hardness scale of 1820, hickory is hardier than other common woods, making it a great choice for homes with pets and kids. 

Despite its hardness, hickory still accepts stains well. Unfortunately, the same hardness that makes this wood long-lasting and hardy also makes it a bit more challenging to install for DIYers. 

The average price of hickory hardwood flooring is $4-$8 per square foot. 

Walnut

American walnut, otherwise known as black walnut, is one of the oldest wood species used for hardwood flooring. Dating back to 7,000 BC, walnut has been used in homes and businesses since the 1800s. 

With deep, rich colors ranging from warm chocolatey brown to dark maroon, walnut is a highly prized hardwood flooring type. 

However, walnut wood is not known for its density. Its hardness scale of 1010 makes it susceptible to dents and scratches. 

Since walnut generally comes in darker colors, this type of hardwood flooring may not be suitable for small spaces, as darker flooring tends to draw a room in, making it feel more enclosed. Its highly sought-after status also makes walnut one of the pricier flooring options. 

The average cost of walnut flooring is $7-$16 per square foot depending on the width of the planks you choose. 

best hardwood flooring

Cherry

Prized for its rich red hues, cherry wood flooring exudes warmth and class. Most flooring manufacturers offer cherry wood in a prime (fewer knots and more consistent grain) or country (more knotted and varying grain) option.

While American cherry wood has a unique color that may become darker and richer with age, it is one of the softer woods, with a Janka hardness of 950. We suggest that customers who don’t abide by a “no-shoes-in-the-house” rule avoid this hardwood flooring. 

The average price of cherry flooring may be around $4-$7 per square foot. 

Maple

Strength, beauty, and decades of being the time-tested flooring option for homes and businesses across the U.S. make maple flooring a great choice. It touts the general benefits of hardwood flooring while also being affordable. 

The tones and colors of maple wood range from rustic dark to sandy blonde hues, meaning it’s a versatile choice regardless of your home’s style or decor. 

Maple has a Janka hardness scale of 1450. However, if your maple flooring becomes scraped or scratched, the imperfection may stand out more against its smooth grain. It is also more responsive to environmental changes, meaning a rapid fluctuation of temperature or humidity may cause maple to shrink, warp, or split. 

If you don’t like maple’s natural color, this may not be the choice for you. Its tight grain makes it notoriously difficult to stain, and the few spots where the grain is looser will soak up the stain and create uneven color. 

The average cost of maple per square foot is $7-$11 per square foot.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring has become an increasingly common choice due to its: 

  • Durability
  • Eco-friendliness
  • Resistance to pests and water

Typically, bamboo flooring has a Janka hardness value of 1180 (carbonized horizontal) to around 1380 (natural). However, newer manufacturing techniques, including strand-woven bamboo flooring, have increased this range from 3000 to over 5000, making bamboo one of the most durable types of hardwood flooring available. 

types of hardwood flooring

Exotic Hardwood Floors

Teak

Luxury, beauty, and extravagance are words synonymous with the grace of teak hardwood flooring. Different shades of browns, golds, and tans peek through the dark grain of shiny teak wood. Like a fine wine, as teak ages, it gets richer in color and tone. 

Teak flooring is so lustrous and glossy that it almost appears to be lightly coated in oil. While this wood species has a hardness rating of 1155, it is slightly more scratch-resistant than other woods with similar or higher Janka scores. 

Its hardness makes teak an excellent choice for any home, and since it’s also highly water and mold-resistant, it works well in virtually any area. 

With so many benefits, you may wonder why teak is not more common in homes. Unfortunately, its overall benefits and controversial issues with sustainability make teak hardwood floors a big-ticket item. 

The average cost of teak is $10-$13 per square foot. 

Mesquite

Unlike other types of wood, mesquite flooring is commonly used as end-grain blocks rather than planks. This unique flooring type offers endless style options. 

Mesquite flooring is light to reddish brown and holds plenty of character. It is also one of the hardest natural flooring types on the market, with a hardness scale of 2345 to 2600 — perfect for high-traffic areas and homes that see plenty of movement and activity. 

Mesquite is also highly durable and difficult to scratch, which makes it hard to work with. DIY jobs are not recommended. 

Unfortunately, mesquite flooring can get expensive, with the average cost ranging from $9-$25 per square foot.

Fortunately, Interior Motives Flooring has experience working with this gorgeous flooring type. Our skilled professionals understand how to properly cut and lay mesquite to achieve an effective and stunning end result.

Acacia

This tropical flooring has a significant impact — once you see it, you’ll likely never forget it. 

Acacia, commonly referred to as Asian walnut or wattle, is distinguished by its wide, undulating pattern and distinctive knots. 

Unlike other hardwoods, acacia has a more extreme color that may vary from plank to plank, featuring rusty and deep browns, gold tans, and off-white hues.

Acacia may be prone to buckling if it is not properly acclimated or installed in homes residing in arid areas. It generally does best in homes with climates around 35% humidity. Its fickleness with weather is made up for by its hardness. With a hardness rating of 2220 (small leaf acacia) and 1700 (large leaf acacia), this type of hardwood flooring is as tough as it is beautiful.

If you maintain acacia floors well, they can last over 100 years. Refinishing may be required from time to time, but with each resurfacing, more of the character and color of the wood are revealed. 

Acacia may cost anywhere from $6-$13 per square foot. 

different types of hardwood floors

Engineered Hardwood Floors 

Engineered hardwood flooring looks and feels identical to solid hardwood flooring. Unlike its natural counterpart, which consists of a single solid plank of wood, engineered hardwood is made of a plywood core with a thin veneer of real wood on top. 

Virtually every type of hardwood can be used for engineered hardwood floors. However, natural hardwood is typically a more solid choice over engineered wood as it’s more durable, longer-lasting, and generally more versatile. You also cannot refinish engineered hardwood flooring more than once or twice. 

However, engineered flooring has its advantages, including:

  • Affordability (costing around $4-$7 per square foot)
  • More water-resistant than solid hardwood
  • Ease of maintenance, usually just requiring a wet mop

Interior Motives Flooring Is Here To Help You Find the Best Hardwood Floors for Your Needs

Since 1989, Interior Motives Flooring has installed various types of hardwood flooring in homes throughout the Auburn, Washington, area. In addition to providing high-quality installation services, we offer a range of premium hardwood flooring in various species, shapes, colors, and sizes. 

Our full-service flooring services rely on our comprehensive selection and installation process. From visiting our showroom to consulting with our design professionals, Interior Motives Flooring can help you choose the best hardwood flooring for your home or business.

Call Interior Motives Flooring today for expert hardwood installation in Auburn, WA.

best hardwood flooring