Shopping for a new wood floor? Are you dreaming about that gorgeous American Cherry or Walnut floor which matches your kitchen cabinets or bedroom ensemble?
Something often overlooked in this choice is the wood flooring species and durability. An educated consumer needs to consider the hardness of the species they are considering. Do you like the species because of the grain or because of the color? Generally speaking, we choose a floor because of color and not because of a species particular grain pattern. If this is the case for you, please do your homework and analyze your own lifestyle.
American Cherry and Walnut are very prestigious hardwoods and we certainly have an affection for them in North America, but they are very soft. This fact doesn’t so much matter for the dining room table or for your bedroom, but when you are walking on it, it makes all the difference in the world. All woods dent due to their cell structure. Denting occurs when this cell structure is crushed. Consider this fact, a 125-pound woman walking in high heels has an impact of 2,000 pounds per square inch. An exposed heel nail can exert up to 8,000 pounds per square inch. These types of impact will dent any floor surface.
Analyzing your lifestyle and household when making a flooring choice will help assure your longterm satisfaction. Expectations are everything, so arm yourself with the facts in order to make the best decision for you.