Home Improvement Guide 101

Hickory flooring is one of the many types of hardwood flooring available to someone looking to re-do flooring in their home. As with any type of product there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to this type of flooring. Hickory hardwood flooring is the second hardest flooring option in the United States, second only to mesquite wood. This provides many advantages as to the durability of the wood, especially in high traffic and well used areas. If you use this wood in the kitchen it will stand up well to the spill and things that can get dropped on it, that on a softer wood would cause dents, scratches and stains damaging the wood.

However, there are also disadvantages to the hardness of the wood; it makes it hard to work with when cutting and shaping the wood. The hard and fibrous texture of the wood makes it hard to cut straight and cleanly. Also it is difficult to sand and get to an even surface. However, these disadvantages can be avoided if you buy a prefinished selection of hickory hardwood floors.

Hickory flooring comes in a variety of different colors and grades. This variety gives everyone the opportunity to choose which type of flooring is right for them. The wood ranges in color from a light tan to a red color. This variety provides a good option for everyone that is interested in using hickory floor for their home. Once a color has been selected though it is important to determine which grade of hickory is right for you. The top grades are labeled either select and these grades have the least number of knots and blemishes in the wood. The lower grade wood has more color variation and natural defects like pock marks and knots. This grade is usually referred to as rustic or country grade hickory. This type of hickory can look great in a cabin or country home, but is usually not appropriate for a more upscale look. Also one disadvantage to the great variation in hickory wood quality and color is it is imperative that when you are selecting your hickory that you ask to see a representative sample so you will not be surprised when your flooring is installed.

Another disadvantage to choosing hickory wood flooring is that hickory tends to shrink more than other woods when it is drying. This disadvantage can also be avoided by choosing to get your wood from a trusted distributer who is knowledgeable about the drying process to ensure that your hickory wood is dried correctly before installation. Although there are distinct disadvantages to hickory flooring most of them can be easily avoided if you are educated about the pitfalls of choosing hickory hardwood flooring. If cost is an issue it is also possible to purchase a hickory laminate flooring that would provide the same look at a lower cost.