Woods
  
Types of wood
for your floor

There are many kinds of wood appropriate for flooring. Each has its own character, color, and durability. Here are some of the most common:

 

  

Most common floors for a rustic look (more grain and texture): Heart Pine, Yellow Pine, Red Oak, White Oak

Most common floors for a simpler look (less grain and texture): Maple, Birch, Cherry

 
Other popular woods: Walnut, Beech, Hickory, Pecan Maple, Mesquite, Ash, Douglas Fir  
Some popular imported woods include: Wenge, Purpleheart, South American Rosewood, Brazilian Cherry, Honey Rosewood, Flame Wood, Ivory Wood, Cypress, Mahogany, Rubberwood, Jarrah, and Teak.  
Another category of available wood is antique or distressed wood. These are usually Oak, Pine or Chestnut boards collected from buildings anywhere from 60 to 200 years old.  

Of course there's no substitute for seeing the wood for yourself, but there are some internet sites with pictures to help you get an idea of the quality of the wood.

For more information about woods and where to purchase floors, visit WoodFloorsOnline, Floorshop, or perhaps South American Floors. See more links on our links page.