Hickory Hardwood Flooring
Hickory Hardwood Floors - Are Hickory Floors Good For All Situations?
By Karen Lacasse - Ezinearticles
First maybe I can give you the easy answer. Hickory hardwood floors are pretty visually exciting. Many of the grades, particularly the lower ones have a huge variety of colour from almost white to the rich dark brown tones of the heart wood giving very dramatic looking hardwood flooring. Hickory, as a commercial species, is often a group of trees within one biological family that includes both the 'true hickories' and the 'pecan hickories.' Each member within this family has a different spectrum of colours. It is not just a question of whether the wood is sap wood or heart wood, but also a question of exactly what wood species you are buying. Together they can produce a quite vibrant and variable looking floor.
By Karen Lacasse - Ezinearticles
First maybe I can give you the easy answer. Hickory hardwood floors are pretty visually exciting. Many of the grades, particularly the lower ones have a huge variety of colour from almost white to the rich dark brown tones of the heart wood giving very dramatic looking hardwood flooring. Hickory, as a commercial species, is often a group of trees within one biological family that includes both the 'true hickories' and the 'pecan hickories.' Each member within this family has a different spectrum of colours. It is not just a question of whether the wood is sap wood or heart wood, but also a question of exactly what wood species you are buying. Together they can produce a quite vibrant and variable looking floor.
Interesting enough some wholesalers are coining the phrase 'calico' hickory to refer to this dramatic variation of colour. They guarantee that every piece of wood will have both the light and dark shades of wood on every face, not that that really matters if we are talking about flooring as only one face shows, but may be more relevant if we are making hickory kitchen cabinets.
Earlier we were suggesting that much of this colour variation is found in the lower grade, but in addition to the colour the lower grades will also have significant natural defects like pock marks and knots. This figure creates quite a rustic appearance that emulates country living and lake side property but this is not appropriate to every set of interior decorating plans. Thus it is important to see a large enough sample of the floor you are considering to get a clear picture of what you are buying in your hardwood flooring. Hickory as discussed can be quite variable.
Now aside from colour, hickory can be a great wood for durability. It is the second hardest domestic wood species commonly made into hardwood flooring in North America. Only mesquite wood flooring is harder according to the standard Janka ranking system. This feature comes at a price though.
Hickory lumber is quite tough and fibrous; in fact it doesn't really like to cut cleanly especially with a semi-dull chisel. Sanding is a challenge, thus we highly recommend that you only purchase pre-finished hardwood flooring. Hickory tends to raise a bur and requires additional attention to preparation if you are to obtain a quality finish. This is easier to do in a multi-million dollar factory than you and I struggling at home. That is besides the fact that large manufactures have the ability to use aluminum oxide additives and UV curing to create a more durable finish.
Check out our site at woodsthebest.com for hickory's janka rank for hardness relative to other wood species and details on shrinkage issues related to hickory hardwood floors that may affect the appropriateness of this species for various home environments; below grade, on grade or above grade.
Hickory Hardwood Flooring
