Hickory Wood Flooring

About Hickory Wood Flooring

Have you ever wondered why so many people gravitate toward hickory hardwood for their homes? As one of the most popular hardwood flooring options, this slow-growing tree holds the impressive distinction of being the hardest hardwood commercially available. If it's tough enough for use as ax handles and early pioneer wagons, it's tough enough to handle the constant stream of family and pets parading through your home.

What is Hickory Hardwood Flooring?

Hickory wood flooring offers an appealing combination of extreme durability and beautifully distinctive grain patterns, making it an ideal hardwood for your busy household. Different hickory species produce slight variations in hardwood color, but all hickory trees are known for their incredibly dense wood that stands up to wear and tear and easily absorbs stain. It's no surprise hickory wood flooring is a top contender for use in country homes, lake retreats, and other cozy, rustic environments.

Appearance

The coloration of natural hickory hardwood isn't uniform but dramatic and variegated , ranging from creamy light brown to darker brown and accented with rich auburn or cinnamon undertones. Leaving hickory hardwood as is results in natural hickory hardwood flooring that adds warmth, while handscraped hickory hardwood flooring offers a distressed or antiqued look. 

You can showcase the distinct wood grain patterns without making your room feel busy by avoiding narrower widths and opting for wide plank hickory flooring.

Durability and Maintenance

If you're looking for hardwood floors that can withstand decades of extreme traffic , look no further than hickory wood flooring. Because it grows slowly, hickory trees provide hard, strong, and dense wood that's not easily damaged. In fact, it's the only commercial wood that possesses all these qualities simultaneously. So let your family's pack of dogs and your kid's soccer team roam, and host all the family functions for years to come without concern for scuffs, scratches, or dents. 

Maintenance for natural hickory hardwood flooring is simple. As long as you quickly clean up any unexpected spills and routinely sweep, vacuum, or mop, your hickory flooring will stand the test of time. As always, be sure to follow the manufacturer's care instructions for your specific hickory flooring. 

Lifespan

Under the right conditions, hickory flooring can last 100 years or more. The longevity of the pristine hickory wood flooring you install today will be influenced by specific factors, like: 

• Whether it was properly installed 
• The quality of materials used 
• The amount of wear and tear the floor receives
• How often you maintain it
• Whether you follow the manufacturer's guidelines

Though solid wood floors may begin to fade a little after a decade or two of heavy wear, there's still plenty of life left. Plus, you always have the choice to sand and refinish when you're up for it, as long as you’re not breaking your product’s warranty. 

Installation

Hickory's strength and durability can prove challenging when it's time to install hickory hardwood flooring. The wood's density makes cutting and sawing more difficult, and the wood is more likely to split and break when nailing. Professional installation is highly recommended to ensure the job gets done properly and without ruining any of your precious hickory planks. 

Like all solid hardwoods, hickory hardwood flooring needs to acclimate to its new environment for several days prior to installation to avoid warping and swelling, so you should plan accordingly. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hickory Wood Flooring

Hickory flooring has a few notable pros and cons to mull over as you shop for the best option. 

Hickory hardwood flooring pros:

• Extremely durable
• Long-lasting
• Stylish and unique, no plank is the same
• Eco-friendly options available

Hickory's hardness makes it an ideal selection for pet owners in search of a durable floor that can withstand and even hide scuffs and scratches. This remains true for an active family or any space with high-traffic areas. In a nutshell, hickory wood flooring resists damage and is easy to maintain. 

When it comes to the cons of hickory, natural hickory hardwood flooring may not be for your home if you're looking for consistent grain patterns across planks. Like other hardwoods, hickory is susceptible to shrinking or warping if not properly acclimated prior to installation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hickory a good hardwood floor?

Yes! Hickory is one of the most durable, domestically harvested plank floors available. Because it's one of the hardest woods, it's more water-resistant than other options, so you can install it in your kitchen and dining rooms worry-free. With minimal maintenance, it can withstand generations of wear and tear, like your kid’s constantly running inside with their shoes on. 

What color is hickory flooring?

That will depend on the type of finish you choose. Natural hickory hardwood flooring features cocoa brown and beige hues with varying reddish tones. Staining hickory hardwood not only gives you the color you're looking for, but also highlights the wood's distinctive knots and mineral streaks.

Is hickory the hardest wood?

Hickory is the hardest commercially available hardwood, though it's not the hardest wood on the planet. That honor goes to Australian buloke, which is an ironwood and commonly used in knife handles and fine furniture.