Your home is your castle, and you want to enjoy it! Hardwood flooring has exceptional aesthetics as craft room flooring. Once installed, hardwood flooring increases the home’s value. 

However, most homeowners have yet to learn how many wood species exist, what patterns and designs are available, and which type may look great in their home. Today, at least a dozen hardwood species have several hardwood flooring choices, making selecting the right type difficult.

Do you want craft room flooring in your home? Think of colors, patterns, and designs to accentuate each room in your home. Craft flooring can make your home unique.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has many benefits besides excellent aesthetics. The flooring is comfortable on the feet, durable, easy to clean, and can enhance the character of each room. Before you rush to a flooring dealer, here are some hardwood flooring choices. Some are suitable for some applications. 

Things to Consider

Choice of Wood Species

There are at least a dozen species of wood used in flooring. Some wood flooring is harder than others and, therefore, more durable. A homeowner needs to consider the daily foot traffic and wear and tear that can occur. The most durable hardwoods include maple, hickory, red oak, and white oak. Some of the exotic wood species that are even more durable include ash, bamboo, Brazilian Koa, and Brazilian Cherry. 

Walnut is slightly softer than oak, but, in turn, it offers a rich, warm tone. It is best installed in a home with minimal foot traffic, no pets, and no children.  Naturally, the more complex the wood, the longer it will last and serve you better in areas of high traffic. 

Aesthetic, Color, and Grain

Because hardwood flooring is available in many styles and finishes, it is relatively easy to match the flooring to almost any home decor. But you still need to know whether you want wide or narrow planks, dark or light colors, the type of stain or finish, and the type of grains (straight, irregular, interlocking, etc.). For example, brighter colors and wider planks can make small rooms appear more spacious. Which do you want to choose for your craft room flooring?

Types of Finishes 

The finish is the crucial factor determining a hardwood floor’s overall appearance. A hardwood floor can look completely different when it has a finish applied. The three most popular hardwood floor finishes include water-based polyurethane, oil finishes, and wax finishes. At the same time, four grades of hardwood gloss include matte, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy, with matte being the least shiny and glossy being the shiniest.

Finished or Unfinished?

Hardwood flooring is available as either prefinished or unfinished. The unfinished flooring requires sanding and finishing after it has been installed in the home. This provides a more consistent seal and prevents debris, moisture, and dirt from penetrating the seams between the wood planks. Typically, unfinished flooring will require one to three coats of sealant. Plus, you may have to wait a few days before you can use the floor to allow the finish to dry.

The prefinished flooring is completed at the factory under controlled settings and usually receives at least 6-8 coats of sealant. Pre-finishing ensures a more consistent and solid finish and usually requires a warranty. Overall, the prefinished wood is slightly more expensive than the unfinished wood.

Cost and Installation 

The wood flooring installation cost ultimately depends on the wood species and the type of finish. Solid prefinished and unfinished wood can cost anywhere from $3 to $12 per square foot. Plus, there is the installation cost, which may cost about half as much but ultimately depends on the type of flooring and the size of your home.

So Which Type of Hardwood Craftsmanship Should You Select?

  1. Black hardwood is recommended for a more daring and dramatic effect. This particular flooring is stylish and glossy and makes the room look sophisticated. One advantage of black hardwood is its versatility, and it can easily match any indoor decor. The dark flooring against lighter walls and furniture can create a striking visual appearance that makes the room look bold, classy, and elegant. Black hardwood is ideal for high-traffic areas and also helps hide dirt and debris. If you want to make a statement in your home, then go with black hardwood for your craft room flooring.
  2. Two very popular hardwood flooring patterns include chevron and herringbone. Both patterns can be used to create many more styles. The chevron pattern is usually arranged in a V-shape, creating a sharp angular look. The herringbone features boards that are arranged in a zigzag pattern. This generates a more organic look that is visually softer; this pattern goes well with traditional homes and makes nice craft flooring.
  3. Reclaimed wood offers natural beauty with a sense of warmth that is unrivaled. Reclaimed wood usually has a smooth and uniform surface with good aesthetics. Frequently, this also exposes the fine markings and grains, which adds depth and richness to the flooring.
  4. A recent trend in home flooring is the use of light wood. This is achieved by bleaching or using a lightweight stain for flooring. If you want a contemporary or modern look, go with light wood.
  5. If you want the flooring to have a rustic appearance, go with wood with markings. When wood is processed, nail holes, saw marks, minor dents, and imperfections may present, which often give the appearance of a rustic floor. Rustic wood is full of character due to its style and charm.
  6. Traditional hardwood is usually cut from cross-section logs, whereas lay live-sawn wood is cut longitudinally. This method of carving wood gives each plank a unique appearance due to a mix of colors and granular patterns. Live-sawn wood has its own unique beauty and looks very elegant, including a glossy/satin finish to its appearance.
  7. For something different, consider combining two species of wood. This method lets you combine wood with different colors and grain patterns, creating an eye-catching look. Plus, the finish and gloss can add character and depth to any room. While this option may be slightly more expensive, it will make your home stand out.
  8. One unique textured look that can add character and dimension to the room is to have wire-brushed flooring. The wire brushing process removes all the soft segments of the wood grains, leaving behind a rugged surface. This gives the flooring a weathered, distressed, and rustic appearance. This type of flooring is extremely durable and hides scratches and scuff marks quite well.
  9. Some homeowners prefer cherry wood flooring, creating a sensation of warmth. The deep red tones resemble dark fruity wines. Cherry red wood is very smooth and comfortable to walk on.
  10. Owners of upscale homes who want a timeless look may want to install white oak flooring. Oak has a timeless beauty and is one of the hardest species of wood. Homeowners prefer white oak, which gives a clean look and makes the home appear expensive and immaculate. The one downside to white oak is that dirt particles are readily visible.

Conclusion

As you can see, hardwood flooring is versatile and diverse in its use as craft room flooring. No doubt, most homeowners will have difficulty selecting the right hardwood craft room flooring. However, trusted experts at East Coast Flooring & Interiors can help offer ideas and explain the processes with regard to craft flooring.  Call us today for more information, or visit our showroom to see some of these floorings for yourself.