You’re thinking about your hardwood flooring options and walnut flooring comes to mind. It’s certainly an interesting choice. Walnut wood, with its varying degrees of dark tones, automatically adds warmth and elegance to any room. Walnut has always been a popular wood, both for its inherent beauty and because walnut is a softer hardwood among hardwoods. What does that mean? In short, a softer hardwood is easier to work with. Walnut floors are usually easier to cut, sand, and stain than other woods because they are softer. This should also make it easier to achieve a smooth surface. Let’s look at some of the factors that could lead to choosing a walnut floor.
Is it durable?
The hardness of a wood can be a double-edged sword. Being a softer wood it’s actually easier to work with, but easier to sand also means it’s easier to scratch once a floor is installed and in use. It’s important to stay on top of things. Most, if not all, wooden floors can wear down and even become damaged, but there are alternatives. American walnut is among the softer hardwoods, while Brazilian walnut is among the hardest. The compromise would be in looks. There is much more uniformity in American walnut and much more color variation in Brazilian walnut. If you want to keep the rich chocolate flavor, you’ll probably go for American. Brazilian walnut colors range from olive to chocolate brown to black. There is no lack of choice.
Why walnut?
Brazilian walnuts will cost more when purchased in the United States based on shipping costs alone. Other hardwoods may be more durable, and there are countless other types of flooring on the market today as well. A smaller room might not go as well with a dark product like a walnut floor, but if the room size is reasonable, it’s difficult to go without a noble material like walnut for your hardwood floor. All hardwoods require some level of care and maintenance. Speak to your installer and ensure you are given sufficient care instructions to ensure this attractive floor covering lasts for many years to come.
