Where Does Wood Flooring Come From?

Have you ever wondered where the floors you walk on come from? Each plank of hardwood flooring has a story, a history and each type of wood serves a different purpose. In this article, we’ll learn where hardwood floors come from, the difference between hardwood and softwood and how these factors affect the quality, price and purpose of the wood. 

Wood All Over the World

Wood comes from all over the world, however, specific types of wood are found in specific regions of the world. 

North America. This region includes the United States of America and Canada (of which is highly forested). Common trees grown in this region is black cherry, maple and beech.  

Tropical Regions. These regions mainly include areas of South America, but are not limited to those countries. Countries in South America, such as Brazil, produce exotic hardwoods including mahogany and teak.

Other wood from around the world include bamboo (found in South Asia and tropical parts of Africa and South America), purple heart (found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America) and zebrawood (found in various regions across Central America).

The Difference Between Hardwood and Softwood

Hardwood. Hardwood trees are angiosperms. They are deciduous trees, otherwise known as trees that shed their leaves when the season changes in the fall. Examples include hickory, maple, walnut and oak. 

Softwood. Softwood trees are gymnosperms. They are coniferous trees, otherwise known as trees that are made of cones and needles. Examples include fir, pine and cypress. 

The biggest difference between hardwood and softwood in terms of your flooring is that wood flooring is made from hardwoods and not softwoods. Other uses for hardwoods include building construction materials, outdoor decks and wooden patios, and high-quality furniture. Since softwoods are not used for flooring, other uses include creating fiberboard, creating furniture and producing paper materials. 

The Janka Scale

Despite the textual feeling of all wood being “hard” some woods are structurally harder than others. How is one type of wood deemed harder than another? The Janka Hardness Scale actually rates woods based on their hardness. The douglas fir is considered the softest hardwood while brazilian cherry is the hardest hardwood of them all. 

What does all this mean? 

Now that we understand different types of wood, where they originate from, and how they are best used – what does that mean in terms of cost and quality? Harder woods are considered better quality but come at a higher price. These woods, including pecan, maple and oak, are more commonly recommended for hardwood flooring and cabinets because they hold up better to wear and tear. Softer woods, not recommended for long-term use, come at a lower cost because they are not as capable to withstand wear and tear. On the completely other end of the spectrum are exotic woods, which are typically some of the hardest woods available. These woods include purpleheart, mahogany, mesquite and Brazilian cherry. Exotic woods are generally some of the most expensive types of wood in the world, but come with exceptional color, texture and most importantly, quality.

Still have questions about types of wood? Give us a call at Zack Hardwood Flooring, today!