Walnut Hardwood Flooring
April 25, 2011 by Robert Mccormack
Filed under Uncategorized
Walnut Hardwood Flooring
There's no better way to upgrade the beauty and value of your home than to install hardwood floors. Hardwood floors add warmth to any home and, because they last so long, they will increase your home's value. Hardwood works best in hallways, foyers, and living spaces, but can also be installed in bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms, with a proper finishing coat. The only part of your house that is off limits to hardwood flooring is the basement, or any room that is below ground level, because of the high humidity there.
Oak and maple tend to be the most popular selections for hardwood, but more people are turning to walnut as an alternative. Walnut floors are elegant and durable. Walnut is the only dark hardwood native to North America, and grows mostly in the eastern part of the continent. North American walnut, or black walnut, is medium-density, noted for distinctive color and beautiful grain; the sapwood is lighter, even off-white, while the heartwood is deep chocolate. When air dried, walnut hardwood floorboards are dark brown, with traces of purple.
Because of the contrast between the lighter sapwood and darker heartwood, dealers will often steam the boards during the drying process in an effort to even out the variations, but black walnut can still produce significant color variations. Be sure to examine a large selection of boards, so you'll get a good idea of the range of variation you can expect. Walnut's grain is predominately straight, with occasional burly patterns if the wood has been cut close to a limb. It is this burly grain feature that lends walnut floors their exotic appearance.
Because of walnut's deeper colors, you may need to reconsider the overall decor of your room or corridor space. Your existing furniture or drapes may clash with a darker-colored floor; or, if there is insufficient natural lighting in this space, for instance in an interior hallway, you may need to upgrade your interior lights. A bright-colored area rug might lighten the space, and also add some protection to your floor as well.
Black walnut has a Janka hardness scale rating of 1010, which makes it among the softer of the hardwoods commonly used for flooring. The Janka scale ranks the hardness of woods used for flooring; softer woods will dent more easily, but are generally easier to work with. If you are planning to install a black walnut floor in a high-traffic area, or an area where children or pets commonly cross, you may want to consult with your dealer. However, if you are installing a black walnut floor yourself, or are also installing walnut baseboards, shoe molding, stair railing, or other features, you'll find that the wood is extremely easy to work with, and will not wear out your saw blades.
Your North American walnut floor will be relatively stable; it is less prone to swelling or shrinkage in humid climates. And the wood's beautiful color extends through the entire thickness of the boards; if you purchase unfinished boards, no staining is necessary. Many dealers recommend a protective satin finish coat, to make any denting less obvious.
North American black walnut is only one variety of walnut floors. Asian walnut, also called "acacia," is much harder than black walnut, rating around 2400 on the Janka scale. Acacia is predominantly dark, like black walnut, but generally has even more color variations and a wavier appearance than black walnut; it is characterized by large swirls and a loose grain pattern. Acacia trees are not tall, so the boards are generally not long, typically no longer than 4 feet. Because acacia does not dent as easily as black walnut, the protective finish coat is usually polyurethane or aluminum oxide.
Another walnut variety, Brazilian walnut, is among the hardest woods available for floors, rating over 3,600 on the Janka scale. Grown in several countries in South and Central America, this wood, also known as "ipe," can vary broadly in color, depending on the wood's origin. Some Brazilian walnuts are a light yellowish-tan color, while others turn to a blackish brown. It is important to see a wide range of samples, so you'll know what to expect in your delivery. Even if your newly installed floor displays significant color variation, however, the colors will mute into a more uniform pallet over time, to a medium to dark brown.
Ipe is prone to shrinkage in dry climates; some dealers may "over-dry" this wood in the kilning process, to compensate for eventual shrinkage. Ensure that your boards have been properly acclimatized before installation. If you stain your ipe floor, some stains may change color, so test a sample board beforehand.
If you decide to go with the darker, warm tones of a walnut hardwood floor, you have many choices in species, stains, and finishes. With proper installation and proper care, your walnut floor will give you satisfaction for decades.
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