Why Choose Hickory Flooring

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Why Choose Hickory Flooring
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Choosing your hardwood flooring doesn't have to
be stressful, however, you shouldn't take it
lightly. There are many hardwood species
available for flooring, so many that the decision
can sometimes feel overwhelming. That being said,
here are some reasons why you should consider
hickory hardwood flooring above all other
hardwood species.
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Strength and Resistance
There are many reasons why homeowners choose to
install hickory flooring in their homes and
perhaps the greatest of these many reasons is the
strength and resistance of hickory over almost
all other hardwoods. While other species are
fragile and soft hickory is tough and strong.
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In fact, hickory is one of the hardest hardwood
species and is second only to mesquite. Its
strength makes it the ideal choice for a flooring
material specifically for hall ways, family rooms
and kitchens.
Hickory is so strong that it resists dents from
falling pots and pans and scratches from high
heeled shoes. For a busy family and active
lifestyle this is the hardwood that is going to
hold up best under busy feet.
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Color
What's more important color and style or
durability?
With most hardwoods you'll find yourself faced
with making this decision. One species might be
beautiful but soft while another is durable but
not quite as aesthetically pleasing for your home.
Good news, with Hickory you don't have to
sacrifice style for durability or vise versa.
Hickory comes in a variety of colors and grain
patterns, from the lightest tan to the richest
reds with everything in between.
Grain patterns can be soft and smooth or harsh
and rugged. With hickory you can have your cake
and eat it too both durability and a color
pattern perfect for your home and decor. We're
confident you'll find the perfect color and style
hickory for your home.
For the modern or contemporary home, high grade
hickories look perfect and for the vintage home
or backwoods cottage, check out low grade
hickory it'll give your home that rustic touch
you've been looking for.
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It's obvious that when you choose hickory
flooring, it's a win-win. Not only is it
beautiful but it's strong, resistant and wears
well too. You're home will look beautiful and
your floors will hold up for years and years to
come.
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Approaches for Installing and Finishing Hickory
Flooring
Contrasting shades makes a floor stand out, and
for domestic hardwoods, hickory has such a
quality. While many domestic species have a close
to uniform appearance, hickory is characterized
by tan to reddish heartwood and white to
cream-colored sapwood. Although higher grades may
have more of a uniform appearance, lower grades
play up the contrasting heartwood and sapwood.
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Hickory hardwood is practical, as well, for
flooring. In terms of physical composition,
While these qualities make hickory desirable for
flooring, the hardwood has a handful of
noticeable drawbacks the high density makes
sawing, sanding, and machining difficult, and the
closed grain has tendency to give finish a
blotched appearance. 
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First, for a smooth surface, hickory must be
sanded with a belt sander. Preferably, an 80-grit
belt should be used for the majority of the job,
while a 120-grit belt can smooth the surface and
a 220-grit belt is ideal for finishing touches.
As far as adding your own stain or finish is
concerned, however, clear or a lighter shade
keeps the contrasting appearance intact, while a
darker color obscures it.
When dealing with standard unfinished hickory
flooring, a homeowner has two options for getting
around this difficulty wood conditioner or
water-popping. Wood conditioner seals off the
grain, while water-popping involves wiping down
the wood with a damp cloth to open its grain.
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Hand-scraped hickory flooring is a third option.
Hand-scraped hardwoods, in general, do not have a
smooth appearance like standard unfinished
flooring. Instead, all planks are distressed by
hand, and the rougher or aged appearance
camouflages blotching better.
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Not all hand-scraped hickory hardwood is the
same. With different varieties are available, the
hardwood is altered through aging, brushing or
scraping, or adding a darker finish to accent the
distressing. Additionally, although hand-scraped
hickory can be purchased directly, the hardwood
can be custom distressed before a finish is added.
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Bella Cera Hardwood Floors 400 Oyster Point
Blvd, Suite 115So. San Francisco, CA
94080Tel.[phone]Fax.[phone]
www.bellacerafloors.com/hardwood-flooring/Hickory-
hardwood-flooring.aspx
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