Have you ever wondered which hardwood flooring you should choose? If you haven’t considered hickory hardwood flooring, you could be missing out on the best option for your home or project. There are many reasons why hickory hardwood flooring should be at the top of your hardwood flooring list. If you want to learn about why hickory is one of the best flooring options, then you should keep reading, and stay tuned because we’re also going to talk about why hickory is not for you.
1. Hickory is extremely durable.
The durability of hickory is one of the best reasons why it’s the hardwood choice for you. Naturally, hardwood takes a lot of beating. Furniture, heavy foot traffic, pets, children, dirt, food and drinks are all potential causes of damage.
Because hickory scores 1820 on the Jinka hardness scale—making it the second hardest type of flooring in the United States—its durability is almost unmatched.
If you have a busy home and you know your hardwood floors can get damaged, hickory is a great option for achieving that hardwood look without worrying about whether you’re destroying your floor.
2. Hickory is easy to maintain.
The most common concern about any type of flooring is that it can be a pain to maintain. With hickory hardwood flooring, however, maintenance doesn’t have to be at the forefront of your mind.
You don’t have to worry about cleaning it often, and hickory hardwood floors are inexpensive and easy to maintain, requiring only occasional sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping. There’s no need to pay a lot for special products or professional maintenance.
3. Hickory stains look nice and attractive.
Unlike other hardwoods, hickory stains and finishes beautifully, and it holds stain well. Even if you don’t like hickory’s natural light shade, you can stain and wax it until you achieve the look you want.
Overall, hickory has a very attractive appeal. Its distinctive grain and prominent knots give a rustic look that warms up a modern space or complements a rustic one. In general, hickory’s unique grain pattern also exudes sophistication and elegance, meaning that hickory floors typically increase the resale value of your home.
4. Hickory is less expensive than exotic hardwoods.
While some other wood flooring options are less expensive, with hickory you get the durability and aesthetic value you’re looking for without paying the price of imported woods.
When it comes to premium hardwood flooring, hickory is a bit more expensive than oak, and ultimately, it’s a great value for your money.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Hickory Flooring.
While hickory flooring has many advantages, there are also some disadvantages. In fact, many of the things that make hickory great are also factors that may make hickory a poor choice for you.
Here are some questions to ask if you think hickory isn’t the right wood flooring for you:
1. Is the grain pattern of hickory very distinctive?
The grain of hickory is one of the reasons why people love hickory, but it’s also one of the reasons why hickory may not be the right choice for you.
The grain pattern of hickory is active and busy, and the color difference between the knots and the rest of the hickory board can be dramatic.
If you’re looking for a clean, modern look, hickory probably isn’t the best choice for you.
2. Why is hickory flooring difficult to install?
The durability of hickory is virtually unmatched, but because hickory is a hard and durable wood, it can be difficult to cut and install.
If you prefer to lay your own flooring, it’s possible to purchase pre-finished hickory boards, eliminating the need to stain or cut the planks. However, this option will be more expensive.
Since hickory is difficult to install yourself, you may need to seek professional help whenever you need to replace a board.
3. Is hickory sensitive to moisture?
While not as sensitive to moisture as other hardwoods, hickory is still prone to warping and dramatic shrinkage and swelling.
Because of this, installation of hickory floors is often slow, as the wood must be properly acclimated to the space before installation.
This also means that hickory floors may not be the best choice for areas where humidity changes dramatically or where floors may get wet frequently, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Finally, to avoid moisture problems during and after installation, it is important to have a pinless moisture meter that will not damage your floor but will still give you the information you need. A great option is Wagner Meter’s Orion® Pinless Wood Moisture Meter.
Is Hickory Good for Flooring?
Yes, hickory scores 1820 on the Jenkins Hardness Scale — making it the second hardest hardwood flooring in the U.S. Its durability is nearly unmatched. Hickory is very resilient and hard to scratch. Plus, hickory is easy to maintain, offers unique colors, and is less expensive than exotic woods.
Hickory is one of several options.
If hickory sounds like a great floor for you, go for it! There are many pros that make hickory a great choice for many spaces.
If hickory isn’t for you, don’t worry. Hickory is one of many flooring options. If you want to explore more options, check out our article on the top 10 flooring choices.
Whatever hardwood flooring you choose, make sure you’re using a Wagner Pinless Moisture Meter to keep your floors protected from moisture and looking beautiful.
