Plenty of wood flooring options
When wood is the flooring of choice, options abound.
With wood flooring options ranging from traditional to exotic species in every shade imaginable, the material is showing up in all forms and styles across the country. According to Mickey Moore, technical director for the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA), 21/4-inch-strip oak still is the most popular choice for flooring. However, industry experts point out that domestic maple, hickory, ash, and walnut are gaining ground, along with species from abroad. Moore notes that imports such as teak, bamboo, and Brazilian walnut have crept in during the past five years. And some exotic species, like Brazilian cherry, are coming down to a price point closer to oak, making an exotic-wood floor more affordable.
In regard to style, anything that's "different from a standard mom-and-pop oak floor" is making an impact, says Dave Polisky, vice president of technical services for Tarkett.
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