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Cherry Hardwood Flooring
Select your cherry flooring carefully because some cherry woods are a softer than others. Selecting the right wood, possibly Brazilian or Bolivian hardwood cherry flooring, you will enjoy its unique grain and deep color for years to come.
George Washington is rumored to have cut down his father's cherry tree. Could he have been looking for a unque flooring for his childhood clubhouse? Cherry hardwood flooring is a great flooring option because of its rich and unusual color, but it's only a myth he chopped the tree down. As the name suggests, cherry flooring comes from the cherry tree, prunus species, a subset of the rose family. Its wood has been used in furniture making since 400 BC.
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Cherry wood's color varies from a rich red to a reddish brown and its color darkens with age due to oxidation. When used for flooring cherry provides you with a satiny, smooth texture that adds warmth and character to any home.
Some of the advantages of using cherry for your home's flooring are:
* Produces and excellent smooth finish
* It is readily available as an unfinished or prefinished flooring material
* Easy to clean and maintain
However, as with all wood flooring, cherry flooring has its disadvantages too and these include:
* Fading
* Easily scratched by dirt and grit
* Damaged by excess moisture
Cherry trees are grown worldwide, although not all are used for flooring material. Brazilian cherry is by far the most popular hardwood flooring used, but Asian and Bolivian cherry is also used. Cherry hardwood is easy to machine, glues and nails well, and produces a smooth finish when sanded. Cherry wood also dries quite quickly after milling, but has a high shrinkage rate unless its kiln dried.
Cherry hardwood flooring has different Janka ratings with American Cherry hardwood being the softest with a rating of only 950. The Janka rating of other cherry woods is Brazilian cherry - 2820, African cherry - 1010, and Bolivian cherry - 3190.
Cherry flooring has been used for many years in the construction industry. The flowering version that has bseene made famous by Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Fetival was introduced to America in 1900 as a gift from Japan. American cherry wood is softer than other cherry woods, so it's not as popular for flooring. Brazilian, or Jatoba, cherry is an imported exotic hardwood and is very popular.
Using cherry hardwood for your floors will give you and excellent smooth finish that is durable and adds warmth to any room. Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring has an open-grained appearance similar to that of oak but is twice as hard. An interesting feature of cherry hardwood flooring is the dark brown or black streaks that contrast with its background, ranging from dark orange to reddish brown. Note however, that Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring darkens after several months so should be taken into account when considering it for flooring. Cherry hardwood flooring is readily available and is one of the most commonly used hardwoods in America.
Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring is available in pre-finished or unfinished, and in thicknesses ranging from 3/8" to 3/4”.
As with other wood floors, cherry has the advantage of being easy to clean and maintain. Unlike carpeting, hardwood flooring does not collect dust readily, so a dust mop is ideal for daily cleaning and damp mopping your cherry floor will remove dirt and grime. Wet mopping of wooden floors is not advisable and can lead to warping. Always ensure that you use a damp mop and your cherry hardwood floors will retain their shine, luster, and appeal.
By not taking care of your cherry flooring you will see a lose of shine and luster. When exposed to strong, direct sunlight tends to bleach out, losing its coloring. Filtering the light through a window film or window coverings can help to prevent this. Dirt and grit can act like sandpaper, scratching the finish and eventually the wood. Placing rugs and mats at doorways helps reduce this problem. Spills can damage the finish and even warp the wood, if not wiped up quickly. Because of wood's natural tendency to absorb moisture, it is often recommended to avoid placing cherry flooring in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry areas.
Bolivian cherry hardwood flooring can have provide some challenges. When sanding this wood, the dust can cause allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis and respiratory allergies. Oil finishes do not dry properly, making water-based finishes a better choice.
When considering flooring options for your home or office, cherry hardwood flooring is an interesting option, not only will it add warmth and elegance but also it will also increase your resale value. Since you can readily buy it from hardwood specialty stores, you won't have to chop your own cherry tree to have a beautiful, unique-looking floor.
Comments
What should I wash my Brazilian Cherry floors with? Thank you
Brent Myers at August 31, 2009 10:13 AM
what is best ,,,to clean cherrywood floors ty
rita at September 5, 2009 08:36 AM
Rita,
Thanks for asking! Why not head over to Cleaning Hardwood Flooring for my thoughts. I do want to point out that using water on your flooring has become a bit of a controversy and I now suggest 15:1 water:vinegar or just plain old water using a Microfiber mop or cloth. Remember to keep it damp and not wet!
The Flooring Lady at September 7, 2009 11:19 AM
We are considering an American Cherry prefinished solid wood flooring in our den. The salesman says it has a 30 year finish warranty. We are putting it in our primary living area, therefore it will be high traffic, and we have two daschunds. Will it stand up to these issues, or should we look at another type of flooring? If the latter, what are some good options--prefer non-exotics, since many of those cause respiratory problems.
janet at October 10, 2009 06:06 PM
We have a 4 1/2 yr old brazilian cherry floor near a couple large windows. We were told the windows were okay as is and it would not be a problem with fading, they would darken over time. They have totally bleached out and left a very obvious line where the sun hits them. The company refuses to honor the warranty and it does not look like they can be refinished. Any ideas? thanks
Barbara Schick at October 10, 2009 10:50 PM
Barbara,
If the floors are under warranty for sun fading, then you may need to just speak to someone else at the company, however cherry is known to fade in direct sun over time. You could have the floors refinished by someone else, but besides replacing, there is really no way to fix the bleaching. I would also use a rug or blinds in that area to prevent the fading in the future.
The Flooring Lady at October 15, 2009 01:38 PM
Janet,
I would recommend using door mats to keep off the excess grit, and that would help a lot in maintaining the finish. You could also read through some of the information on other articles on Hardwood Flooring.
There are probably some exclusions in the warranty for pets.
The Flooring Lady at October 15, 2009 01:41 PM
We have Brazilian cherry floors and I hate them! They scratch easily and anywhere a rug is placed, the floor is much lighter. Had I been told that I should/could not put rugs on them, I NEVER would have invested the $. We are planning to sell our house and this is definitely, not a good selling point. Any ideas?
Sandee at November 12, 2009 06:58 AM
Sandee,
The floors can be refinished.
However, if you are selling your home, you may want to include options with the sale. Such as an allowance to purchase carpet, or refinish the floor and let them choose what they prefer.
The Flooring Lady at November 17, 2009 09:08 AM
I have Brazilian cherry floors that were sanded and stained on-site. The floors have developed a great many scratches from our dog. If I have someone come in and sand them can they be restained and then have protective stain similiar to the finish on pre-finished floors. We have friends with Brazilian cherry floors that are pre-finished and they seem to hold up much better to their dogs abuse than ours. thanks for any advice you have. Steve
steve at November 19, 2009 11:22 AM
