Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Perhaps the first thing people think about when they hear “cherry tree” is the old parable regarding a young George Washington chopping down his father’s tree. In addition to having lovely blossoms and making a gorgeous landscaping statement, cherry wood is a great material for hardwood flooring because of its rich and distinctive coloring.

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. The wood from cherry trees, prunes species, a subset of the rose family, has been used in furniture making since 400 BC.

Check out our other hardwood flooring options including the best reviews and comparisons of the year!

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cherry Wood Flooring

Some of the advantages of using cherry for your home’s flooring are:

  • Produces an excellent and smooth finish
  • Is readily available as an unfinished or prefinished flooring material
  • Is easy both to clean and to 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
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How Can You Tell If This Is The Floor For You?

There are five questions you should investigate if you are considering selecting cherry hardwood flooring for your home:

  1. What kind of cherry wood do I want to use for my flooring?
  2. Will cherry hardwood accentuate or distract from the style of my home?
  3. Is cherry going to be a durable enough flooring option for me?
  4. How much can I expect to pay for a cherry hardwood flooring?
  5. From where should I purchase cherry hardwood flooring?
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What Kind of Cherry Wood Do I Want to Use For My Flooring?

The answer here is really going to depend on what style you are looking for, the overall look you want to achieve, in what kind of room you plan to install the cherry flooring, and your budget. Cherry trees are grown worldwide, although not all are used for flooring material. Brazilian cherry is by far the most popular cherry hardwood flooring used, but the Asian and Bolivian cherry varieties can also be used. Cherry hardwood planks are easy to machine, glue and nail well and so are easy to install, and result with a smooth finish when sanded. Cherry wood also dries quite quickly after milling, but has a high shrinkage rate unless it has been kiln dried.

Each species of cherry hardwood flooring has a different Janka rating. The Janka hardness rating is the measure of hardness for all wood varieties used for flooring. The American Cherry hardwood has the lowest score of the cherry wood varieties, with a rating of only 950. The Janka rating of other cherry woods is Brazilian cherry – 2820, African cherry – 1010, and Bolivian cherry – 3190. Lumber liquidators has a helpful chart that can be found here that will show you a comparison of the Janka ratings of many different hardwood varieties.

Cherry flooring has been used for many decades in the construction industry. The flowering version of the tree that has been made famous by Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival was introduced to America in 1900 as a gift from Japan. American cherry wood is softer than all of the other cherry woods, so it is not as popularly used for flooring as it is in landscaping. Brazilian or Jatoba cherry is an imported exotic hardwood and is the much more popular flooring choice.

Will Cherry Wood Accentuate or Distract From the Style of My House?

Selecting the right wood, possibly Brazilian or Bolivian hardwood cherry flooring, you will enjoy its unique grain and deep color for years to come. I personally love the look of cherry wood flooring, as it is noticeable, makes a statement, and unique in appearance, but will not draw the focus or overwhelm the other features of a room. It pairs well with almost any décor style and gives off a homey feeling that isn’t lacking in luster.

Cherry hardwood floors have an 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. It is important to note, however, that Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring darkens after several months, so this should be taken into account when considering using it for flooring. Cherry hardwood flooring is readily available and is one of the most commonly used hardwoods in America.

Is Cherry Going to be a Durable Enough Flooring For Me?

Select your cherry flooring carefully because some cherry woods are significantly softer than others. As with other wood floors, cherry has the advantage of being easy to clean and maintain. When choosing a cherry wood flooring, most lean towards the Brazilian variety that is significantly stronger and has a measure of hardness rating that is significantly higher than many other hardwood flooring varieties, including pine and oak. You will need to seal or wax a cherry wood floor, and as with any type of hardwood flooring, that will need to be re-done occasionally, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring is available in pre-finished or unfinished, and in thicknesses ranging from 3/8″ to 3/4”.

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 loss 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.

How Much Can I Expect to Pay for a Cherry Hardwood Flooring?

Cherry wood is comparable in price per square footage to most other hardwoods. You can expect to pay about $2-$5 per square foot when purchasing cherry hardwood flooring planks, and installation costs are typically about the same as with any other hardwood flooring. With installation, you may expect to see costs of around $4-$8 per square foot for cherry hardwood floors. Because it is grown and harvested locally, American cherry wood is significantly less expensive than the more common (and stronger) Brazilian cherry wood, which comes from the jatoba tree native to the jungles of the Amazon.

There are, of course, less expensive options to achieve the look of cherry hardwood floors without paying for the solid hardwood planks. There are laminate flooring options comprised of cherry hardwood layered over a wood composite, or even vinyl or tile options designed to mimic the look of a natural cherry hardwood floor.

From Where Should I Purchase Cherry Hardwood Flooring?

I get asked this question a lot. People are always coming to me looking for reputable providers of certain varieties of hardwoods and my answer does really vary depending on the particular hardwood species you are looking for and whether you are sold on purchasing a solid hardwood flooring or are considering other options, such as a laminate flooring designed to look like a cherry hard wood. When purchasing a Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring, it is important to purchase from someone reputable who uses sustainable practices, as the jatoba tree is one of many that have been over-harvested, contributing to the deforestation of the Amazon. You can check with Forestry Stewardship Council on sustainable practices and do research before purchasing any hardwood flooring. Typically, my advice is that if a price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Do market comparisons and get feedback and reviews before making any kind of major home purchase, including flooring.

When considering flooring options for your home or office, cherry hardwood flooring makes for an interesting and dramatic choice. Not only will cherry hardwoods add warmth and elegance to a room, but will also increase the resale value. Since you can readily buy cherry hardwood floors from any hardwood specialty stores, you won’t have trouble finding a quality, beautiful flooring that fits your tastes. You also won’t have to resort to chopping your own cherry tree, like George Washington!

100 thoughts on “Cherry Hardwood Flooring”

  1. How do I clean cherry floors. The contractors suggested vinegar and water — that leaves the floor cloudy. I bought a hoover floor mate and its cleans but doesn’t leave the floors shiny. Help!!

    Reply
  2. Vinegar and water is what I suggest. My recipe is 1 cup of white, distilled vinegar to a gallon of water. And be sure to use a damp mop — not wet — or spray the solution on the floor and use either a terry mop-head or micro-fiber cloth to mop.
    What recipe do you use?
    One more thought: if your water is hard (has lots of mineral content), consider buying distilled water for this job.

    Reply
  3. Can Brazilian Cherry be used in a bathroom? The bathroom has a shower in it, but is used rarely, like once or twice a week (it’s a weekend home)by myself only, and I’m very careful.

    Reply
  4. I have observed flooring “manufacturers” say about various wood floors you can’t use them in the bathroom, or kitchen and laundry either for that matter. Understanding there’s much more potential for floods, and thus damage, is part of your decision process; if you’re willing to take the risk, your decision is easier to make.

    I used ash Pergo flooring in my entry, kitchen and bathrooms years ago — and they are all doing well still. The precautions we took were to dry off before stepping out of the shower, and then be sure to step onto a bathmat that was subsequently hung over the edge of the tub or on a towel bar to dry. We also dried spills quickly.

    Since you are careful, and have now read several times of the challenges of wood flooring in a bathroom, if you still want to — go for it! And enjoy its beauty there too.

    Reply
  5. I moved a area rug to another spot in our cherry hardwood floor den..notice the fading. Will this eventually even out?

    Reply
  6. Since I haven’t seen it, it’s hard for me to say how long it will be before the colors blend better. Some of the fading on my bamboo floors has evened out in two or three months, and other fading hasn’t evened out in five or sixth months.
    The difference for my situation is that one floor area is in direct light so gets quite a bit of UV, and the other area (the one that hasn’t evened out yet) is in a more indirect-light situation and the darker color is still obvious.
    Time will take care of it, but it’s a matter of how intense your sun is and how much direct light your floor gets.

    Reply
  7. I have the B.C.HW. Flooring throughout, Big problem is the film buildup. I have tried everything, from Murphy’s, to Lysol, to Specialized Floor cleaners and nothing seems to remove the film – One of our floors are high gloss finish (mistake by installer) so this is particularly filmy – ANY REAL SUGGESTIONS?
    Should water be cold, warm or hot?

    Reply
  8. My contractor asked me whether I want staining for unfinished cherry wood or not? In general, if you can teach me general procedure of finishing unfinished cheery floor, it would be great. Thanks,

    Reply
  9. HI – WE INHERITED BRAZILLIAN CHERRY FROM A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND WANT TO USE IT FOR A SCREEN PORCH. THE PORCH IS COMPLETELY COVERED. WE HOPED TO EITHER FINISH IT WITH A SPAR VARNISH WITH SUN PROTECTION (UVA) OR WITH A DANISH OIL. ANY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS OR ADVICE? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN BC USED IN AN OUTDOOR APPLICATION? THANKS SO MUCH.

    Reply
  10. I don’t have direct experience with finishing unfinished cherry flooring but think it would be done the same as any unfinished hardwood flooring. Sand it and then seal it. Lightly sand and seal again for a more durable finish.
    I personally prefer low VOC products to keep your air quality high, and there are some great products out there that fit that bill.
    I also wouldn’t stain your cherry flooring because the wood is beautiful as it is. But if you are going to, the staining process is done right after the sanding, followed by a light sanding before sealing the floor.

    Reply
  11. My brazilian cherry floors are 9 years old and the areas by floor to ceiling windows are very faded out. They have a water based finish. Can these floors be re-finished, sun protected and have the color restored?

    Reply
  12. You can indeed refinish that flooring. You can either strip the existing finish and then reapply or you can use Rustoleum’s Varathane Water-based Diamond Polyurethane floor finish directly on what you have.
    But if you want to restore the color, that’s a bit trickier. The wood has been bleached and I believe only stain will put color back in the wood. The wood needs to be bare for the stain to adhere. Getting the colors balanced between the bleached and other wood surface will be challenging, but a professional might be able to do a fine job.
    You could protect the floor in the future with a polyurethane that has UV protection. The Varathane product line has such a product, though that one isn’t intended for indoor use. There are other products out there with UV protection, I just don’t have personal experience with them.
    Sticking with water-based, low VOC finishes is important for your health on this indoor application. I hope you can find all of the pieces you need to renovate your floor to your satisfaction.

    Reply
  13. Hi
    I thought wood & water don’t go together. How can I clean my cherry hardwood flooring with 1:10 vinegar:water, I’m hesitant, please help by giving an alternative.

    Reply
  14. The difference between what you are thinking and reality is that when you clean your cherry flooring you don’t get it wet, it’s merely damp and you dry it as you go. You don’t “swab the decks”, you only clean it. I’ve used this solution on my wood floors for years with no problem.
    Any cleaning solution you use is made with water — Murhy’s Oil Soap not excluded. The secret is that you aren’t using much solution, the solution doesn’t sit on the floor long, and your floors don’t suffer.
    Be sure to change your cleaning solution often so your floors get really clean.

    Reply
  15. I bought a house with brazilian cherry wood floors. I really don’t like the red color. Is there any way to bleach out some of the color to make it paler in tone or do I just have to live with it?
    thanks.

    Reply
  16. I don’t know if applying bleach to it would lighten it or not. But that’s not a healthy way of approaching it anyway.
    You could try making a white-wash with white paint in polyurethane and applying it, lightening the color without losing it. Make it very dilute so you only lighten the color.
    I’m only guessing at both approaches though. I’ve never tried to lighten wood, though sun has bleached my floor.

    Reply
  17. Just a couple comments that may be some help. We’ve had our brazilian cherry solid hardwood floor for 2 years now. Still in love with it. Extremely durable. I’m trying to rotate my area rugs to even out the floor color beneath them. Since the areas aren’t exposed to sunlight it is taking 14+ months for those spots to darken. I’ve been told to never use Murphy’s oil soap on your wood floor, it will put an oily film over it. I’m using Bona products which do a great job.

    Reply
  18. I’ve heard the same thing about Murphy’s Oil Soap, though I never experienced the problems I hear associated with MOS. I also use Bona on my bamboo floor, but I find that vinegar and water work as well for a lot less.

    Reply

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