Heart Pine Flooring: The Ins and Outs

To give you a quick intro, heart pine is the center of a pine tree where the wood has ‘died’, hardened and ceased to pass nutrients up the tree. It also dries to a much darker color than the sapwood. Heart pine is noted for its use in heart pine flooring, where it is generally cut with vertical grain and wears very well. In southern US, heart pine is often associated with long leaf pine, which is a slow growing and dense wood.

For those of you who have seen it, we don’t need to tell you that heart pine flooring transforms a room with its sheen and glow. It’s also much easier to install than a traditional hardwood floor because it requires no sanding. Moreover, it looks even better as it ages.

You can buy heart pine flooring in a variety of widths and grades. Stain it or leave it natural and topcoat it with an oil or varnish. Most people prefer a clear oil finish. The pine will develop a slightly darker patina with age and exposure to light.

Four things to look for in heart pine flooring

• Antique vs. new: Antique pine flooring is milled from salvaged timbers, and compared with new pine, will typically have a tighter grain and a darker color. Antique heart pine flooring can also have nail holes and other signs of distress
• New vs. old growth: Most new pine will come from plantation or managed-growth trees, which means fewer growth rings per inch and less density than pine cut from old-growth trees. Boards cut from old-growth trees will have a grain more similar to that of the antique pine
• Heart content: The wood at the center of the tree (heart) is darker than the wood at the outside of the tree (sapwood), as you already know. Heart content is measured as a percentage of the total board. Consider buying pine with at least 75 to 80 percent heart
• Clear vs. knots: Boards are graded from clear (no knots) to large knots. Tight knots add character to your heart pine floor

Oiled Floors Improve With Age

Heart pine flooring darkens slightly with exposure to light and will age well, taking on a unique soft glow. You may obscure this natural aging with stain, but if you want to stain, keep it light. Try a test piece first. Let the stain dry for 24 hours and then apply the oil finish. For best results, apply a heavy coat of the penetrating oil, let it soak in for 15 minutes and then apply a light coat where it looks dry. After another 15 minutes, wipe the floor dry with clean cloths. Any wet areas will turn into shiny spots, so beware!

Let the oil dry for 24 hours, buff with 150-grit sandpaper or a sanding screen and apply another light coat. Let sit for 15 minutes and then wipe off. Depending on traffic and wear, oiling needs to be done every three to five years.

Some heart pine flooring may require light sanding

Pine is soft and must be sanded carefully to avoid gouges. It is best if you can get by with little or no sanding, and that depends on the quality of the milling. Ask the potential supplier what it recommends for its product. An accurately milled board will have a uniform surface that will accept the stain and/or oil evenly without sanding.

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