From colonial times to today: Pine flooring is an American tradition

If you are struggling between which wood flooring to get for your home, you might want to consider pine flooring. It has been used in American homes since colonial times, it was a durable flooring choice then and it still is today. Specifically, “heart pine” has been an American favorite for years, because of its durability and hardness.

Heart pine usually consists of heartwood, sapwood, or a combination of both. Heartwood is the dead or dormant center of a tree surrounded by the live sapwood. Heartwood is often preferred for its hardness and can be distinguished from sapwood by its reddish color. In the wood flooring industry, as far as pine goes, they say, “the redder, the better.”

If you’re looking for the hardest pines, Longleaf Heart Pine and Southern Yellow Pine are the hardest of the pines, although they are considered softwoods. But because they are softwoods, they are susceptible to dents and scrapes, like all wood floors. Some believe that these marks only add to the character of the floor.

For more information about pine flooring or related products, choose from one of the following links:

Wood Flooring | Bamboo Flooring | Hardwood Flooring