All About Cherry Hardwood Flooring

What’s so special about cherry hardwood flooring? What has made it one of the most sought-after wood products today?

First, a few facts about the cherry tree:

• The scientific name of the cherry tree where furniture and flooring products commonly come from is Prunus serotina. Don’t confuse it with the cherry tree that produces the fruit; they just belong to the same genus of plants.
• The cherry tree can live up to 150-200 years, with the oldest cherry tree reaching 258 years.
• The height of the cherry tree can reach up to 80 feet tall, with a trunk size of 2-3 feet wide.
• The tree is a native of Northeastern America and can also be found in Canada, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Caring for Cherry Hardwood Floors

The beauty of cherry hardwood flooring stems from the elegant and executive look that it exudes. It is also easy to maintain as it only needs a broom and a dust mop to clean it up. A little floor wax added while mopping will instantly make your hardwood flooring looking brand new. Just remember to use damp cloth and not a wet cloth to remove dirt and grime as the latter can cause warping and lessen the luster and shine of the floor. It is also advisable to filter light coming in from windows through a film or covering such as curtains or venetian blinds as direct exposure to sunlight tends to have a bleaching effect on the hardwood cherry floor or furniture.

Also, the dark and rich color of the cherry hardwood (rich red to reddish brown) is a natural property of this tree, with a special characteristic of its color darkening as it ages due to oxidation. When used in floors and furniture, the place will instantly transform into a simple yet sophisticated home or office thanks to its smooth and satiny texture and appearance. Other characteristics of cherry hardwood that serve as advantages over tiles or other ceramic flooring include its excellent finish and fine open-grained appearance that contributes to its grand look and classy effect.

Different Species of Cherry Hardwood Flooring

As mentioned earlier, the cherry tree has many genus species that can be used in producing flooring and furniture. The more common genus species used in producing fixtures, flooring, and furniture are the Asian and Brazilian cherry varieties. It is important to note that not all cherry varieties can be used for flooring; the best variety for cherry flooring is the above mentioned Brazilian cherry also known as jatoba, hence, the popularity of this cherry species.

A comparison of the Janka ratings of the different cherry woods explains why Brazilian cherry is expensive and popular among interior designers and architects alike: American cherry= 950, African cherry=1010, and Brazilian cherry= 2820.

Advantages of Cherry Flooring

• Simple and trouble-free cleaning and maintenance.
• Can be readily purchased unfinished or pre-finished.
• Superior high quality finish.
• Neat and executive appearance.

Visit our Los Angeles Flooring showrooms for more information about Flooring.