How To Choose The Best Hardwood Flooring 

Which is most important to you?

I’m trying to decide on hardwood in our new house. I’ve learned so much from your videos. Way more helpful than the guys in the stores. Thanks.

Highly helpful! Thanks for distinct, no-nonsense answers to questions most of us have.

Simple, direct, and informative. Thanks!

It's funny how the most relevant and informative videos have so few views

Very interesting from my Aussie perspective. Our western red cedar (not unique to Aus) is only 350 (Janka scale in lbf) but is extremely stable and doesn't warp. Good for wall shiplap. Our floors are usually blue gum (2023 lbf) or brushbox (2135).

Thank you, just the education I needed to make a purchase. You’re the man!!!

Biggest factor for me right now is what will fit into my insurance quote. Had NOT expected to be replacing floors! We have bamboo, almost black floor. Gorgeous, but shows all the dirt and is rather soft, so it dings easily. I want something more durable/hard, but also want to stay with wood. I will be going for engineered wood, and will probably look for oak, as that is likely what will fit in the budget and be available. Your point that hardness is not the only consideration is very well taken - hadn't thought that the finish is really where the damage could/would occur. That significantly alters my wish for the hardest wood in the world, lol. Now, I want the hardest finish in the world, on top of a reasonably hard wood.

Great video! Felt like I was watching George McFly for 6 minutes too! Thanks!

Great video. Thanks for all the info! I'm learning lots

This was insanely helpful, thank you!

Brilliant, focused video. Absolutely sending friends with questions on flooring to the channel. My wife and i are going with a lighter select grade solid maple in 3 1/4, but the price came in pretty high (around $9-10 per sq foot) Very tempting to go to the more durable hickory for the dogs and learn to love the more wild/random look. Would you say that maple is a bit silly expensive to buy right now?

We have natural Maple engineered hardwood in FL and it is wonderful. Good as new after installed in 2007. Humidity is horrible here all Summer (about 6 months effectively) but not a problem for floor because we never open windows. Keep A/C all Summer and no humidity rest of year. We had water damage though and are looking at replacing Maple floors. Now made in wider 5” planks at $15/ft + labor.

Thanks for the information

I really like the look of the Hickory but worry about it going out of style.

TY This was a fabulous video, What is your opinion on Acacia?

Great video. We're considering wire brushed hickory or white oak to replace birch floors. I realize our dogs will get the best of them but were told, and by the looks of them, some minor scratches would blend in on these wire brushed floors. Not sure if oil based finish would be better, any thoughts?

I live in Wisconsin, so similar/ same climate to Michigan. Was going to go with 3.25-inch planks, but changed to 5 inch, and was already installed. Am I doomed for problems? I had asked the person at the flooring store about humidity and they said the wider planks shouldn't be an issue...? Wish I had seen this video sooner :/ Floor is pre-finished hardwood planks - red oak.

Hickory strips would be a good choice then it seems. ...2 inch strips.

Arizona has a few weeks of 100% humidity after a monsoon.

Beavis and Butthead would have a field day with this. 😂😂

what would u reccomend for a 4 star hotel in a humid place (sydney)

The second pic is not "warping.". It's called cupping.

Install it with gaps?

Thank you so much for concise and quality information. What do you consider wide plank? At 4:15, it sounds like homes in the Northeast US should really avoid wider than 3 1/4 inch widths in natural wood given the humidity? I’m in the NYC area where its very humid in the summers. I just put down a deposit on 4 1/4 hard maple. I really love the look of wider planks. I’m shying away from engineered hardwood because of prior experience with it denting very easily (5” oak 4mm wear layer). Do you think I should reconsider switching to 3 1/4” hard maple? This install would be in a ground floor of 80 year old home (built on concrete slab, no basement, subfloor is plywood over batten system).

Love wood but worry about spills and dog accidents. Live in high humidity

really felt like an expert was talking

Why everyone hate Brazilian cherry?

plywood floor 🤣