Wood Wars, Week I – Exotic Wood Flooring vs. Domestic Wood Flooring
July 8, 2009After deciding on hardwood flooring, the second question a homeowner or future homeowner asks themselves is “what kind of wood?” In the United States, the first species that come to mind are probably domestic: Maple, Oak, Hickory, Cherry, Walnut, etc. But there are also exotic alternatives that feature a wider color spectrum as well as other pros and cons. Let’s stack up some exotic flooring species against some domestic species and look at the differences.
Enough with the prologues: Let the showdown begin!
This week: Showdown I: Tarara (Canarywood) VS. White Oak
Tarara / Canarywood Flooring
White Oak Flooring
Strength and Durability: This is a category where the exotic species will typically outperform the domestics. Canarywood features a Janka hardness rating* of 1,860lbs, compared to 1,360 for White Oak. (For an explanation of the Janka Hardness Rating, see the bottom of this post.)
Movement in Service: Though it sounds like a military march of some type, movement in service means how much the wood can be expected to swell and contract. They typically fall between 1-10%, and the important things to take note of are:
a.) How large the radial shrinkage and the tangential shrinkage values are (the bigger the number, the more the wood moves, and the more potential there is for general mechanical issues with the wood) and
b.) How great is the difference between radial and tangential? (This indicates a higher likelihood of cupping, warping, and twisting.)
Canarywood’s tangential shrinkage rate is 8% and the radial shrinkage rate is 4%. White Oak’s tangential shrinkage rate is 7.4% and the radial shrinkage rate is 4.2%. In this case, the shrinkage rates are fairly comparable, but the differential is slightly larger for Canarywood, making it slightly less dimensionally stable.
Price (clear grade prefinished): Canarywood: Around $6-8/sf. White Oak: $4-6/sf.
Conclusion: If you want a very exotic and striking look along with a bit more resistance to impacts and foot traffic, then Canarywood is worth the extra money. If you’re looking for a tamer though slightly less durable wood with a better price point, White Oak makes a better option.
Stay tuned next week for Patagonian Rosewood versus American Cherry!
*Janka hardness: A measurement of wood hardness measured in the pounds of force required to lodge a .444 inch steel sphere to half its diameter.
