At Florida Hardwood Flooring of Tampa, hardwood floors are our specialty.  We can provide you with any kind of hardwood flooring service you need.  Sales, installation, refinishing, repair, restoration, and specialty work like medallions inlays and custom border work, we do it all.  We can provide you with any kind of wood you need.  We provide free estimates and will bring our mobile showroom to your home so you can look at samples of different kinds of wood that would work well for your project.  Our staff will work hard to make sure that your project is completed with the highest quality of craftsmanship.

There are several factors that you should consider when choosing the right wood for your floor.  Species, grade, cut, finish, color, layout, pattern, dimensions, and installation method are all very important to achieving the right look.  Our specialists will go over all of the options with you to make sure the perfect wood is selected before the job begins.

There are a large variety of different species of wood to choose from when selecting your floor.  When considering a species of wood to use in your floor, several factors like color, density, and grain should be considered.  The Janka Hardness scale is the industry standard for measuring the strength and density of different kinds of wood, it measures the force necessary to embed a .444-inch steel ball into half its diameter in wood.  The higher the Janka Hardness, the denser the wood. All species of wood have two main color components, the heartwood and the sapwood.  The heartwood is the dead wood in the center of the tree and the sapwood is the live wood surrounding the heartwood.  Both the heartwood and sapwood are used to make wood flooring giving the wood beautiful contrasting colors.  At Florida Hardwood Flooring of Tampa, we carry all species and brands of both domestic and exotic hardwood flooring. Some species commonly used in hardwood floors include Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, Hickory, American Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, American Walnut, and Brazilian Walnut.

Red Oak - The most common species used in hardwood flooring. The wood is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture and makes a strong durable floor. The heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown and the sapwood is white to light brown. Janka Hardnesss – 1260.	White Oak - Slightly denser than red oak, it is known for its uniform straight grain, which is a tighter, less pronounced grain than red oak. The grain is open and has longer rays than red oak. The heartwood is light brown and the sapwood is white to light cream. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects. Janka Hardness 1360.	Maple - Because of its strength and dent resistance, it is commonly used in bowling alleys and basketball courts. It has a closed, subdued grain, with a uniform texture. The heartwood is creamy white to light reddish brown and the sapwood is pale to creamy white. It has a good natural finish. Janka Hardness – 1450.	Hickory - Known for its contrasting dark streaks over a white to light brown color, it is a hard durable wood. The heartwood is tan or reddish and the sapwood is white to cream, with fine brown lines. It is commonly mixed with Pecan wood during manufacturing. It has a closed, rough textured grain. Hickory floors can give the look of country charm throughout the home. Janka Hardness – 1450.
American Cherry - Has the ability to naturally darken with age. It has a straight grain and fine, frequently wavy texture. The heartwood is reddish-brown to deep red and the sapwood is white to light pink. Commonly used for accents and borders. Janka Hardness – 950.	Brazilian Cherry - Also known as Jatoba, it is very hard and moisture resistant. Good for entry ways, hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms. It has the ability to naturally darken over time; exposure to sunlight will speed up this process. The heartwood is a light pink to reddish brown and the sapwood is white to a light golden. It has an interlocking grain with uniform texture. Janka Hardness - 2760.	American Walnut - it has a deep rich, elegant look with dark streaks. The heartwood is a dark chocolate brown to purplish black and the sapwood is nearly white to a light chocolate brown. It has an open, straight grain with some wavy patterns. Commonly used in furniture and border work and is especially good for commercial applications. Janka Hardness - 1010	Brazilian Walnut - Also known as Ipe, it has a deep, rich appearance with contrasting dark colors. It has a fine grain that is straight and uniform but also sometimes very irregular. The heartwood is a very dark blackish brown and the sapwood is a light yellowish tan. it is the hardest species of wood that is commonly used in hardwood flooring. Very durable and resistant to wood boring insects and fungi. Janka Hardness - 3684.

Solid vs. Engineered - The cut and installation method is another important factor to consider.  Wood floors are available as either solid or engineered.

Solid hardwood floors are the traditional method constructed from a single piece of lumber with a tongue and groove.

Engineered wood flooring is constucted of several layers glued together in a cross-grain lamination.  The species layer is on top with another kind of wood such as poplar underneath.  Engineered flooring can be installed anywhere in the home and is very resistant to temperature and moisture.

Pre-finished vs. Unfinished - The finish is the most important aspect of your hardwood flooring project because it determines how the final product will look.  There are two options for finishing, Pre-finished wood flooring has the finish applied to it during manufacturing and does not require a finish application after installation.  Unfinished floors do not have a finish applied to them until after the installation is complete. Unfinished floors are no longer the most common.  Pre-finished floors are more common now because they are less expensive and easier to install.