What You Need to Know About Different Timber Species

There’s a wide selection of timbers that can be used for timber flooring- from native timbers to more widely used American or European Oak. Some species maintain relative consistency with their appearance; while others can be more diverse and contrasting from their variation of colours, tones or grain appearance.

​Things to Consider When Choosing a Timber Species For Your Floor:

• Species vs Colour

If you’re looking at a particular species, request a sample of more than one board, as colours can range from board to board, and this can give you a clearer expectation of the variations that can occur in your project. You might find that there's a different species that’s more suitable to what you’re trying to achieve.

Or are you trying to achieve a look that you’ve seen online?

​Keep in mind that images don’t look the same in print and online vs. in real life due to the age of filters and photo editing. To prevent any unexpected surprises, asking for samples across a few different boards of the same timber can ensure you’re happy with the variation within that flooring product before you have the timber installed.

• How 'Sapwood' Can Affect your Final Finish​

Sapwood is ‘the outer layer of timber just beneath the bark’ and it’s appearance is often lighter in colour to the rest of the timber. Part of the beauty of having a timber floor is the natural variation you get within each species so your floor will be completely unique to you and your project. You can see some projects below that have some sapwood appearing in the overall floor.

Helpful tip: Even if you find a large showroom sample of your preferred timber selection, it’s just an indication of the species colour and the natural variation you can expect. Timbers can vary in appearance due to their age, the growing region and individual trees.

Images: Aleksander Radovanovic, Unsplash  Projects Used: Solid American White Oak Flooring