In the past, basically all hardwood flooring was sanded to a completely smooth finish. It was then finished with a semi-gloss or a gloss coat of polyurethane. No matter the type of wood or the application, most hardwood floors looked pretty similar. That is not the case anymore. In the 21st century, many different types of hardwood flooring in the Sacramento area are trending in popularity. Specifically, different textures of hardwood flooring are trending. A smooth finish is still very popular and still the most prominent, but many others are growing more prevalent.

Open Grain Wood

An open grain hardwood floor is one in which the grain of the floor is allowed to stand out. The type of wood used in an open grain floor is one that specifically has large pores. When the floor is sanded, you can still run your hand over the surface and feel the texture of the grain. Only certain types of wood are appropriate for open grain floors. There are many cases in which the wood simply doesn’t work properly for an open grain concept. The difference lies in the way the wood is processed. When the wood is sawn, it is sawn across the pores so that the pores are left open. Red oak, white oak, and hickory are three examples of woods that are very porous.

Hand Scraped Wood Floor

Hand scraping is another process for creating texture in a hardwood floor. Originally, the floor was scraped by a draw knife to create different gouges throughout the wood. Now, most hand scraped floors are actually scraped by machines. The machines use gouges or sanding wheels with different depths to create an authentic, rustic look. Engineered flooring is great for hardscaped and light wire brushing as mentioned below.

Wire Brushed Wood

A wire brushed floor can range from very subtle to extreme. The process used to be done by hand to remove the soft surface of wood and expose the grain. Now, it’s usually done by machine. The size of the bristles used and the amount of pressure used will determine how the brushing pattern appears. A subtle pattern can create a warm and soft appearance for your floor. A more extreme brushing pattern can expose more grain and catch more light, creating even more texture. These are a few of the ways that a floor can be textured. There are other ways to create texture in your hardwood floor as well. Some people choose distressed hardwoods that are made from old flooring or from wood used for different purposes. There are also rough-hewn woods that have more surface texture. You should ask a flooring expert about different texture options if you want a textured floor.