Asian walnut hardwood floors are one of the most unique hardwood species available on the market today. Often referred to as acacia, this walnut hardwood flooring is obviously harvested in Asia. Asian walnut wood flooring has become increasingly popular in recent years. Although oak is still the # 1 seller in hardwood flooring, exotic species like Asian walnut and Brazilian cherry have made great strides to become the top hardwood flooring options. If you are looking for a very distinctive flooring that is considered a centerpiece for your room or home, Asian walnut hardwood flooring is worth considering. There are several things to know when considering exotic Asian species of Acacia Walnut flats.
Most Asian walnut floors are offered with a factory finish. Factory finish means that the factory has applied multiple protective layers of polyurethane, aluminum oxide, or a combination of both. These finishes protect the floor from minor scratches and wear. Of course, any hardwood floor can be scratched, but today’s factory finishes are much better than 20 years ago. The best option is to find an acacia wood floor with an aluminum oxide finish or a combination of aluminum oxide and polyurethane. If you purchase unfinished Asian walnut hardwood flooring, you will need to apply the protective finish after installation in your home. This type of home finish is not very comparable to a factory finish, as an installer cannot duplicate the heat and pressure of the plates like a manufacturing process in a factory.
Asian walnut is usually available in 3 colors or stains. Natural is the most common color. Natural is not actually stained but has a protective finish. Natural Asian walnut tabletops will have a wide variety of color ranges from dark to light. However, darker colors will be a bit more predominant. Another commonly sold color is Cinnamon or sometimes called Cherry. This color has light red tones to give an elegant and semi-formal look. Cinnamon is a very rich and deep stain. The final color you may find is a stain sometimes called Smoke or Toffee. Smoke-stained Asian walnut floors look very similar to that of another species, black walnut. The stain isn’t actually black or extremely dark, but it has a deeper, darker hue than the other colors you’ll find. A smoke stain, Asian Walnut is a good alternative to its cousin, Black Walnut, as the Asian version may be priced a bit lower.
One tip to remember when obtaining Asian walnut wood flooring samples is to order two samples. Asian walnut or acacia wood has very different characteristics between each board. Two samples will give you a much better idea of what the floor will look like. Another tip is that once you’ve decided to go with a specific color or distributor, buy a box first. When you get the box, place it loosely in an area of your home to make sure you like the color and style. You may or may not be able to return the box to the dealer, but your initial investment will be much less than if you had purchased all the work. If for whatever reason you don’t like acacia hardwood flooring, it will only cost you around $ 100 or so instead of thousands.
Some design and construction notes to consider are the characteristics of Asian walnut hardwood floors. Most of the time, Asian Walnut is a solid 3/4 “plank that is designed for a nailed installation. Asian species of walnut hardwood flooring also has a distinctive grain pattern. Large swirls and a loose grain structure make make Asian Walnut one of the most unique looking of any wood species sold today. This unique grain pattern works great in rooms and large areas. Another feature of Asian Walnut or Acaica hardwood floors is that the boards generally do not exceed 4 feet in length. The tree itself is not a tall growing tree, so the boards tend to be slightly shorter than traditional hickory trees. Determine the hardness of a species of hardwood. The higher the number, the harder the wood. At 2300, Asian walnut is much harder than regular oaks, which are around 1300 or so. As a reminder, any hardwood floor can be bullarse, sc rattle, scratched, etc., however, the harder the wood, the stronger it is.