From Brazilian to American, What You Need to Know About Cherry Wood Flooring

With its deep reddish tones and smooth grain, homeowners who look for versatility and elegance have long desired cherry wood flooring. Cherry wood flooring rich color and natural luster fascinate those who seek to add character and warmth to their space. When choosing a hardwood flooring, you need to know its strength, how well it resists wear and scratch, what maintenance it requires, and how it blends with the design style you have in mind. Here, we take a closer look at the characteristics and benefits of cherry wood flooring and what makes charry wood flooring popular.

Cherry Wood Flooring

The first thing that catches the eye about Cherrywood flooring is its red-brown color. Its subtle tone variations often add to its natural beauty and make it look more vibrant. This type of wood has a fine, straight grain with occasional curls and swirls, which creates pleasant patterns. Cherry wood has an exceptional ability to darken with age. It is lighter at first, showing more pinkish tones. Still, over time, due to exposure to natural light and oxidation, it develops a patina of deeper brown tones, which gives it a richer, more sophisticated look. Cherry wood flooring exhibits natural luster that is enhanced after finishing. For finishing, materials like polyurethane build up a hard film, coating the wood surface to create a protective layer and a smooth, lustrous appearance.

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Durability and Hardness of Cherry Wood Flooring

Cherry wood flooring is considered moderate in hardness, but its durability and performance vary depending on the species of cherry used and the protective finish applied to it. For example, African cherry wood is harder and more resilient than American cherry wood, although they’re both premium and coveted hardwoods. Cherry wood has high moisture resistance and doesn’t easily warp or rot. This attribute makes it ideal for humid areas with a lot of rain. This wood type is considered softer than hardwoods like walnut and oak, so it is more prone to dents and scratches. A protective finish and good maintenance can keep it from wear and enhance its longevity.

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Cherry Wood Flooring Maintenance and Care

It is vital to follow proper maintenance practices to keep cherry wood flooring from wear and tear. You must consider some factors to keep your cherry wood flooring in the best condition. Regular dusting is recommended to keep dust and dirt from getting into the grains between floorboards. Vacuum every week to ensure crumbs and debris don’t scratch your floors. Solvents like alcohol or nail polish remover can damage the finish, so keep them away from your flooring. Wipe up spills immediately to avoid swelling and wet mops. Use furniture pads under your furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents. For deeper cleaning, mop your floor with a damp (not wet) cloth using wood floor cleaners, or create your cleaning solution by mixing vinegar and water or dish soap and water.

Wood flooring starts to look dull over time, so occasional refinishing can restore its beautiful shine and protect its surface.

Cherry Wood Flooring Design

Cherry wood flooring offers timeless appeal and elegance, which can harmonize well with any interior design. Whether you are aiming for a classic look or a more modern style, rich colors of cherry wood flooring can add warmth and a touch of sophistication to your space. Some people might find it difficult to think of the best color scheme for cherry flooring, but with a little research, you can decide on the right color for your walls and furniture pieces to match your flooring. Since this type of wood has warmth, neutral and cool colors create a pleasant contrast and help bring out its beautiful red tones. Crisp white, gray, blue, and cooler shades of green are just the colors you need. You also have the option to go for a more coordinated design. This way, your flooring will integrate with your other pieces and create a more harmonious look. Warm colors like beige, salmon, and brown serve this purpose just right.

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Cherry Wood Flooring Popular types

Some of the most popular types of cherry wood used for interior design and flooring are Brazilian, American, and African. Each type has unique characteristics and costs, providing choices based on your preferences.

Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring

As is obvious from its name, Brazilian cherry hardwood comes from Brazil but is not a real cherry tree. It is also called Jatoba and produces peas, not cherries. The term cherry is used because of the wood’s deep red hues, but unlike cherry, Brazilian cherry does not darken over time. Brazilian cherry is one of the hardest woods, with a Janka hardness rate of around 3000, making it extremely strong and durable. Brazilian cherry flooring is highly wear-resistant and suitable for high foot traffic areas. Brazilian cherry wood is fire resistant and also bug resistant due to the natural oils it contains. Since this flooring is an imported wood and is popular because of its strength, the price is slightly higher than other types.

American Cherry Hardwood Flooring

American hardwood is harvested from the American black cherry tree. American cherry wood is not as hard as Brazilian cherry, so it is not as scratch and dent-resistant compared to it. American cherry wood flooring has amazing warm tones and soft grain to compensate for its moderate durability. Since it is a real cherry, its color deepens over time. American cherry flooring is usually installed in its unstained natural color, which creates an eye-catching variation between each board. American cherry flooring has great grains, so larger boards are used to display its beauty better. Regarding cost, American cherry flooring is slightly cheaper than Brazilian cherry flooring because of its lower density and strength.

African Cherry Hardwood Flooring

African cherry is an evergreen tree growing in different parts of Africa. African cherry’s color varies from lighter reddish tones to darker maroon, depending on the region it comes from. In terms of hardness, African cherry is somewhere between the Brazilian and American cherry, so it has better longevity than the American type. African cherry wood has a soft, straight grain with random patches created where the grains interlock. In terms of price, African cherry hardwood flooring is comparable to American cherry due to its similar qualities.

Cherry wood flooring is a premium hardwood desired by many due to its beautiful red tones and natural luster. With its smooth, subtle grain and eye-catching patina, charry wood flooring can integrate with various modern or classic designs and give it a sense of warmth and character. Cherry wood comes in different types and qualities, providing various colors and price rates based on your needs. So, if you’re looking for durable flooring with lasting beauty, always in style, cherry wood is worth investing in.