Advantages of Buying Australian Hardwood Flooring

When approaching a new flooring project, being well-educated on the various types of options available is a necessary first step. Of course, for any consumer, finding the best product for the right price is also important. Australian hardwood flooring is one of those unique options that provide an amazing product and quality for a great price.

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Australian hardwood flooring is unique in the hardwood flooring industry for a handful of reasons. For starters, the collection of species is wide and varied, providing customers with a lot of options.

Secondly, the Australian timber industry has genuinely attempted to unite over the past few years, and strives to educate consumers on the benefits of using Australian timbers.

From reducing greenhouse emissions to using a sustainable resource in wood, the industry has made it exceptionally easy to access great information about the product. Those are just a few of the reasons to consider Australian hardwood flooring for your next project.

Australian Hardwood Features

Naturally, the first consideration when purchasing hardwood flooring is how it looks. Industry-wide, Australian hardwood floors are considered among the highest quality and very beautiful. They are also incredibly versatile in colors and textures, giving consumers a wide range of choices.

The Australian Timber Design Awards is an annual competition designed to showcase the brilliance of Australian timbers and hardwoods. The ATDA has made groundbreaking strides in getting Australian timbers more recognizable in the hardwood flooring industry. For 13 years, the ADTA has been broadening public awareness about the beauty of Australian timbers.

In addition to the aesthetic appeal of Australian hardwoods, they are internationally renowned for their durability. For example, Australian cypress has quickly become one of the most sought-after hardwood options available because it is both gorgeous and incredibly durable.

Australian hardwoods also are typically resistant to usage wear-and-tear, such as scuff marks from shoes like high heels and scratches from pets. Because of their durability alone, Australian hardwoods are worth a look.

WoodSolutions is an initiative to further educate the public about the benefits of using Australian hardwoods for all of their building needs, including interior and exterior flooring.

Among other things, the initiative constantly highlights the durability of Australian timbers over other types of hardwood flooring.

Performance Properties

If beauty and durability are not enough, you could also consider the ways in which Australian hardwoods perform. Interestingly enough, Australian timbers have fantastic acoustic properties. If you are looking for hardwood flooring options that will be quiet when walked upon, Australian timbers could be a viable option.

In addition, Australian hardwoods also have high fire-resistance ratings. So, from a safety standpoint, Australian hardwoods are also a great choice.

Finally, choosing Australian hardwoods for your flooring needs is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Timber is not only a renewable resource, but it also is manufactured using a far smaller amount of energy than other materials.

“Wood. Naturally Better” is an initiative backed by Forest and Wood Products Australia, a non-profit organization, to educate the public on why wood is better for reducing carbon emissions. Using wood products, especially Australian hardwoods, is a surefire way to purchase a product that did not hurt the environment during manufacturing.

Janka Hardness Test

The Janka Hardness Test is an industry-based test used to measure the durability of hardwood flooring. It measures the pounds-per-inch, or PSI, of pressure that the wood can withstand. Basically, the higher the Janka rating, the more durable the flooring.

You may also see a single-digit rating if you are researching from Australian websites, as they measure in Newtons.

Types of Australian Hardwood

Another fantastic aspect of Australian hardwood flooring is its wide variety of choices. The Australian timber industry is incredibly vibrant, and it provides consumers with an even wider range of options. Understanding the various types of flooring options is the first step in finding the perfect Australian flooring for your project.

Jarrah

Jarrah is a very popular Australian hardwood. It is known for its deep reddish colors, which are reminiscent of southwestern Australia, where it is most commonly grown. It has a moderately high durability rating, which means it will not wear easily over time. It also is highly resistant to termite damage and fire.

It is most commonly used in outdoor construction, but it is used for interior flooring as well. Jarrah is a beautiful flooring option, if you can find it at an affordable price.

Because it is highly sought after, Jarrah flooring can be expensive. It comes only from southwestern Australia and most of the plantations on which it is grown are not selling the timber commercially any more.

You can find it recycled, though, which could be a great deal. The Jarrah tree has a long, tall trunk that provides interesting fiber patterns in the timber. They also grow quite slowly and can be found in slightly lighter colors than the typical dark reddish brown.

Brush Box

Brush Box is a relatively common hardwood found on the central coasts of Australia, located close to New South Wales. It typically is light brown in color, but sometimes can be found with a slightly pink coloration or in darker browns.

The nice quality about Brush Box is its variety in coloration and fiber patterns. It is a widely used hardwood not only in Australia, but also internationally. It is most commonly used as an exterior and interior hardwood flooring option. It is also termite resistant, has a high fire-resistance rating, and is moderately durable, rating slightly above Jarrah on the Janka scale.

Brush Box is a great flooring option if you are looking for a lighter brown color, sometimes referred to as straw, and want a hardwood floor that will not dent and scratch quickly.

Spotted Gum

One of the most common Australian hardwoods, Spotted Gum is also one of the most highly recognized and valued of all the Australian hardwoods. It occurs in a wide variety of colors, from light straw to dark browns and maroons. Because of its variation in colors, and its interesting fiber patterns, Spotted Gum is continually used for both interior and exterior projects.

The actual tree is unique in that it sheds bark strips, giving the spotted and striped appearances of the hardwood. It is incredibly versatile, and the various waves throughout the timber can provide a beautiful finish to flooring projects. It has a very high durability rating too, so a Spotted Gum floor will not get damaged, dented, or scratched as much.

Victorian Ash

Also known as Alpine Ash and Tasmanian Oak, Victorian Ash is an incredibly popular Australian hardwood. It usually has colors that range from very light browns and pinks to medium browns. It usually finishes with vibrant straw colors, so it can bring beauty and life to a home.

Despite its beauty and versatility from a design standpoint, it does have a low durability rating and is not termite resistant. This limits its use primarily to interior projects. If you can accept that the flooring might possibly get dinged, it can be a fantastic option, with a relatively wide range for a lighter-colored hardwood.

Australian Wormy Chestnut

Another option for Australian hardwood flooring is the ultra-rare and unique Wormy Chestnut. Grown in southeastern Australia, the wood comes from trees that withstand an incredible beating from nature. From fires and harsh winds to ravaging insects, the timber is filled with evidence of Mother Nature. Because of this, the Wormy Chestnut is very rustic looking, coming in rich dark browns.

There is also a considerable amount of markings and scorings from insects, as well as gum veins, which are reddish streaks that can be found throughout the timber. Wormy Chestnut has an incredibly high durability rating.

Wormy Chestnut can be extremely expensive compared to other flooring options, but if you are looking for something rare, unique, and truly breathtaking, the Wormy Chestnut may be the right choice.

White Cypress

Although technically a softwood, the Australian White Cypress Pine, most commonly referred to as simply the White Cypress, is a highly sought-after hardwood flooring option. It typically comes in colors ranging from bright brown-yellows to straw.

It usually has tightly bound knots throughout the timber fibers, so the Cypress provides an interesting and unique hardwood floor. Its variation in colors and patterns makes it a wonderful choice for interior flooring.

Despite the softwood classification, it does not behave like typical pines with low durability. The White Cypress is among the highest in durability ratings, as well as being termite resistant. The White Cypress grows in central coastal Australia near Queensland and is commonly distributed.

Karri

The Karri tree is the largest hardwood in Australia. It typically comes in rich reddish browns. The tree is also unique in that it sheds its bark, allowing the underlying layers to develop interesting color patterns, making Karri one of the most varied hardwoods in color patterns. In fact, you can sometimes find Karri with slightly pinkish hues, as well as dark brown coloration.

In addition to its variety of colors, the Karri also has an incredibly high durability rating, making it a coveted hardwood flooring option for many consumers. It is also exclusively grown in Australia, making it a one-of-a-kind selection.

Red Mahogany

One of the most prized of Australian hardwoods, the Red Mahogany comes in a limited range of colors, from dark reddish brown to a more traditional deep brown. Its rare color pattern is one of the reasons it is so highly prized.

In addition, it is highly durable. This durability and narrow coloring gives it an unmatched combination in the flooring industry. If you want a beautifully deep brown timber that will not wear over time, Red Mahogany could be the right choice for you.

There are so many more options of Australian hardwoods too. Their variety, versatility, and durability all make Australian hardwoods one of the best options for your hardwood flooring projects.

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