There are so many different species of wood available for flooring nowadays that it can be difficult to make a selection. Do know that you should look for more than just a pretty face. You should also consider the hardness, dimensional stability, and “workability” (how easy your wood is to cut, sand, and install) of each wood species when making your decision.

The hardness of the wood helps determine how well your floor will stand up to wear and tear. Each wood species carries a hardness rating, known as a Janka rating. Generally, softwoods—from coniferous, needle-bearing trees such as Douglas fir and pine—have a lower hardness rating than hardwoods—from broad-leaved angiosperm trees such as oak and hickory. The finish of your wood floor can also add significantly to its hardness. (For more on this, see Wood Flooring Finishes.)

Hardwoods, while usually harder than softwoods, are often more expensive and more difficult to install. The density of certain hardwoods can make for tough going when it comes time to saw, nail, and sand the strips or planks. Be sure to investigate the workability of the wood you are considering.

Another issue to consider is the dimensional stability of a wood species—how it responds to changing humidity conditions. This can be especially important if you live in an area with extreme fluctuations in humidity levels (such as hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters). Woods such as mahogany, cherry, teak, and walnut have good dimensional stability. Engineered-wood floors also offer greater dimensional stability than solid-wood floors because of their construction.

Following are certain characteristics of some of the most popular wood species available for hardwood floors:

• Red oak: A reddish hardwood with a coarse, open grain and good durability and workability.
• White oak: A light-brown hardwood with an open grain and good durability and workability.
• Maple: A whitish- to light-reddish-brown hardwood with a closed, uniform grain. This species is difficult to saw due to its density and does not take stain evenly.
• Brazilian cherry: An exotic hardwood with a reddish tone, an interlocked grain, and excellent hardness.
• White ash: A light- to dark-brown hardwood with a generally straight, open grain and good workability.
• Douglas fir: A light- to yellowish-brown softwood with a predominantly straight grain. It has good workability but should not be oversanded. It also can undergo a dramatic color change due to sun exposure.