Best Hardwood Flooring Options For High-Traffic Areas

Most homeowners envision hardwood when they think about their ideal flooring choices, but what about in high-traffic areas? Can you have hardwood flooring in busy spaces?

The answer is yes, you can have hardwood in high-traffic areas, but not just any hardwood will do. You need durable wood that can withstand scratches, moisture, and dents. So, if you’re ready to discover the most durable hardwoods that can handle high-traffic areas, read on!

Which Rooms Are High-Traffic Areas?

What does “high-traffic” mean? It refers to the rooms with a lot of use or foot traffic. The most common high-traffic areas are your kitchen, entryway, bathroom, or living room. 

When considering hardwood flooring installation in Toronto or the GTA, you need to be mindful of high-traffic areas, as these spaces will experience more wear and tear.

The 3 Things To Look For When Shopping For Durable Hardwood Flooring

• Durability And Janka Rating 

In the hardwood flooring industry, we use the Janka Rating Scale, which measures the hardwood’s hardness, i.e., its durability. In other words, before your hardwood flooring installation in Toronto or the GTA occurs, purchase hardwood that scores above 1,200 on the Janka Scale, as it’s more durable than lower-scoring hardwood varieties like pine.  

Here are some common durable hardwoods:

• Red Oak—1290
• White Oak—1360
• Maple—1450
• Hickory—1820

Resiliency And Maintenance

High-traffic hardwood floors must be durable and resilient to water, UV, heat, and wear and tear. Resilient hardwoods need to be water-resistant, UV-resistant, heat-resistant, and scratch-resistant. We know this is a lot to factor into your decision, but if you take into account that hardwood in high-traffic areas needs to be resilient, it will prolong the life of your floors and reduce the amount of maintenance they need.

In terms of maintenance, you’re hardwood flooring installation in Toronto and the GTA requires the usual care, with regular sweeping, dry mopping, and ongoing inspection to catch imperfections, like dents, early, so the repair is more manageable. If you’re installing hardwood in your entryway or hallway, using an area rug is a good way to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. 

• Finish And Colour

Homeowners can also play with aesthetics, the finish and colour in high-traffic areas to keep their hardwood looking new. For instance, once you’ve chosen the right hardwood material, like maple, you must then pick between matte, gloss, and satin finishes. While matte and gloss are visually appealing, satin is the best finish for concealing wear and tear.

Lastly, selecting the right colour hardwood flooring for installation in Toronto and the GTA is another important element to keeping your hardwood looking pristine for years to come. The best coloured hardwood is light-hued as they mask scratches.

The Best Hardwood Flooring For High-Traffic Areas

Now that we’ve outlined the characteristics you need to consider when selecting hardwood for high-traffic areas, let’s touch on some of our clients’ favourite hardwood flooring choices for busy rooms!

• Hickory
• Maple
• Oak

All these flooring options score well on the Janka Rating Scale, making them durable and excellent choices for busy spaces. However, keep in mind that no matter how strong your hardwood is, because it’s installed in a high-traffic room, it will require ongoing, constant maintenance to keep your floors looking as beautiful as the day they were installed.

Final Thoughts On Durable Hardwood For High-Traffic Rooms

Hardwood is an excellent addition to any space, as long as you consider the room’s requirements. For instance, high-traffic areas must be durable to handle all the extra usage. Thus, you shouldn’t just buy any hardwood for your high-traffic space, as they may not be well-suited for busier spaces and will prematurely need repairs or complete replacement.

If you’re in the market for installing hardwood in your high-traffic area but have questions, call us, the Brothers Flooring, as we offer free consultations! Let us help you make sense of finding the right high-traffic hardwood for your home!