What wood specie and size should I use

Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of options.  From domestic to imported, these options could paralyze even the most decisive individual. If you are a couple trying to decide, then, well, I will see you in 5 years.  Room size, price, availability, wall and furniture colors, stain or not to stain, pattern, how long is it going to take, etc... you get the point.  Basically, the beauty is in the eye, and pocketbook, of the beholder.  So what should I do, you ask?  You didn't help me at all with your opening statement!, you are thinking.  Annnnnnddddd... there are new products in the market that make Red Oak "look" like White Oak by removing the reddish hue.  Oh my!  Should I just put down vinyl?  NOOOOOOOOooooooooo!  Don't be crazy, now.  Here are some things to think about, and maybe we will get a lot of comments that will even further "help" in the decision.

1) Is your room wide or narrow?  High or low ceiling?  

        Room size can make a difference.  The width of the hardwood flooring size can help balance a room aesthetically.  Long and narrow may look more pleasing with strip flooring (1 1/2", 2 1/4" or 3 1/4" wide flooring).  A wide room with vaulted ceilings may balance better with plank flooring (4" - 12" wide flooring).  Most flooring manufactures make 2 1/4", 3 1/4", 4" and 5" as standard sizes.  There are some who specialize in the wide plank 6" and over, and there are still a small number who will produce the 1 1/2" strips. I have seen a 18' x 18' room that had mixed widths, example 3 1/4", 4" and 5" Character Grade Hickory, which achieved an absolutely beautiful look.

2) How is the lighting in the room?  Natural or artificial?

        Some species will darken a room.  Some will brighten a room.  Sometimes the natural characteristics of any specie are not doing what you want, which is why stain exists.  And do not forget the topcoat, which can provide a gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or flat luster.  Stains and coatings can be a whole other blog installment, for sure.  

3)  What specie are available?

        Domestically in the U.S., the specie that are most readily manufactured are: Red Oak, White Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry, Hickory/Pecan, Ash and Walnut.  Birch, Beech and Mahogany can also be found.  There are others, of course, but these tend to be the most available.  For hardwood flooring, the staples have always been the oaks, followed by Hard Maple.  They are readily available and harvested almost daily in the United States. Generally speaking, the Red Oak tends to be less costly than the other species, primarily because of its abundance and manufacturability.  Not to mention it has been used for hundreds of years.  It has a pinkish/reddish hue to it and as it ages (dependent on the stain and topcoat) will gradually darken to an orangey-yellow/brown hue.  White Oak is a bit more expensive, ballpark about $1.00 - $1.50/sqft more than Red Oak.  It tends to have a more brownish/white hue, but can still contain the pinkish hues that are found in Red Oak.  The biggest differences between the Red and White Oaks are in the grain structure and pattern, and a respect to water absorption.  As it turns out, White Oak is more water resistant than Red Oak, which is why the Whiskey manufacturers love it to make their barrels out of.  And, coincidentally, is one of the reasons why White Oak is much higher in price than Red Oak.  It's that supply and demand thing. Since whiskey barrels can only be used for one batch of whiskey, new barrels need to be made for more whiskey.  Since society likes whiskey more than flooring, guess where the wood goes.  It's a competitive market.  I am not one to recommend hardwood flooring in locations that could get wet often (kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, etc), but if it is what you want, I would recommend White Oak.  Unless you have lots of money, then you could put in teak.  Ash is a brighter "replica" of the oaks.  It is very similar in grain patter to Red Oak, just a lot whiter in color.  However, with the Emerald Ash Borer, Ash is difficult to find lately and probably will not be available in the not-to-distant future.  Hard Maple provides a nice bright floor, and it can be seen in just about every basketball court.  Hickory is extremely hard and durable, and contains both dark and light wood which gives it a unique color pattern when installed and is another I might recommend for a kitchen.  Cherry is a "softer" hardwood, and makes a beautiful darker floor without the need of stain.  However, even with the most durable topcoat it can be prone to dents and scratches a little easier than the other flooring species.

That gets us started down the road of hardwood flooring.  Stay tuned for examples of the common species available.