The pros and cons of hickory flooring are intriguing. The natural beauty that this type provides will have your heart racing with delight, while the realistic look brings out a sense of nostalgia in many people who remember playing on real wood floors as children!

With such an extensive variety available to choose from-including both genuine hardwoods and softer options, hickory remains as sought after as ever. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of hickory flooring.

Pros of Hickory Flooring

If you want to give your home that old-fashioned look without sacrificing durability or quality then this is the material for you. With proper upkeep, natural hickory flooring will last decades. It’s beautiful and stainable.

The variety of hickory floors is unparalleled too, ranging from a creamy brown to an almost golden color. There are also darker varieties but they’re closer in style and tone to teak flooring than ebony wood on the spectrum of colors that it comes with. The natural hickory flooring lightens rooms like crazy with its beautiful and bold grain patterns. And who doesn’t want more natural sunlight?

Hickory flooring is hard. In fact, it’s 30% harder than Oak, which is the industry standard for hardwood. More importantly, hickory is one of the premier wood flooring options for humid zones. This type of wood does well in humid climates because it’s not as susceptible to water damage, making it priceless for many homeowners and remodelers.

What’s not to love about hickory floor installations? The gorgeous grain, the variety of colors…and it takes stains so beautifully! You can have all that beauty with your favorite finish.

Cons of Hickory Flooring

While hickory flooring is cheaper than most rare or exotic import woods, such as mahogany– compared to commonly available options like oak it still costs a lot more.

The price of low-end solid hickory flooring is almost a dollar more per square foot than some cheapest options. For a single room, this can amount to $100 -$200 more at least. For multiple rooms, it could be thousands of dollars more expensive than solid oak.

Hickory flooring can potentially increase the value of your home, but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. The unique look appeals to a niche market and can potentially detract from the sale. If you’ve considered hickory flooring to increase your property’s value, think twice. It appeals to a certain buyer.

Another major concern for some homeowners is the eco-friendly qualities as well as the sustainability of hickory. Although sustainable farming practices in the United States have made hickory good flooring options, some hickory species are on the endangered list, which could be a dealbreaker for some.

Additionally, due to hickory’s unusual grain pattern, planks are generally larger. Again, this might not be a problem for some, but be sure you know what you’re gonna be working with before you commit.