HARDWOOD

Everyone loves hardwood floors! Beautiful and feel great underfoot. But many people are afraid of the cost of hardwood and ongoing maintenance. These are definitely considerations when deciding on hardwood flooring. I would not recommend hardwood in a vacation rental or a home with high traffic or lots of active pets or children. However, keep reading, I’ve also listed hardwood alternatives that will give you the look of wood without the maintenance worry. This blog post is geared toward the tropical climates of Hawaii as other locations have very different climates and considerations.

There are endless options for hardwood flooring: ash, acacia, birch, cherry, chestnut, hickory, mahogany, oak, pine, teak, and others including “exotic” species. Bamboo and cork are also considered hardwoods but have very different properties than wood. Choosing the right wood for your project is important. Generally, you want to avoid wood species with JANKA (hardness) ratings of less than 1000 for flooring - teak is rated at 1000. A higher JANKA rating means the wood is harder and less susceptible to dents and scratches. However, the higher the score, the more difficult the wood is to work with, making cutting and nailing a challenge that can impact your installation cost, or require special equipment. You’ll also need to consider the finish of the flooring, is it polyurethane, oil or something else? A big worry in Hawaii is fading from the sun - it happens - especially with darker wood tones. Do the research with your supplier on the finish: 1) how it is maintained, 2) how stain resistant is it, 3) how it holds up to sunlight, 4) can it be refinished, and 5) is it eco-friendly.

Generally, I prefer engineered wood (yes, it’s real wood!) in Hawaii due to the constant levels of high humidity. Engineered wood is made of 100% wood but is made up of layers. The top layer is called the wear layer. The thicker the wear layer, the more opportunities for refinishing down the road. The other layers act to stabilize the flooring and the more layers the higher the quality. Because it has a stable core, engineered wood resists common moisture-related hardwood flooring issues like cupping, peaking, or buckling. It can be used on concrete slabs without concern. All wood flooring needs to be acclimatized to Hawaii before installation. Make sure you factor that extra time into your project schedule. If the wood is not acclimatized, it will absorb moisture after installation and that leads to cupping or other problems.

I thought I’d highlight a few products that I have been very happy with:

Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring

My favorite hardwood brand! They offer both solid wood and an engineered product in the same color/species so you can simply choose “engineered” when you find the style you love. Their engineered product also comes with a birch wood backing rather than plywood or fiberboard which is very moisture resistant. Their engineered floor is guaranteed for refinishing 3 times, so there is a long-term return on investment. I also love the broad variety of Carlisle’s colors, species and plank sizes. They also have a matte finish which is so on trend right now.

Courtesy of Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring

California Classics

Many people love the look of koa wood floors in traditional Hawaiian homes. Today, there are very strict requirements for harvesting Hawaiian koa so it is not readily. However, koa is a species of acacia that is a fast-growing tree and readily available. There are a number of acacia products that mirror the rich look of koa. We did a home in this engineered product from California Classics called Patagonia from their Small Leaf Acacia line which is eco-friendly. It has a satin finish and a 50-year warranty.

Hallmark Flooring

Hallmark offers great engineered wood products with a finish called Nu Oil. Unlike some UV Oil finishes which require a lot of maintenance, Nu Oil is a hybrid thermal oil which (unlike some oil finishes) is stain and fade resistant and tested against dangerous spills like red wine, coffee and cranberry juice. Their cleaning products are also organic and VOC neutral. One of my favs is this oak flooring called Seashell - very beachy!

BAMBOO

Bamboo is a highly sustainable product and perfect for Hawaiian homes. It is a very dense and has a high JANKA rating making it resistant scratches and dents. It is somewhat difficult to work with so a skilled installer is needed. Bamboo is not water-proof and is susceptible to high humidity. Look for eco-friendly manufacturers that do not use formaldehyde.

LAMINATE

That Pergo you might remember from the 1990’s has come a long way. Laminate still has a bit of that clicky-clack noise when you walk on it in heels but the construction and variety is so much better. It is a great option for vacation rentals. It is super stain and scratch resistant and water proof. Also very hygenic option. However, be sure to look an environmentally friendly product like Pergo (they are now owned by Mohawk).

LVP

It is what it says - - Waterproof Luxury Vinyl Planking (LVP). Depending on the brand, these products look amazingly like hardwood floors and are super comfortable underfoot. They are virtually indestructible. Impervious to water, humidity, bugs, rot, stains and other factors that must be considered with hardwood; these products are perfect for vacation condos and active families. However, this product is definitely not environmentally friendly. Some manufacturers are using recycled vinyl and are more conscientious about the chemicals used in the production process. Provenza is one brand that is GreenGuard certified and has a wide variety of higher end LVP products.

WOOD LOOK TILE

This trend still works great in Hawaii. I think the beachy grey tones work best for this look. Virtually indestructible, this solution is great for vacation rentals and homes for a worry-free option is important. Look for good quality color-body porcelain like this one from Daltile. Super cost effective option.

Oh, one more thing. If you already have hardwood floors and want to consider refinishing them, I highly recommend WalkonWood - Paul and his team are the best!