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Selecting the Best Hardwood

After selecting the wood variety of your choice, the stain colour remains an important choice.. Using the right colour and finish on your hardwood stair treads, wooden railing, floors, or any carpentry project, will have a dramatic impact to the final result.

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Hardwood Stain Colors:

Natural: Enhances the natural color of the wood with a clear finish.

Light Oak: Adds a light, golden hue to the wood.

Golden Oak: Provides a warmer, honey-like tone.

Honey Maple: Offers a light, warm tone with hints of amber.

Chestnut: Creates a rich, reddish-brown color with depth.

Medium Walnut: Provides a warm, medium-brown tone.

Dark Walnut: Offers a deep, dark brown color with richness.

Espresso: Creates a very dark, almost black-brown finish.

Mahogany: Provides a rich, reddish-brown hue with a touch of elegance.

Dark Cherry: Creates a rich, reddish-brown color with a luxurious feel.

Ebony: Offers a deep, black-brown finish for a dramatic look.

Weathered Gray: Provides a cool, grayish tone with a weathered appearance.

Driftwood: Offers a light, grayish-brown color for a coastal or rustic look.

Whitewash: Creates a white, washed-out appearance for a beachy or cottage style.

## Hardwood Species Descriptions:

Oak: Oak is a durable hardwood with a prominent grain pattern. It comes in various shades, including red oak and white oak, offering versatility in appearance and applications.

Maple: Maple is known for its light color and uniform texture. It's a hard and dense wood, making it suitable for high-traffic areas and furniture making.

Cherry: Cherry wood has a rich reddish-brown color that darkens over time. It's prized for its warmth, smooth grain, and natural luster, often used in fine furniture and cabinetry.

Walnut: Walnut features a rich, dark brown color with distinctive grain patterns. It's valued for its beauty and is commonly used in high-end furniture, flooring, and woodworking projects.

Hickory: Hickory is a tough and resilient wood with a dramatic grain pattern. It's known for its strength and is often used in flooring, cabinets, and tool handles.

Ash: Ash is a light-colored wood with a straight grain. It's strong, flexible, and shock-resistant, making it suitable for furniture, sports equipment, and flooring.

Birch: Birch wood ranges from light yellow to reddish-brown in color. It has a fine, even texture and is commonly used in cabinetry, plywood, and furniture.

Mahogany: Mahogany is a rich, reddish-brown wood prized for its beauty and durability. It's often used in high-end furniture, boat building, and musical instruments.

Teak: Teak is a dense, golden-brown wood with natural oils that make it resistant to rot and insects. It's commonly used in outdoor furniture, boat decks, and flooring.

Beech: Beech wood has a pale color with a fine, even grain. It's hard, strong, and shock-resistant, making it suitable for flooring, furniture, and tool handles.

Pine: Pine is a softwood with a light color and straight grain. It's affordable and widely used in construction, furniture, and woodworking projects.

## Best Wood for Hardwood Stairs and Railings:

Oak: Oak is a classic choice for hardwood staircases and railings due to its durability and resistance to wear and tear. It's available in red oak and white oak varieties, each offering unique grain patterns and color tones.

Maple: Maple is another excellent option known for its hardness and uniform appearance in stairs and rail installations. It can withstand heavy foot traffic and is resistant to scratches and dents.

Hickory: Hickory is extremely hard and durable, making it suitable for high-traffic areas like stairs or railings. It has a distinctive grain pattern that adds character to the stairway.

Walnut: Walnut is prized for its rich, dark color and distinct grain patterns. It's a luxurious choice for stairs and handrails, but may require more maintenance to preserve its beauty.

Mahogany: Mahogany is a high-end option known for its rich color and durability in stair projects. It's often used in fine woodworking projects and can make a stunning statement on staircase treads and railing systems.

Ultimately, the best wood for your hardwood staircases and rails depends on your specific needs, style preferences, and budget. It's essential to consider factors like durability, maintenance requirements, and the overall aesthetic appeal when choosing the wood for your next project. Consulting with professionals can also help you make an informed decision.

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Dark Colour Hardwood

Dark hardwood floors, stair trends and railing, add a bold and luxurious look to your home. The rich colour is modern in feel and makes an area ‘warmer'. Light furniture and wall colours pop against dark hardwood floors.

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Medium Colour Hardwood

The classic colour of oak or maple wood flooring, staircases and railings, or furniture, brings traditional warmth to your living area or bedroom. Maple and Oak are just a couple of the medium colour wood that will add a timeless look to any room.

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Light Colour Hardwood

Light coloured wood flooring, stairs, or railings, make your home feel larger and brighter. The lighter tones reflect the sun and brighten any room. Hickory and Ash are popular light woods.

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Selecting a Hardwood Finish

There are different gloss levels available to create your finish:

matte (10-20%), satin (20%-35%) gloss (35%-50%).

The gloss you select will impact the look and feel of your home. For example, floors with a dark colour and high gloss will show more wear over time. Ultimately, you should select your hardwood flooring based on its durability, appearance, and quality. There are many textures available, some options have larger knots, more streaking, colour variation, and pronounced grain patterns.

We are standing by for your questions today.

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Request an Estimate?

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## Contact Us Anytime

523 Rosehill Ave,
Stittsville Ontario, K2S 0E9
(613) 701 5558 | sales@ottawahardwoodinstallation.ca
We are always available for a free estimate.

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Craftsmanship: | Contacts:
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Railings | Text
Staircases | Email
Floors | Phone
Tiles | Google
Cabinetry | Quote
Refinishing
Stair Builders
Stair Railings
Exterior Rails
Decks

Resources: |
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Solid vs Engineered | How to Clean Hardwood
Selecting a Finish | Enhance Your Staircase
Flooring by Room
Choosing Laminate
Hardwood Flooring Colour
Why Hardwood Stairs
Hazards of Carpet
Types of Hardwood
Metal vs Wooden Balusters
Canadian Hardwood Industry