How Hardwood Floors Are Made

If you’re considering hardwood flooring for your home, you probably want to know a little more about how hardwood floors are made. After all, you want to make sure you’re getting a quality product that will last for years and decades to come.

Here’s a quick overview of the manufacturing process for hardwood floors.

Introduction to How Hardwood Floors Are Made

Hardwood floors are from, you guessed it, hardwood. The most common type of hardwood used for floors is oak, but other options include, but are not limited to, maple, birch, walnut, and hickory.

Most hardwood lumber is sourced from trees that are at least 50 years old. The oldest and hardest woods come from trees that are 100 years or older. Hardwoods are usually cut in the winter when the sap is not running.

The Steps for Making Hardwood Floors

Here’s a look at how hardwood floors are typically made, not taking into account face treatment or specific species.

Step 1: Logs are cut into planks

The first step in making hardwood floors is to cut the logs into planks. This is done with a large saw that cuts the logs into planks of the desired thickness, which is typically between ¾ and 1 inch.

Step 2: The planks are then sorted by species

Once the logs have been cut into planks, they are sorted by species. The most common species of wood that hardwood flooring is made from include oak, maple, hickory, walnut, and birch.

Step 3: The planks are dried

After the hardwood floors are sorted by species, they need to be dried. The planks are placed in a kiln where they are dried slowly to prevent them from cracking or splitting.

Step 4: The planks are planed

Once the hardwood floors have been dried, they are ready to be planed. Planing is the process of evening boards out to a uniform thickness.

Step 5: The planks are cut for tongue-and-groove

Once the hardwood is dry, it’s time for the tongue-and-groove system to be cut into the planks. This system ensures that the boards will fit together snugly and won’t shift or come apart over time.

Step 6: The planks are sanded

After the planks have been planed and a tongue-and-groove system has been cut, the planks are either hand-sanded or sent through a machine that sands the boards smooth. This step is crucial for creating a smooth surface free of any imperfections.

Step 7: The planks are stained

Once the hardwood planks have been sanded, they are ready to be stained. This is done to give the floor the desired color.

Step 8: The floor is sealed

After the hardwood planks have been stained, they are sealed with a protective finish. This coating helps to protect the floors from scratches, scuffs, and other damage.

Step 9: The floor is ready for installation

Once the protective finish is dry, the hardwood floors are ready to be installed in your home.

Finishing Up 

The entire process to make prefinished hardwood flooring from start to finish usually takes about two weeks. And once the floors are installed, you can enjoy them for many decades to come.

If you have any questions about how your floor was made or would like to speak to one of our flooring specialists, contact us here. We look forward to helping you on your flooring journey.