Asian Walnut makes for a unique and beautiful hardwood floor, bringing character to any room. If you’re considering this type of hardwood floor, there are a few things you should know before buying.

Most Asian Walnut hardwood floors are sold with a factory-applied finish. This means that multiple, protective coats have been applied to the wood surface that protects the floor from wear and tear after installation. Factories will use either polyurethane, aluminium oxide, or a combination of the two. Acacia wood floors are best finished with a combination of both. You can buy the floor unfinished, but this means it has to have the protective coats added after installation, and this process will not produce as strong a finish as the one found direct from the factory.

This type of flooring is available in three different colors – natural, Cinnamon or Cherry, and, what is termed as “Smoke” or “Toffee”. Natural is most popular as it preserves the color of the original wood which, depending on the source, can be light or dark wood. Cinnamon, also known as Cherry, has added red hues to give it a more formal, classy appearance. This is a deep and dark color. “Smoke” or “Toffee” stained Asian Walnut floors look a little like Black Walnut. The stain isn’t actually very dark but it does have a much darker tone than the natural wood.

Asian Walnut can differ in colour from one board to the next. Ask your hardwood floor dealer for two samples to compare the varying characteristics of the wood. Once you’ve decided on your choice and dealer, buy one box and lay it out in your room. Does it look right? If it doesn’t you haven’t just wasted $1000 as you would have done had you purchased enough for the whole job.

For design and installation purposes you should know that Asian Walnut is almost always three-quarter inch solid board made for nailed down fitting. Because of its swirling and loose grain structure, the wood is one of the most unique-looking on the market. This characteristic grain pattern is particularly good for large rooms.

Another thing to know is that Asian Walnut trees are only small, especially in comparison to its counterpart the oak tree. Boards usually come in lengths of about four feet.

It’s also worth noting that Asian Walnut is a much harder wood than oak. This means it is less likely to be damaged by general wear and tear. The Janka Scale measures the hardness of hardwood species. Asian Walnut is measured at 2300 while oak is only measured at 1300.

When shopping for hardwood floors try local dealers, commercial home improvement stores, online flooring wholesalers, and even liquidators. The local stores and large home improvement outlets will have high prices but at least offer warranties or guarantees. Liquidators will give you competitive prices but no warranty. Online retailers will have competitive prices and ship out free samples so are probably your best choice.