Domesticating Nature

Issue Date: June 2, 2007, Posted On: 7/8/2007

By Marc Henderson

One of the attractive aspects of purchasing an older restored home is the likelihood that it was originally built with hardwood floors. Of course, over the years, many times these floors have been covered over by other types of materials. It is very exciting though, to pull back old carpeting and find the beautiful texture and remarkable luster of original hardwood. Many times the wood is adorned with dings and dents that could certainly tell a lifetime of history about the previous inhabitants. Certainly though, even if one does not happen to fall into ownership of a historic home, present day hardwood flooring can certainly be just as rewarding.

As with many things, the manufacturing process of hardwood is widely unknown. Many times, the timber comes from deciduous trees, which allow the harvester to obtain the greatest output of woody material needed to form the final product. The alternative is softwood, which is obtained from coniferous trees. One might assume that the difference between hardwood and softwood is obvious given each moniker. It is generally true that hardwoods are denser than softwoods; however, within each class, the range of density is quite expansive. To identify such a hardwood, say on a pleasant hike in the woods, one would want to be looking for a tree with broad leaves and an enclosed nut. But before venturing out in the backyard, be forewarned that hardwoods are mostly found in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.

Producing hardwood for the purpose of flooring or furniture manufacturing is not as simple as growing a forest and then chopping it down. Under the trees’ canopy lies a wealth of life, some of which can be harvested for other means. For example, mushrooms or wild fruit such as berries may be gathered and sent to market. After taking an inventory of these other marketable goods, the trees themselves have to be assigned a value to determine the economic viability of bringing them to market. A tree's value, based on size and species, can span a vast range. As humans become more aware of the finite resources on the Earth, alternative methods of timber production have surfaced and gained in popularity. For instance, a handful of non-profit organizations have been established with the purpose of promoting sustainable forest management. These independent groups of dedicated personnel have found the best way to unite consumers’ wants while preserving the resources on hand. In an effort to protect the forests, while not stifling the timber industry, certain parcels of land have been certified as meeting sustainable forest qualifications. This certification grants that the land is being managed in such a manner that the forest is undergoing perpetual growth, even while trees are being cut for production. However, the certification goes even more in depth, and addresses issues relating to the economic and cultural implications of timber harvesting. Despite the fact that select organizations can lead one to believe that all timber production is detrimental, in reality, the timber industry provides employment to needed communities, as well as tax revenues for local government. Further, the major source of timber for the US market comes from small family operations as opposed to large faceless corporations.

Such family operations are able to exist because across the United States alone, one could find a breadth of hardwood species that are well suited as flooring options. Logically, certain species are more prominent in certain geographic locations due to variations in climate, sunlight and rainfall. The Midwest and areas east, take claim as the dominant location where hardwoods are found in the United States. Oaks, hickories and ash are just a few of the species prominent in this locale. The Northeast on the other hand is speckled with cherry, maple and beech. This is not to say though that each species is exclusive to that particular region. Rather, overlap does occur as one moves across the country.

Commercially, American Cherry is particularly popular in the eastern United States. As the name indicates, American Cherry has a reddish brown tint, which will darken when exposed to sunlight. Cherry is a beautiful option as it can be manufactured such that the final product is exceptionally smooth. Due to the pliability of this particular species, it is quite popular beyond the flooring industry, having made its way onto the market in the form of cabinets, musical instruments, patio doors, paneling and a host of other products.

As illustrated by the hardwood floors that have been preserved in historic homes, hardwood as a material choice certainly passes the test of time. Thus, it would be an understatement to say that hardwood flooring is a valuable long-term investment for homeowners today. The true benefit though, comes from the beauty that emerges as this natural element unites the outside world with inside comfort.