Many types of wood are used in the construction of wood flooring, including maple, hickory and oak. Bamboo is technically a grass but is grouped in the hardwood family for flooring applications. Some of the more exotic woods available for flooring include Australian cypress and Brazilian cherry. Mahogany, cork, yellow birch, green ash and black walnut are options that are not as widely used as others.
Certain woods offer features that are more desirable to consumers than others. According to Better Homes and Gardens, white ash, red oak and black walnut are some of the hardest species of wood. Pine is known as "softwood" but, despite the fact that it may easily dent, pine flooring can last as long as any "hardwood" floor. Factory-finish flooring features a urethane resin coating, which increases durability.
According to Cost Helper, installing pine plank flooring can cost up to $12 per square foot, while factory-finished hardwood can run up to $14 per square foot. Solid-strip flooring can be installed for as low as $8 per square foot. Bamboo flooring is relatively inexpensive and is available for between $4 and $6 per square foot. Exotic woods like Australian cypress and Brazilian cherry can cost up to $13 per square foot.
Most types of wood flooring are relatively easy to deal with. Handymen can successfully install most types of wood flooring without much aid. Self-installation can greatly reduce the overall cost of a wood flooring installation project. Installing bamboo flooring requires a certain skill set, which is why inexperienced consumers should not attempt to install bamboo flooring alone.
Bamboo flooring is considered to be one of the most eco-friendly types of flooring on the market. Bamboo grows rapidly and can reach maturity in well under six years. Bamboo flooring, however, requires special maintenance; excessive exposure to water or moisture can cause bamboo flooring to swell, according to Luxury Housing Trends.