Our Wood
How does Craft Floors select and source its wood for artisan floors?
Wood is more than just our livelihood - it’s our passion. That’s why we are extremely selective about the type of wood we use and the mills we source from. Choosing wood with the best grade, colour and character at the outset is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to guarantee that a CRAFT floor will surpass our customers' expectations every time.
CRAFTfloor utilizes an engineered core of structural-grade Eucalyptus plywood for its artisan wood floors, valued for its density, uniformity, and stability. This core is notably third-party verified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for legal and responsible sourcing, underscoring CRAFT's environmental commitment. CRAFT also features species like Hickory, their most popular hardwood, despite its challenging nature, due to its beautiful tight grain and dramatic patterns. The company's selective process for wood grade, color, and character ensures each CRAFT floor consistently meets high expectations.
Every CRAFT floor starts with an engineered core built from structural-grade Eucalyptus plywood. Dense, uniform, and highly stable when properly dried and conditioned, Eucalyptus has become a preferred hardwood species for making strong and reliable multi-ply structural cores. CRAFT is unique in that the core of every floor has been third-party verified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to be from legal and responsible sources. Read our environmental impact info and credentials, including PEFC and GG Gold certifications (on every CRAFT floor) evidencing our sustainable manufacturing practices, LEED eligibility, and contribution to healthy home.
Hickory
HARDWORKING FLOORS FOR BUSY ROOMS: MEET HICKORY
Homes contain lively living spaces, and naturally strong resilient Hickory floors stand up to daily life. CRAFT homeowners love Hickory, making it our most popular hardwood.
From a craftsman perspective, Hickory is one of the most challenging North American wood species to work with. Seasonal availability, extreme hardness and considerable variability in grain pattern are just a few of the reasons most manufacturers don’t pay much attention to hickory, or stay away from it all together. However, despite these challenges, our craftsmen have developed a deep love and appreciation for Hickory. Its beautiful tight grain and myriad of dramatic and flowing grain patterns, make for a truly unique real wood floor. CRAFT's Hickory is third-party verified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to be from legal and responsible sources.
White Oak
Which oak species does Craft Floors prefer and why are not all oaks created equal?
Contrary to popular belief, not all oaks are created equal. That’s why we have selected American White Oak as our preferred species.
Commonly known as White Oak, it is the most sought after of the oaks due to its consistent cream to light beige colour, high degree of stability, and a versatility that is unparalleled by any other wood species. Our artisans love working with White Oak because there are so many interesting things that can be done with it. From fuming, staining and glazing that can transform it into countless shades and colours. CRAFT's White Oak is third-party verified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to be from legal and responsible sources.
Select Northern Oak
What is Craft Floors' Select Northern Oak, a modern expression of a classic North American hardwood?
Sourced exclusively from the forests of Northern Appalachia, CRAFT’s Select Northern Oak is a proprietary grade of Red Oak chosen for its refined grain, consistent colour, superior high grade.
Native to the cooler growing regions of Northeastern USA, Select Northern Oak benefits from slow-growth conditions that produce tighter rings, strong fibre structure, and a balanced, expressive grain. Through careful selection and modern finishing, CRAFT’s artisans transform this classic North American hardwood into floors with a clean, modern appearance that exhibit remarkable design versatility. Slightly more porous than White Oak, Select Northern Oak takes on stain with exceptional depth and clarity, making it an ideal canvas for a wide range of tones — from light, contemporary naturals to richer, more intense colours.
Black Walnut
What makes Black Walnut 'The American Exotic'?
Black Walnut ranks as the most sought-after hardwood because of its rich, dark colour and beautifully figured grain. In fact, the unique grain and colour tend to put it on an equal footing with rare and expensive tropical hardwoods, which led to its title of “American Exotic”.
Perhaps that’s why Rolls Royce and Bentley choose it for the custom millwork in their exotic cars and why it’s a standard fixture among the world’s most luxurious yachts. Our artisans love working with Black Walnut because it is inspiring to be around something so beautiful. CRAFT's Black Walnut is third-party verified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to be from legal and responsible sources
RECLAIMED HEART PINE
What is Craft Floors' reclaimed Heart Pine, over a century in the making?
Genuine reclaimed Heart Pine has been crafted out of 100 year old beams and decking salvaged from historic buildings across rural America.
Through the laborious and time-consuming process of reclaiming, CRAFT's artisans are able to restore, by hand, this wonderful resource. Through numerous painstaking techniques, our craftsmen are committed to taking America’s Heart Pine, now all but gone from its native forests, and giving it a new life. Preserving a moment in time from the past, so it can be cherished for generations to come.
