CHERRY Hardwood Flooring | California Custom Hardwood Flooring
Scientific Name:
Prunus serotina
Other Names and Species:
American Cherry
North American Cherry
Not to be confused with other domestic and exotic species with similar
names, such as Brazilian cherry, or jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), which
is extremely dense and strong and has a different color and texture
compared to black cherry.
Origin:
North America
Appearance:
Prized for its rich color and fine graining, black cherry is commonly
seen in American cabinetry and furniture. The fine, satiny texture of
the wood is uniform and frequently wavy, with distinctive gum veins and
pockets. The lustrous heartwood ranges from light to dark reddish brown,
constrasting sharply with the sapwood, which may be light brown to pale
with a light pinkish tone; however, between boards there may be
significant color variations. Black cherry is extremely light-sensitive,
so there is a strong color change and darkening over a short period time
when the wood is first exposed to light.
Properties:
A strong but moderately hard wood with excellent shock resistance;
commonly found in borders and accents.
Janka Hardness: 950
As a flooring option black cherry is just under forty-four percent
harder than Douglas fir, five percent softer than teak, around
seventy-three percent as hard as red oak, close to two thirds as hard as
hard maple, about fifty-eight percent as hard as wenge, approximately
fifty-two percent as hard as hickory or pecan, and nearly forty-three
percent as hard as santos mahogany's ranking of 2200.
Workability:
Black cherry has good machining, sanding, and holding ability, and is
high in bending strength.
Principal Uses:
Second only to black walnut in value as a fine hardwood species, black
cherry is commonly found in fine furniture, veneers, and wood flooring
borders and accents. It is also used for printing and engraving blocks,
professional and scientific instruments, and decorative items.
About our Hardwood Floors - Designed For You
Our products are designed and manufactured in California for the Southwestern USA market, which has specific requirements with regard to the moisture content of the floor when compared to other countries. This is due to the drier climate of California and most areas in the Southwestern, USA that creates very distinct seasons with low average levels of humidity. This differs from many of the products sold within the Southwest, which are made to more a general specification for moist climates within the global market and cannot perform well in most drier Southwestern conditions.