Raw Surface

Though they look like they’d give you a splinter, distressed hardwood floors are just as foot-friendly as their smooth counterparts. This type of flooring is growing in popularity due to its vintage and rustic custom looks, which add a raw texture and richness to any abode.

There are two main types of distressed hardwood floors: hand-scraped and machine-scraped. Before today’s modern sanding methods, floors were scraped by hand on-site to make the floors flat and even. Today, hand scraping is done to add texture and uniqueness—the wood will often be thrashed with chains, bolts and blocks in order to simulate the character and romance of a very old floor. Machine-scraped floors are more affordable and offer a similar look, but you can often see a repeated pattern across the surface.

Here are a few things to consider when selecting distressed wood flooring:

Alternating widths
You can choose to include two or three different board widths in a room so that the wood planks aren’t so monotonous. This creates a dramatic look that adds interest to the space.

Color choices
Distressed hardwood floors range in color, from whites to grays and from lighter earth tones to dark browns and blacks. Dark tones offer an exotic look and tend to accentuate the scraping more than natural-colored wood. Gray colors work well with stainless steel in a kitchen, and whitewashed naturals suit a contemporary style.

Vacation homes
Second residences dedicated to leisure can accommodate the low maintenance, relaxed feel of distressed wood. It is especially popular in beach homes in the Southeast and mountain homes.

Loft living
Loft-style properties are a great fit for distressed floors in natural wood tones, creating architectural harmony with their exposed ductwork, block walls and wood beams.

Increased value
The combination of distressing and color washing can enhance the bottom-line value of a new or remodeled home.

Compiled from information provided by DuChateau Floors and Black River Flooring Corp.