If you’re planning a wood flooring project, one of the big decisions you’ll be faced with is which wood you will choose. There are literally thousands of species of wood that gets made into flooring, but some of the most common are: oak, pine, teak, cherry and mahogany. All of that said, in recent years, woods from further flung corners of the globe have commonly appeared on the scene when it comes to wood flooring. As a result of this, when you’re shopping around for your new floor, you’re highly likely to come up against options such as olivewood, snakewood, ipe, cumaru and tigerwood. Some of the exotic flooring options are significantly cheaper than their European counterparts, so how on earth do you choose which option will work best for you?
The moral and emotional argument
A moral argument for doing something means that there is greater good in your decision than just the fact that a product is cheaper or better. There’s no getting away from the fact that there’s a strong moral argument for buying local. Although Europe is a big continent, it’s a fact that even wood that has travelled from Norway or Sweden to the UK has made less of journey than wood that has travelled from the southern hemisphere. While there may be no direct impact on your local economy or environment by choosing a French or Italian wood over an African wood, there is some comfort in choosing European because there is less chance that any sort undesirable labour practices will have been involved in its production. That said, even if you buy European wood, it is well worth making the decision to choose wood that comes from a well managed and sustainable source, which we’ll cover below under the ecological argument.
The economic argument
Wood that comes from certain far away corners of the world manages to make its way across the globe and still work out significantly cheaper than relatively speaking ‘locally grown’ wood. How on earth can this be the case? While becoming more rare because of conscientious consumers, often this is the case because the wood is lumbered either illegally or is being carried out by cheap labour. Irrespective of whether the land is being exploited or people are being exploited, it’s well worth reassuring yourself that the wood you buy is from a reputable source.
The aesthetic argument
In many cases, people’s reason for choosing an exotic wood over a European wood comes down to the look of the wood. Very dark woods in particular tend to hail from more exotic locations than the blonde or mid-coloured woods that we commonly find in Europe. If you’re looking for a black wood or a tiger striped wood, then your best chance of finding what you’re looking for lies in the exotic wood species. The likes of African wenge, which is a really dark wood, or tigerwood which has a really distinctive stripy grain to it simply aren’t found in Europe because they won’t grow in our climate. So if you’re seeking this type of look naturally then you have no choice but to plump for an exotic species. The only alternative is to choose an indigenous species and accept that it has been coloured to suit your requirements.
The ecological argument
We all know that chopping trees down isn’t good for the long term state of the planet and with this in mind, the most important thing to bear in mind when choosing between exotic and European wood flooring is how the forest from which the wood originated has been managed. There is an extremely useful standard to help you with this and it’s called the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation scheme.
The FSC accreditation scheme clearly identifies timber that comes from well-managed and well-protected sources. It concerns itself with how forests are managed; from a social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual viewpoint and pays respect to present and future generations in all its dealings.
So, at the end of the day, is there a good argument for choosing either European or exotic wood? The real answer to this is ‘no’, because much comes down to price, appearance, personal preference and availability. All of that said, one thing to make sure of is, whichever option you choose should come from well, and responsibly managed forests.
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FAQ
What are some of the most common wood species used for flooring?
Some of the most common species of wood used for flooring include oak, pine, teak, cherry, and mahogany. However, in recent years, more exotic options such as olivewood, snakewood, ipe, cumaru, and tigerwood have also become popular.
What are some reasons for choosing local over exotic wood species for flooring?
Choosing local or European wood species for flooring can have a smaller environmental impact as the wood has traveled less distance. It also can provide some comfort in knowing that undesirable labor practices are less likely to have been involved in its production.
How can some exotic woods be cheaper than their European counterparts?
Exotic woods can sometimes be cheaper because they are often harvested and produced by cheaper labor or even illegally. It is important to ensure that the wood is from a reputable source to avoid supporting exploitative practices.
Why might someone choose an exotic wood species for flooring?
Exotic wood species often offer unique aesthetics, such as very dark or distinctively patterned wood grains. For example, African wenge is a very dark wood and tigerwood has a distinct stripy grain, which are not naturally found in European wood species.
What should I consider from an ecological standpoint when choosing between European and exotic wood?
The most important ecological consideration is how the forest from which the wood originated has been managed. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation scheme helps to identify timber that comes from well-managed and protected sources, considering social, economic, ecological, cultural, and spiritual viewpoints.