Acacia wood has been gaining momentum in the flooring space lately, with a considerable number of installations done in homes and commercial properties. To meet up with the sudden demand, Acacia trees are constantly grown in forests. Now asides from the trees, what makes people opt for Acacia flooring but not exotic flooring?
The reasons are much and it varies for different individuals. Some of them include the low maintenance ability, the exceptional durability of the flooring and its affordable price. But what attracts homeowners in general, is its unique look.
Acacia brings a certain uniqueness to a home that no other flooring has to offer. Your visitors will associate the feeling of warmth and elegance to the floor. For commercial properties, the mood it creates will impress your clients.
The color combinations are just stellar and the homely appeal is so alienated. The interesting part is it all comes at a price lesser than most hardwood varieties.
So the good news is if you are planning to install Acacia flooring, it’s vital you know its benefits and setbacks. The pricing, so you can compare with other flooring options. It’s also good you know the flooring works best in some environments than others, so this means you would have to cross-check if Acacia would fit in that area.
This is what you get from the reviews in this guide, a comprehensive look at what benefits you gain by installing the floor, its cons, the price, maintenance tips and buying tips. So will you go for Acacia flooring, let’s find out!
Pros of Acacia Flooring
Unique Look
The dots in Acacia wood are distinctively deep-set with appealing swirls that are grafted through the whole length of the planks. It comes with color variations that range from brown, yellow to a touch of red. The patterns make this flooring stand out among the competition.
When compared to other hardwood floors, Acacia brings a stylish and royal look to your home or commercial property.
Durable
If properly maintained, Acacia flooring can last for as long as 50 years, even up to 100 years. The toughness is accredited to the toughness of Acacia wood which is stronger than most exotic hardwoods. On a Janka scale, the toughest Acacia species is about 2220.
This rating is above what most hard floors used in homes. Apart from your maintenance, the strength of Acacia flooring depends on the thickness of the planks. Thicker ones can withstand damages better than thin ones, what's more, is you can also refinish them a few times over the years.
This the floor is better when you have children and pets. Especially, when there’s high traffic in your home. The hardness of the wood makes it proof to scratches, dents or gouges.
A Variety of Choices
The catalog of flooring choices is incredible. Because there are a ton of species of Acacia trees (about 13,00) available. It also comes in different plank length and width. But depending on your budget and preference, you could go for solid Acacia, laminate or engineered type. There’s more possibility of finding the Acacia of your choice that meets all criteria.
Easy to Maintain
When it comes to keeping your Acacia floor clean, it can be easier than other floorings like carpets. Several factors contribute to its ease of maintenance. One major factor is debris or dust-proof.
Mopping it oftentimes helps in removing the germ and dirt on its surface. Just be sure to use a damp mop when cleaning your Acacia floor.
One interesting feature about Acacia floors is the natural oil it contains that prevents damage. Besides, flooring made from its wood resists water damages. Nevertheless, it's good to realize that Acacia resisting water doesn't make it water-proof.
To ensure you don’t leave water on its surface for so long. In this case, do not wet mop it, so no water sinks into the planks and risk damages. Dry any liquid spills immediately, as far as you’re available to do so.
Following all these maintenance tips would ensure your flooring lasts for years on end without much effort from you.
Cons of Acacia Flooring
The beauty of Acacia doesn't warrant the absence of flaws. Similar to any other flooring options, it comes with certain disadvantages. Let's quickly skim through them, so you know what to expect when installing them.
Short Planks
Acacia trees are expected to be short. The reason is that the wood planks gotten from the trees are significantly short, at about 4 feet.
Can Be Warped
Although Acacia is normally hard and not easily damaged, they are susceptible to warp if exposed to certain conditions or not properly installed. For instance, if the floor is not properly dried during production, it could end up warped when it’s in the consumer’s home already.
The flooring normally would bend upwards and leave gaps that would cost you a lot to fix. If you stay in a dry climate or high levels of humidity can cause your Acacia flooring to warp.
There are ways you can avoid these problems. Before buying, ensure the Acacia flooring was dried properly during manufacture. Always leave the moisture content somewhere between 6%-9%. Anything higher can lead to warps. You can also leave it open for 5 days so it gets used to the level of humidity in your home.
Try to monitor the humidity rate and ensure it doesn't pass a 52% rate.
Acacia Flooring Options Available
There are several types of flooring to choose, from engineered Acacia, solid Acacia, and laminate Acacia. The type you choose will depend on certain factors such as your budget, preference, home condition, taste and more. Listed below is a summary of each Acacia floor types:
Engineered Acacia
This type of floor has parts of solid Acacia on a base that is used to make the engineered Acacia. The planks for this type are 3/8 inch thick and width from 3 to 5 inches.
It comes in either standard or hand-scraped variety. This type of Acacia flooring stays longer before it requires a refinish. You can use the engineered Acacia in your kitchen because it holds a good level of humidity.
Solid Acacia
Solid Acacia floors are mostly hand scraped, but its planks are somewhere between 3 – 4 inches. These types are also available in standard flooring. They are the most expensive of all Acacia flooring and yet the most durable.
You can easily refinish where there are visible scratches or dents.
Laminate Acacia
Laminate Acacia is created by fusing photographic replica of Acacia on solid wood. On this premise, the floor gets a beautiful look without the original Acacia. This one is the cheapest Acacia flooring you can go if you want the look but at the cheapest rate.
On the contrary, it doesn’t give the same texture as of solid Acacia and it can't be refinished over time.
N.B: a keened eyed individual can notice the photographic layer and know it’s a counterfeit solid Acacia
In Conclusion
Did you enjoy reading this article? Was it helpful to you?
Acacia wood flooring is pocket-friendly and still offers you the quality and opulence of any hardwood flooring or better!
As stated earlier, to maintain Acacia flooring is easy and not demanding. So if you want a hardwood flooring that's budget-friendly, eco-friendly, durable, and beautiful then go for Acacia flooring.
Do you have any questions on this topic? Please let us know in the comments! If you enjoyed this review, please share gracefully!!! ~Remember sharing is caring! ~
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