Thinner Solid Hardwood Floors


Those choosing thinner solid hardwoods do so for several reasons. Naturally many would assume these types of floors command a lower price tag because the amount of material milled to make the product is reduced compared to traditional 3/4" hardwoods. This is true of several prefinished manufacturers shown below, but others offering longer length material lands them into a custom category.

Historical Usage

From a historical perspective, thinner hardwoods (most notably 5/16") were used inNailer for thin solid hardwood floors several time periods and are still being used today in some markets with the California Bay region being one. The older product had one common characteristic; they were milled without a tongue and groove that required top nailing or fastening into the face with a specialized tool called a Cavanaugh nailer. No longer manufactured, a new pneumatic fastener made by High Pro Tools (right) uses 15 gauge barbed nails that allow for firmer installation.

Using Thin Products Today

With today's thinner end matched or tongue and groove flooring, two functional elements are considered for their use. First, they offer a lower finished vertical floor height and secondly it becomes an easier product to work with when installed in apartment or condominium high-rises by the direct glue down method.¹ The latter also eliminates any additional wood sub floor systems that would be needed had it been installed by the direct fastening method of nailing or stapling with common hardwood flooring fasteners.

Can't Find That Look?

Looking for that elusive older product for a remodel job or add on to an older existing floor? One manufacturer in particular has been filling a void for unusual flooring widths for years. Lebanon Oak Flooring can fulfill your needs through a distribution network but not direct sales.

Find Hardwood Installers Near You


What Thicknesses Are There?

Those seeking price and in the prefinished form, we've listed some of the more widely available brands and their species. Also shown are custom unfinished products and length factors with many considered random length. Please consult each individual manufacturer for more specifics.

Prefinished

Manufacturer Product
Thickness
Species
Length Factor
 
   
Bruce Natural Choice
5/16"
 Ash, Red Oak, White Oak, Maple
12" - 84"
Armstrong Global Exotics
5/16"
 Amendoim, Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Tigerwood, Timborana
10" - 60"
BR111
5/16 & 7/16"
 Amendoim, Angelim, Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Hickory, Brazilian Teak, Macchiato Pecan, Tigerwood, Tiete Chestnut, Santos Mahogany
11" - 55"
Wood Flooring International
3/8"
 Amendoim, Brazilian Cherry, Patagonian Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Patagonian Rosewood, Caribbean Walnut
12" - 42"

Unfinished Custom Products

Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
1/2 & 5/8"
 Eastern White Pine, Heart Pine
11'0" average
 
1/2 & 5/8"
 Ash, Birch, Cherry, Hickory, White Maple, Walnut, Red Oak, White Oak
7' - 8'00" average
Dean Hardwoods
3/8 & 1/2"
 Afrormosia, Sapele, Heart Pine, Jatoba, Teak, Ash, Hickory, White Oak, Santos Mahogany, Maple, Cumaru
1' - 10'00"
² Koetter Woodworking - Formally Kentucky Wood Floors
1/2"
 Rift & Quartered Cherry, Black Walnut, Red Oak, White Oak, Hard Maple
1' - 10'6"
Launstein Hardwood Floors
3/8"
 Brazilian Cherry, Hard Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Walnut, Cherry, Ash
Varies
² Lebanon Oak Flooring
5/16 & 3/8"
 Common #1, #2 Red and White Oak
2' - 10'00"
 
1/2"
 Common #1, #2 Red and White Oak
2' - 10'00"
³
5/16"
 Red and White Oak Select, Select & Better, #1 Common
2' - 14'00"
Maxwell Hardwood Flooring
1/2"
 Quarter sawn, Clear, Select, Common #1, #2, Red Oak, White Oak
1' - 7'00"
² Mould-Rite Inc
3/8 & 1/2"
 American Cherry, Black Walnut, White Oak, Hard Maple, Red Oak, Ash
Varies

¹ Gluing thin hardwoods are not as susceptible to the problems associated with solid ¾ inch hardwoods. Some of these products (rift, quarter sawn) are milled in a way that offsets horizontal expansion and contraction. Others are produced in shorter lengths enabling improved installation without gapping.
² Offers prefinished and unfinished
³ Square edged flooring (no tongue and groove) Widths include 1 1/3", 1 1/2", 2"

Related Pages:

• 3/4" Solid Hardwood
• Hardwood Flooring Grades?
• Hardwood Floor Designs
• Unfinished Hardwood Flooring - Hardwood sanded and finshed
• Parquet Wood Floors