Do Hardwood Flooring Lengths Really Matter?

When you are looking for hardwood flooring for your space, there are so many questions and options available that it sometimes can be difficult to take it all in. Of course, it is important to look at the right hardwood flooring for your project and lifestyle, but it is also really important to research your flooring companies and have them expand on their hardwood flooring lengths in greater detail.

The most common question we hear is:

What are the board lengths and do they even really matter once the floor is installed?

Board lengths play a huge role in making your hardwood floor actually look like a hardwood floor. I know, seems silly right? Often, many manufacturers and big box stores don't list their lengths in a way that is easily accessible for us shoppers to find. But why? Why do they hide them from us? I mean... if it doesn't matter once the floor is laid, then why is there such a secret about them? We are transparent about our board lengths and will happily answer any questions about the product of choice!

We, of course, love long lengths! I mean, who doesn't? They help to create visual continuity in your space and really create an open and airy feel throughout your home. They create visual interest and draw your eye through the entire space, making them feel huge! We love how this even works in small spaces! It has this amazing ability to take the room to the next level. Who doesn't want to happy dance when they get a 10' board running through their kitchen and living area? Talk about 'wow' factor. 

Not only are long lengths super important, but having varied lengths in your hardwood plays a huge role. All of our hardwood flooring comes in varied lengths, providing you a good mix of different board lengths throughout your floor. Not to brag, but most of these are still insanely long! This helps to create a natural looking wood floor and provides a good visual flow throughout the space. Many manufacturers offer flooring that is sold in fixed lengths, i.e. 'x' amount in one length, 'x' amount in another or the entire floor is in 'x' length. Typically, these are shorter lengths and it creates a very choppy and patterned floor. It appears to look like tile rather than hardwood and provides a faux wood look (even if it is real wood!)

Wide Plank Flooring & Importance of Lengths

Having long lengths in wide plank flooring is extremely important. Going with a wider plank, you are drawing attention to your floor and making this a showpiece throughout your entire space. When you want to show off your new 10" solid white oak boards, you want to showcase the grain pattern throughout the board, and how it helps to elongate your space. Going with a wide plank floor with short lengths creates a very choppy and unnatural looking floor. Why is it that many wide plank manufacturers can sell their flooring in boxes of 4',6', or 8' long? If you can't find the lengths, ask to see a box of the flooring this will give you a good idea of the lengths you should be expecting. We'd show you ours, but they actually don't come in boxes because that's how long they are! 

So if you are thinking of shopping around, inquire more about the lengths and if they are varied or fixed lengths? If you can fit the flooring in the back of your smart car, chances are you are going to have a very choppy looking floor.