Cherry Hardwood Flooring: Proven Best Choice

Bolded Quick Summary
Cherry hardwood flooring is a fantastic choice for DIYers seeking a warm, elegant look. Its rich color deepens beautifully with age, adding character. While it’s a softer wood, with proper care and installation, cherry floors bring lasting beauty and value to any home, making it a proven, gorgeous option.

Choosing the right hardwood flooring can feel like a big decision. You want something that looks stunning, lasts for years, and is manageable for your DIY project. Many homeowners are drawn to the rich, warm tones of cherry hardwood flooring, and for good reason! It’s a wood that really brings a sense of natural elegance and depth to any room. But is it the best choice for you? You might be wondering if it’s too soft, too expensive, or hard to install.

Don’t worry! We’re going to break down exactly why cherry hardwood flooring is a top contender, especially for DIY projects. We’ll cover its unique beauty, what to expect, and how to make sure it’s the perfect fit for your home. By the end, you’ll feel confident knowing if this gorgeous wood is the way to go.

Why Cherry Hardwood Flooring is a Proven Winner

Cherry hardwood flooring brings a unique charm that’s hard to match. Its natural color evolution gives it a timeless appeal. Let’s dive into what makes it so special.

The beauty of cherry wood lies in its natural aging process. When you first install it, cherry typically has a lighter, pale pinkish-brown hue. Over time, exposure to sunlight and air causes it to deepen dramatically. This gradual transformation results in rich, deep reddish-brown tones that are simply luxurious. This color change isn’t a flaw; it’s a celebrated feature that adds character and a sense of history to your home.

Beyond its stunning color transformation, cherry wood offers a smooth, fine grain pattern. This contributes to its sophisticated and flowing appearance. It’s less busy than some other woods, making it a versatile choice that can complement a wide range of interior design styles, from traditional to more modern looks.

Understanding Cherry Wood for Your Floors

Before you commit, it’s good to know what makes cherry, cherry. Understanding its properties will help you make the best choices for installation and care.

Cherry is considered a select hardwood. It’s known for its unique characteristics that set it apart from more common flooring options like oak or maple. Here’s a closer look at its key features:

Key Characteristics of Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Color Variation: As mentioned, cherry starts lighter and deepens to a rich reddish-brown over time. This aging process is significantly influenced by UV exposure.
Grain Pattern: Cherry typically features a straighter, finer grain than many other hardwoods. This gives it a smooth, elegant look. You might also find subtle figuring or wavy patterns that add visual interest.
Hardness: On the Janka hardness scale, cherry ranks as a softer hardwood compared to options like oak or hickory. A standard domestic cherry (like Black Cherry) usually rates around 950 lbf (pounds-force). For comparison, red oak is around 1290 lbf. This means cherry can be more susceptible to dents and scratches.
Natural Beauty: Its inherent glow and the way it absorbs and reflects light are distinctive.

Because it’s naturally softer, choosing cherry flooring means being a bit more mindful of its protection. However, many homeowners find the trade-off for its unparalleled beauty well worth it. The key is in understanding how to best care for it.

Pros and Cons: Is Cherry the Right Fit for You?

Every flooring material has its ups and downs. Let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages of cherry hardwood flooring so you can make an informed decision.

The Upsides of Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Exceptional Beauty: The deep red-brown hues that cherry develops over time are unmatched in warmth and richness. It truly elevates the aesthetic of any room.
Timeless Appeal: Its color deepens and becomes richer with age, meaning your floor only gets more beautiful. This makes it a classic choice that won’t go out of style.
Smooth Grain: The fine, straight grain offers a sophisticated and elegant look, appearing less busy than some other woods.
Adds Value: High-quality hardwood flooring, including cherry, is a significant selling point that can increase your home’s resale value.
Unique Character: Each plank will have its own subtle variations, creating a truly custom and organic feel underfoot.

The Downsides of Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Softer Wood: As mentioned, cherry is softer than many other popular hardwoods. This makes it more prone to dents, scratches, and wear, especially in high-traffic areas or homes with pets and children.
Price Point: Cherry hardwood flooring can be more expensive than more common species like oak or maple.
Color Change: While the color deepening is a desired feature for many, an uneven color change can occur if certain areas are exposed to more sunlight than others. This also means the “look” of your floor will change over time, which might not be for everyone.
Requires Careful Maintenance: Due to its softer nature, it needs a bit more attention to prevent damage.

Considering these points, cherry can be an absolutely stunning choice for bedrooms, formal living areas, or other spaces that don’t see constant heavy foot traffic. If you have a busy family with young kids and pets, you’ll need to be extra diligent with protectors and rugs.

Types of Cherry Wood Flooring

When we talk about “cherry hardwood flooring,” it’s important to know there are a couple of main types you’ll encounter, primarily domestic and exotic. Each has its own unique look and properties.

Domestic Cherry (American Black Cherry)

This is the most common type of cherry flooring found in North America. American Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is prized for its beautiful color progression.

Origin: Native to eastern North America.
Color: Starts as light pinkish-brown and deepens to a rich, warm reddish-brown.
Graining: Typically fine and straight.
Hardness: Around 950 lbf on the Janka scale.
Availability: Widely available, though often at a premium price.

This is the type most people refer to when discussing the classic cherry wood floor that ages beautifully.

Exotic Cherry (e.g., Brazilian Cherry / Jatoba)

Don’t let the name fool you; “Brazilian Cherry” is actually a completely different species of wood called Jatoba. It’s often grouped with cherry for its rich, reddish tones, but its properties are quite different.

Origin: Central and South America.
Color: Starts as a pinkish to reddish-brown, often with darker streaks, and deepens to a rich, darker red-brown.
Graining: Can be straight, wavy, or irregular.
Hardness: Significantly harder than domestic cherry, rating around 2,350 lbf on the Janka scale. This makes it much more durable and resistant to dents and scratches.
Availability: Common in the flooring market, and often more affordable than domestic cherry.

Jatoba is a much harder and more durable wood. If you love the reddish color but need superior resistance to wear and tear, Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) might be a better fit, but know it’s botanically distinct from true cherry.

Installation Options: Solid vs. Engineered Cherry Flooring

Just like other hardwood floors, cherry flooring comes in two main forms: solid and engineered. Your choice will depend on your budget, the room’s location, and your DIY comfort level.

Solid Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Solid cherry planks are milled from a single piece of solid wood, going all the way through. They typically come unfinished, allowing you to apply your chosen stain and sealant at home, or pre-finished.

Thickness: Usually ¾ inch thick.
Durability: Can be sanded and refinished many times over its long lifespan (potentially generations, with care).
Installation: Best installed via nail-down or staple-down methods, requiring a subfloor and often specific tools like a flooring nailer.
Moisture Sensitivity: More susceptible to changes in humidity and moisture, making it less ideal for basements or areas prone to dampness.
Cost: Generally more expensive than engineered options.

Engineered Cherry Hardwood Flooring

Engineered cherry flooring consists of a thin layer (veneer) of real cherry wood on top of multiple layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard (HDF) glued together in opposing directions. This cross-ply construction provides superior stability.

Appearance: The top layer is real cherry, so it looks identical to solid cherry once installed.
Stability: Much more stable than solid wood, making it less prone to expanding and contracting with changes in humidity.
Installation: Can be installed in more locations, including over concrete slabs, and often offers more installation methods like click-lock, glue-down, staple-down, or nail-down. This can make it more DIY-friendly.
Refinishing: The number of times you can sand and refinish depends on the thickness of the cherry veneer. Thicker wear layers allow for more refinishing.
Cost: Often more budget-friendly than solid cherry.

For most DIYers, engineered cherry flooring offers a great balance of beauty, stability, and easier installation. If you’re installing in a basement or a room with potential moisture issues, engineered is definitely the way to go. For advice on subfloors and installation methods, resources like NAHB’s guidance on subfloors can be invaluable.

How to Choose Your Cherry Hardwood Flooring

With a better understanding of cherry wood, let’s talk about selecting the right cherry flooring for your project. It’s not just about picking a pretty color; it’s about finding the species, grade, and finish that suits your needs.

Key Factors to Consider When Buying

Species: Decide between domestic cherry (true cherry) for its classic aging or exotic cherry (like Jatoba) for superior hardness.
Grade: Hardwood flooring is graded (e.g., Clear, Select, No. 1 Common, No. 2 Common). Higher grades have fewer natural imperfections like knots and color variations. For a more uniform look, opt for higher grades. If you like a more rustic, natural look, lower grades can be beautiful and often more affordable.
Width: Flooring planks come in various widths, typically from 2 ¼ inches to 7 inches or more. Wider planks tend to give a more modern and spacious feel, while narrower planks can suit traditional styles.
Finish:

Unfinished: This gives you complete control over the stain color and finish. You apply it yourself after installation. This is a great option if you want a very specific look or are comfortable controlling the finishing process.
Prefinished: These planks come with the stain and protective coating already applied at the factory. This is usually more convenient for DIYers as it reduces dust and complexity on-site. Prefinished floors often have a very durable, multi-layer coating.

Wear Layer Thickness (for Engineered): If you choose engineered flooring, check the thickness of the real wood veneer on top. A thicker wear layer (e.g., 3mm or more) allows for more sanding and refinishing over time.

Where to Buy

You can find cherry hardwood flooring at:

Local Flooring Stores: Offer expert advice and a tactile experience with the samples.
Large Home Improvement Retailers: May have a selection, though options might be more limited.
Online Retailers: Can offer competitive pricing and a wider selection but lack the ability to see and feel the product beforehand. Be sure to order samples!

Always compare prices and read reviews. Don’t forget to factor in shipping costs if buying online.

DIY Installation: Tips for Success with Cherry Flooring

Installing hardwood floors can be a rewarding DIY project, but it requires patience and precision. Cherry, being a softer wood, needs a little extra care during installation.

Preparation is Key

Before you even open a box of flooring, give your subfloor and room a thorough once-over.

Acclimate the Flooring: This is CRUCIAL! Hardwood needs to adjust to the humidity and temperature of your home before installation. Leave the unopened boxes in the room where they’ll be installed for at least 72 hours, ideally longer (up to a week), depending on product recommendations.
Check the Subfloor: Ensure your subfloor (usually plywood or concrete) is clean, dry, level, and structurally sound. Any imperfections can translate to your finished floor. For concrete subfloors, you’ll likely need a moisture barrier. Check out BuildDirect’s guide on installing over concrete for detailed steps.
Acquire Tools: You’ll need a tape measure, chalk line, tapping block, pry bar, rubber mallet, flooring nailer (if applicable), safety glasses, and a miter saw or jigsaw for cuts.

Installation Methods

The method you use depends on whether you have solid or engineered flooring.

Nail-Down/Staple-Down (Solid & some Engineered): This is the traditional method. You’ll use a specialized flooring nailer or stapler to fasten the planks to a wooden subfloor. Cherry is relatively soft, so be careful not to over-drive the fasteners.
Glue-Down (Engineered): A compatible adhesive is spread onto the subfloor, and the planks are pressed into it. This can be a good option for engineered floors over concrete.
Floating (Click-Lock Engineered): The planks lock into each other without being attached to the subfloor. This is often the easiest for DIYers but requires a good underlayment.

Tips for Working with Cherry

Use a Tapping Block: When joining planks, always use a tapping block between the mallet and the flooring edge to avoid damaging the wood.
Gentle Taps: Since cherry dents easily, use firm but not excessively forceful taps.
Work from Left to Right: Most installers work from the longest wall, laying planks parallel to the longest wall in the room for the best visual effect.
Randomize Plank Placement: Mix planks from different boxes to distribute color and grain variations naturally. Avoid placing planks with excessive defects side-by-side.
Leave an Expansion Gap: Always leave a small gap (typically ¼ to ½ inch) around the perimeter of the room for expansion and contraction. This gap will be covered by baseboards or trim.

Take your time, measure twice (or thrice!), and cut once. Watching installation videos specific to your flooring type and the method you’re using can be incredibly helpful.

Care and Maintenance for Cherry Hardwood Floors

To keep your beautiful cherry floors looking their best for years to come, a regular and careful maintenance routine is essential. Remember, it’s a softer wood, so a little extra protection goes a long way.

Daily/Weekly Care

Sweep or Vacuum Regularly: Use a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with a hard floor attachment. Avoid vacuums with beater bars that can scratch the wood. This removes grit and dirt that can act like sandpaper underfoot.

Wipe Up Spills Immediately: Liquids can seep into the wood and cause staining or warping. Blot up spills with a soft, absorbent cloth as soon as they happen. Do not use excessive water.

Periodic Cleaning

Use a Manufacturer-Recommended Cleaner: When you need to do a more thorough cleaning, use a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner specifically recommended by your flooring manufacturer. Avoid harsh chemicals, ammonia-based cleaners, or abrasive polishes, as these can damage the finish.

Damp Mopping (Not Wet): If you damp mop, use a well-wrung-out mop (