The right wide plank floor comes down to six decisions. Work through them in order and you’ll arrive at a short list to compare in person.
1. Board width
We mill 3″, 4¼″, 5″, 6″ and 7″ boards, plus true random-width mixes. Wider boards show more of the grain and make a room feel calmer; random widths feel more traditional. Very wide boards move more with Michigan’s humidity swings, which points toward engineered construction.
2. Board length
Longer boards mean fewer end joints and a cleaner look. Our standard lengths run random 1–7 ft, 2–10 ft or 2–12 ft, with longer boards on request.
3. Solid or engineered
Solid can be refinished many times; engineered is more stable over radiant heat, concrete and in basements. Read the full solid vs engineered guide.
4. Species
White oak for versatility, hickory for hardness, walnut for natural dark color, maple for a quiet grain, red oak for warm traditional grain and ash for a light, lively look. Compare them in our species guide.
5. Grade and cut
Character grade keeps knots and color movement — see White Oak Nature Character. Clean grade is calmer, like White Oak Nature Clean. Rift and quarter sawn boards give straight, linear grain.
6. Texture, color and sheen
Wire brushing, like White Oak Wire Brushed Character, adds texture and hides wear. Choose from standard finishes such as White Oak Bourbon or develop a custom color. Sheens run from matte to gloss.
Next step: compare finishes in person
Once you have two or three candidates, visit our Livonia showroom to compare sample panels, or browse all wide plank collections.