Hardwood flooring factsheet: Beech

For many people with dreams of homeownership, hardwood flooring is seen as a deal breaker. Some people will look for homes that have pre-existing hardwood flooring, while others will want to replace their current flooring with wooden flooring after buying their home. Hardwood flooring gives your home a touch of class, luxury and classic style, as well as adding considerable value to your property, should you ever wish to sell.

Homeowners have more choice than ever before when it comes to choosing the right flooring for their home. Continuing in our series of explaining some of the key properties of different types of hardwood, here are some interesting facts about beech.

Beech is highly durable

Hardwood flooring is a long term investment, so you will want to get a variety that will be strong and durable enough to last a lifetime. Beech is a very strong type of hardwood, with a similar level of hardness as oak. It scores 1300 on the Janka rating scale, which is considered to be very high. Because of this strength and durability, beech flooring is suitable for any room in your home, even ones with particularly high levels of foot traffic, where a softer wood may not be suitable.

Beech is naturally light, but can be treated

Beech is a naturally light wood, with colours tending to range from light cream to a medium tan or brown. Because of its natural light colour, beech wood is a popular choice for smaller rooms, where lighter colours can be used to give the illusion of space. However, beech also reacts well to a range of stains and finishes, meaning it is possible to achieve a variety of different tones and shades, allowing you to match your flooring to your current interior style.

Beech flooring is easy to maintain

Because of its high levels of hardness and durability, beech does not require a great deal of maintenance. Sweeping or vacuuming your beech floor on a regular basis should keep your flooring clean, providing that any spillages are cleaned up as soon as they happen.