Hardwood flooring factsheet: walnut

Walnut hardwood flooring is an incredibly hardwearing and durable choice, adding a touch of classic elegance to your home whilst also adding considerable value to your property. Walnut has a natural rich, dark colour in a variety of shades that adds warmth and natural beauty to any room although it can, over time, lighten slightly, which only adds to its character. The natural lines, rings and knots in its structure give a unique and interesting facet to your floor and to add even more interest walnut flooring can be laid in a variety of patterns and styles such as herringbone or wide planks.

Did you know?

Although the walnut tree is found from the Balkans to the Himalayas and China, the largest proliferations are in Kyrgyzstan. The two most commonly known types of walnut are the Persian or English (which originated in Persia) and the Black walnut, which comes from North America. The American Black walnut tree is the one that is often used in walnut flooring and, for the environmentally conscious, it is reassuring to know that US hardwood forests are well managed and protected.

The colours of walnut can range from a very dark brown to almost purple and the wood is noted for its often wavy or curly grain patterns.

Although wood has been used in flooring since medieval times in wealthier households, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that the idea of polished hardwood floors took off. Before then, floors were roughly put together, leading to gaps between the boards, and either painted or covered. The Industrial Revolution brought in steam-driven machinery, which drove the mass production of finished, tongue-and-groove floorboards. A leading trend of the late 19th century was for flooring made up of a mixture of woods, typically black walnut with chestnut, white oak and maple.

Walnut flooring has flexible uses and is easy to maintain

Walnut flooring is exceedingly strong and durable, with excellent shock resistance and moisture resistant properties that make it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms as well as any other room in the home.

It is incredibly easy to maintain providing you take basic steps to clean regularly and avoid damage. Although walnut is good for heavy traffic areas, try to avoid any scratches or dirt with the addition of rugs or mats in places like doorways. As we said, walnut is moisture resistant but it is a good idea to clean up any liquid spills as they occur to avoid staining the wood. Frequent sweeping with a soft brush will go a long way towards keeping the floor free from dirt and debris and a dedicated wood cleaning product can be used once a week to maintain the shine.