Pine flooring is manufactured from the soft wood of pine trees. There are over 200 species of trees in the pine family, making the types of wood flooring available extremely varied. Pine wood is extremely soft, though, making it prone to scarring and dents. Some species of pine wood are much softer than others, leaving few types recommended for use as flooring. These types of pine flooring include long leaf heart pine, vertical grain pine, Southern yellow pine and prefinished pine.
Long leaf heart pine flooring is the most commonly purchased pine flooring because it is the most dense, leaving it less susceptible to damage. This type of flooring is very rich in gold, red and amber tones because it is mostly composed of of the heart of the tree. Long leaf heart pine is sold in 4 inch (10.16 cm), 6 inch (15.24 cm), 8 inch (20.32 cm) and 10 inch (25.40 cm) widths and 8 foot (2.43 m)and 16 foot (4.88 m) lengths. It also comes in 7/16 inch (1.11 cm) mini pine flooring.
Vertical grain pine flooring is a type of flooring that has been cut so the growth rings are perpendicular to the wear surface. Due to the manufacturing process, vertical grain pine is substantially more expensive than other varieties. This type of floor is stronger and less susceptible to damage, making it perfect for areas which experience high amounts of foot traffic, such as in front of the door, kitchen, living room and offices. Vertical grain pine is sold in 4 inch (10.16 cm) widths.
Southern yellow pine flooring is popular due to its reasonable price and resistance to damage. This type of flooring has a wide grain, which may expose the natural knots of the pine tree, giving it a lot of character. Southern yellow pine comes in shades of reddish brown, yellow-orange or yellowish white. The planks cone in 4 (10.16 cm) and 12 inch (30.48 cm) widths.
Prefinished pine is increasing in popularity because it comes with a brilliant finish and ready for installation. It is available in Southern yellow pine, vertical grain, heart pine, and cabin heart pine. Prefinished Ssouthern yellow pine is sold in 4 (10.16 cm) and 6 inch (15.24 cm) widths with a natural or honey finish. Vertical grain pine is sold in 4 inch widths (10.16 cm) only, with a natural finish. Heart pine, and cabin heart pine, are sold in 4 (10.16 cm) and 6 inch (15.24 cm) widths, with a natural finish.