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Mahogany Wood Floors Anyone?

kitchenkrazed09

13 years ago

I'm trying to decide what type of wood flooring to install in my kitchen/family room. I love dark wood floors. Does anyone have experience with mahogany as flooring? Would love photos if you have them. Santos Mahogany is rated 2200 on the Janka scale. Brazilian Cherry has been a strong contender, but I think it's a little too red for the look I'm trying to achieve. I would probably stain it a dark mahogany color. I considered staining White Oak a dark color, but was just never crazy about the grain of oak. Also, I'm worried about the upkeep of a dark wood floor and thought maybe if I install mahogany and don't stain it (only clear polyurethane), it will naturally age to a darker color but be a breeze to maintain. (I can dream, can't I?) Thanks in advance!

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Comments (7)

riverspots
13 years ago
Unless it's been neglected, the wear on most wood floors is in the finish which will happen no matter what species wood is used. Much more environmentally conscious to go with a non-exotic wood, too. The exotics can also be a pain to saw, drill, etc. and may be prone to splitting because of their hardness. Try quartersawn oak or ash instead.
cpartist
13 years ago
I'm using ipe for my floor.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}
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Could be almost anything. If you're going replace the thin slat florring anyway, then have at it and remove the stuff; you will then reveal what you have beneath it and be able to decide if it is worth restoring. I have done many restorations and there was only one floor that was DOA. Sounds as if your house has had lots of "remuddling" over the years; it's amazing what a DIYer with poor vision can do to nice architecture.
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They are expensive everywhere I looked. Beautiful floors though. The best quality ones I saw were at JG Architectural near Baltimore and Carlisle wood has some beautiful floors in Georgetown. I was mainly looking at wide plank floors and FSC certified woods. Even with that, the prices of the regular stuff was about $6-10/sq.ft. FSC added about $2 to the sq.ft price. I also did not want a microbevel because so many people have complained about dirt getting trapped in there. Good luck!
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We ordered samples of Jatoba, Santos Mahogany, Walnut and Iroko from Devos Woodworking - all end grain. We ended up going with the Jatoba (Brazillian Cherry). It has the hardest rating, an its very pretty. We ALMOST went with Iroko. I liked the way it looked, but just like you said it was lighter in weight. Im not even sure how much that matters. We were also told its similar to teak.
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I was about to suggest the same. These are pine. They are not worth "saving" as a wood-look product. In fact the original attempt at stain is a bad one. Pine doesn't like taking stain. It really really doesn't. As Hallett & Co. suggests, invest in some HIGH QUALITY primer (Zinsser or better) and some decent sanding materials. Make sure you purchase primer that is SPECIFICALLY designed to go over oil based finishes/polyurethane. Paint the trim whatever colour you desire (I suggest white...it is much easier to coordinate than any other colour). Just by doing this ONE thing, you will have updated your home by 40 years. I kid you not.
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tinker_2006
13 years ago
My floors are mahogany, beautiful.. and dark if you like dark cabinets and floors. I'm building new, and WANT cream cabinets and lighter wood, it's just what I love. DH LOVES this look (well, I do too.. I just rather live with cream/white cabinets and lighter wood tones)

These are engineered, pre finished, not terrible expensive and they are nice!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh106/dwood622/Kitchen/IMG_0922.jpg
jaybird
13 years ago
We had random width Phillipine mahogany flooring in our home for YEARS!!!!! It wore like iron and looked beautiful. We have since changed states and have carpeting :^( but I would bet those floors are still beautiful!
kitchenkrazed09
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all the input. Cpartist and tinker, those are gorgeous floors. Are ipe and Brazilian walnut one and the same? Is there a lot of variation in the color from board to board or is it pretty consistent?

Am I correct in thinking that mahogany will turn darker with age, like Brazilian cherry? How does it compare color-wise to Brazilian cherry? I'm thinking the cherry is lighter and has more red in it? I was able to snag an unfinished sample of the cherry, but couldn't locate one for the mahogany. Only pre-finished for that species.
tinker_2006
13 years ago
In the 2 plus years, my color has not darken or changed a bit. Cherry definitely has much more red in it, and can be lighter. My floors are really brown in color, and they are holding up wonderful. I've dropped lots of things on my floors and you would never find the spots. I will say, even though these are not my favorite floors, because I like a lighter, honey color, EVERYONE who comes to our house, the first thing they comment on is the floors.. everyone loves them.

What I do like about them is the finish is more satin, not glosses, shows so much less dirt and any bangs. My floors are roughen up (the word escapes me!!) They do look beautiful with our cherry cabinets, and very rich looking.
kitchenkrazed09
Original Author
13 years ago
Jaybird - Would you happen to have any photos of your old flooring? It sounds beautiful. Thanks!

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