
Distressed wood flooring is a technique of adding an antique or weathered appearance to new floorboards. Before the advent of machines built to manufacture floorboards, timber for floors was cut in old-fashioned sawmills and water mills and prepared for installation by hand, giving the wood a particular appearance.
Which Wood is best for flooring?
Popular Types of Hardwood Flooring
- Hickory. Harder than oak, ash and maple.
- Oak. Hardness varies by subspecies.
- Ash. Similar hardness to white oak.
- Maple
- Cherry
- Ebony
- Bamboo. If you’re struggling with hardwood vs. laminate or engineered wood, talk to a flooring professional who can advise you on the best options for your particular circumstances.
What wood flooring is best?
the hardness of the wood – for example red oak, which is the most popular choice in the US is also very hard and resists dents very well; whilst pine tends to be very soft and unforgiving over time under heavy traffic, which might not be so bad for you if you like the lived-in, distressed look.
How to distressed painted wood floors for a vintage look?
Top-Coating, Distressing and Preserving Your Floor
- Plan how much contrast you want between base and top coat colors on your floor. Subtle streaks may be enough.
- Apply a coat of your second latex color choice once the first color coat has dried completely, for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.
- Use your wet rags to wipe some of the top coat away from the seams between floor boards. ...
How to maintain unfinished wood flooring?
- When mopping hardwood floors, make sure to wring most of the water out of the mop so it’s damp and not sopping wet. ...
- Avoid leaving any standing water on the floor, which can damage the wood. ...
- You can also use a spray-and-mop product or disposable wet pads that are safe for hardwood floors.

Is distressed wood durable?
Love the look of distressed hardwood floors? Go for it! They're durable, versatile, beautiful, and cost-effective. They bring a lived-in coziness to a room and add a layer of texture and interest to your décor.
How do you get a distressed hardwood floor?
2:133:50Distressing Hardwood Floors - DIY Hand Scraping - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is better than going to a shrink a chain a paint scraper a file or a crowbar. Anything that canMoreThis is better than going to a shrink a chain a paint scraper a file or a crowbar. Anything that can gouge and scrape will do the job just fine.
Can distressed wood floors be refinished?
Sometimes even the most distressed hardwood floors get a little too… distressed. The same is true with hand scraped wood flooring. Scrapes and scuffs can fit right into the distressed scheme but when the damage goes too far, it's time to refinish and by the way, yes, you can refinish hand scraped hardwood flooring.
What is hand distressed wood floors?
While handscraped flooring does have an aged look, distressed wood floors are purposely made to look like they have been through a lot of wear and tear. Scrapes, burns, knots, wormholes and more, give distressed flooring an aged, antique or reclaimed look.
How do you make wood look distressed without sanding?
Directions on how to distress furniture without using a sander:Step 2 - Milk Paint. Once the chalk paint is dry, it takes about 30 minutes to an hour, it is time to mix up the milk paint. ... Step 3 - Antiquing Glaze. Now it is time to distressed! ... Step 4 - Light Antiquing Wax. ... Step 5 - Dark Antiquing Wax.
How do you make wood look old and distressed?
How to Make New Wood Look OldSTEP 1: SAND YOUR WOOD. Before we begin distressing the wood too much, we want to sand it with 120-180 grit sandpaper. ... STEP 2: DISTRESS THE WOOD USING A WIRE BRUSH. ... STEP 3: ADD MORE DENTS AND DINGS. ... STEP 4: SAND WITH 220-GRIT SANDPAPER. ... STEP 5: WIPE OFF YOUR SURFACE. ... STEP 5: APPLY A FINISH.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?
Generally speaking, it is almost always less expensive to refinish your hardwood floors than to replace them. That's because replacing them involves paying for additional wood, the installation itself, as well as labor costs for tearing up and hauling away the existing hardwood.
What is a distressed wood finish?
In distressing, the object's finish is intentionally destroyed or manipulated to look less than perfect, such as with sandpaper or paint stripper. For example, the artisan often removes some but not all of the paint, leaving proof of several layers of paint speckled over wood grain underneath.
How do I know if my hardwood floors are worth refinishing?
Water Test Pour a spoonful of water onto the floor. If it forms droplets that stay on the surface of the wood, the floor finish is still good. If the water is slowly absorbed into the wood, the finish is worn and needs to be restored.
What type of flooring gives a vintage look?
Handscraped and distressed wood flooring This is the most popular option – wood is scraped by hand or scraping instrument to give and old and vintage look. The purpose of mechanical distressing is to mimic handscrape process.
Are hand scraped floors out of date?
You'll need to refinish most wood floors periodically to increase their longevity and durability, but handscraped hardwood floors typically come with a highly durable finish designed to last for two decades or longer.
What is distressed oak?
Distressed Oak Flooring CloseUp. Distressed flooring is a particular style of flooring that undergoes certain processes to give it more character and to replicate an old, worn feel. Distressed boards tend to come with a textured finish to enhance the grain of the wood.
How do I make my stain look distressed?
The Process For Distressing WoodStep 1: Stain or paint your wood.Step 2: Let it dry, then give it a light sanding. ... Step 3: Dip the tips of your paintbrush into your first distressing paint color. ... Step 4: With a light hand, softly brush your paintbrush on your wood surface going in the direction of the grain.More items...•
How do you paint a distressed look on wood?
0:007:53Top 3 Furniture Distressing Techniques | Country Chic PaintYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can use a damp cloth sandpaper. Or a beeswax bar for the resist method. Follow along for moreMoreYou can use a damp cloth sandpaper. Or a beeswax bar for the resist method. Follow along for more tips on our. Techniques. I'm going to be distressing this chair with sandpaper or a sanding block.
How do you age a new wood floor?
How to Age Hardwood Flooring PlanksWire Brushing. One of the best ways to age a floor is very simple. ... Tannins. You can also age the floor by staining it with natural tannins. ... Paint Thinner. If the floor is painted or stained in some manner, you can apply paint thinner haphazardly to the wood.
How do you distress and paint hardwood floors?
Step 1: Prep. Lightly sand the floors with 150-grit sandpaper, wash them down to get rid of the sawdust, and apply a layer of primer.Step 2: Paint. Use a specialty porch or floor paint and apply a thin first coat. ... Step 3: Wait It Out. ... Step 4: Distress.
What is distressed wood flooring?
Distressed wood flooring is a technique of adding an antique or weathered appearance to new floorboards. Before the advent of machines built to man...
What are the benefits of distressed wood flooring?
Distressed wood flooring gives a floor a warmer texture and a lived-in quality as well as a sense of heritage and craftsmanship. Re-creating the au...
What is wide plank distressed wood flooring?
Wide plank floors like those from Carlisle use floorboards that are much wider and longer than standard commercial flooring. Carlisle wide plank fl...
What’s the difference between distressed wood flooring and reclaimed flooring?
While distressed wood flooring uses special techniques to make new floors look old, reclaimed flooring is made from floorboards that are cut from c...
What types of wood are available in distressed wood flooring?
Any hardwood species can be distressed to give a floor an antique appearance. At Carlisle, our distressing techniques can be used on any type of fl...
Distressed Engineered Hardwood And Vinyl
Italian Coast Engineered Hardwood Flooring is a top notch, high performing solution that is handcrafted for the ultimate in attractive appeal. This distressed wood flooring comes in dynamic and vibrant colors that compliment the flooring’s wood grain, hand stained hickory pattern.
Distressed Wood Look Foam Flooring
Comfort Tile Plus Center Tile is the perfect solution if you are seeking a distressed faux wood product for a tradeshow or event space where there will be heavy foot traffic. This flooring solution is extremely attractive, lightweight and portable, and it is very easy to install without glue or tape.
Greatmats - For The Best Flooring With Distressed Design
Once you review the highlighted products, you may have a hard time deciding which of them is right for your project, room, or space. These products are truly top notch, with numerous features and benefits.
What is distressed wood flooring?
Distressed wood flooring is a technique of adding an antique or weathered appearance to new floorboards. Before the advent of machines built to manufacture floorboards, timber for floors was cut in old-fashioned sawmills and water mills and prepared for installation by hand, giving the wood a particular appearance. Distressing techniques re-create the look of these older timbers by adding saw marks, hand-scraped edges and other forms of aging and weathering that make new floors look decades or centuries old.
What types of wood are available in distressed wood flooring?
At Carlisle, our distressing techniques can be used on any type of floor from Red and White Oak hardwood flooring to Ash wood flooring or Birch hardwood floors.
How many techniques are there for distressed wood flooring?
We offer six techniques for producing distressed wood flooring, including several proprietary techniques you’ll only find at Carlisle.
How wide is a Carlisle plank floor?
Carlisle wide plank floors may use boards as wide as 20” and up to 16’ long, adding a feeling of spaciousness and visual beauty to the room. Carlisle wide plank floors can be distressed with a variety of techniques, including some methods that are exclusive to Carlisle.
What is distressed wood flooring?
Distressed wood flooring is a design for styling hardwood to have an old, worn feeling. Distressed boards have a textured finish to enhance the wood grain. They also have a rustic grade; thus, the floors have cracks, blemishes, natural features, and knots exhibiting a charm and character that is desired by many. The best quality of wood to use for distressing is rustic grade wood. However, that does not mean all rustic floorings are distressed.
What is distressing wood?
The process of distressing involves drawing out a natural variation in the wood. It is done using sandpaper, paint removers, and other materials. However, nowadays, most wood is distressed mechanically. The result should display art and not damage.
How to redeem damaged floor?
A damaged floor can be redeemed by distressing. Proper covering of a damaged floor by evenly distributing distress restores the floor to be as good as new.
What woods are easier to distress?
Some woods are easier to distress; these are bamboos, oak, and pine. Woods such as maple will need more effort and may not give the desired final look.
Is distressing wood irreversible?
Most distressing techniques are irreversible. Therefore, you need to be sure and have a well-planned vision of what you want to accomplish. Also, proper precaution and care should always be observed when distressing wood; pieces of wood and tools can be thrown all over.
Is distressed wood popular?
Distressed wood is becoming quite popular in homes, entertainment joints, and businesses. For you to achieve the charm of creating a distressed wood, artistic skills are vital.
What are Distressed Hardwood Floors?
Distressed hardwood flooring simply means the intentional distressing, brushing and/or scraping of a floor’s surface to create a worn, vintage aesthetic. This can include the sculpting of chatter marks, hand scraping or wire brushing for texture, or adding worm holes or a worn look to a plank’s edges. Distressing can be done by hand, though it is more commonly done by high tech machinery that replicates the uniqueness of an artisan’s hand.
Is distressed wood flooring better than smooth wood?
And with the matte finish that usually accompanies a distressed wood flooring they are much easier to keep clean and will hide dust and dirt better than smooth surface flooring. So if you’re looking for a floor with great character, beauty and ease of care, you’ll want to get “distressed.”.
Why is wood distressed?
Some people consider wood-distressing to be an art form because the process draws out natural variations in the wood. More commonly, though, most wood is mechanically distressed these days. While some people do it themselves with sandpaper, paint remover and other materials and techniques, the job must be done right for the result to look like art, not damage.
What is antiquing on furniture?
More common for furniture than flooring, antiquing involves applying a layer of varnish or historical paint colors to the wood. In some cases, the contractor will use glaze to blend colors in a wash that looks as if it happened with age.
Does distressed wood floor add warmth?
Oddly enough, a distressed wood floor can produce a calming effect. That's because a purposefully pitted and pocked floor, if distressed properly, can add warmth and a sense of authenticity to a room. Not only that, it can reduce the impact of previous damage and hide evidence of future everyday wear and tear.
What is Distressed Hardwood?
Available in a variety of wood species, finishes, and sizes, distressed wood gives off an antique, rustic vibe. Knots, scratches, cracks, and dents are all highlighted on distressed floors once sanded and stained.
Why is distressed wood so expensive?
Distressed flooring made from solid wood is very expensive because it’s so labor-intensive to produce. Often, solid wood is distressed by hand rather than a machine which drives up the cost.
What is engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered floors are built for durability. The top and bottom layers are 100% wood and their hardness depends on the type of wood used. In between the solid wood are layers of tightly packed plywood. This engineering is what makes the boards so durable. When built this way, the boards are resistant to shrinking, swelling, or warping no matter the humidity level. Distressed engineered hardwood can even be used in bathrooms.
Can engineered wood floors be installed over concrete?
Engineered floors can be installed anywhere solid wood can plus other places it can’t. For example, engineered wood floors can be installed in basements or over concrete. They also transfer heat better than solid wood floors, so they can be placed over radiant heat as a floating system.
Is it better to have distressed floors or indestructible floors?
Perhaps the greatest is that they’re fairly indestructible. They are also relatively low maintenance and, depending on the wood and distressing technique, easy to clean.
Can engineered hardwood be refinished?
One of the major downfalls of engineered hardwood is that it can’t be refinished as often as solid wood.
Is it hard to clean hardwood floors?
Cleaning hardwood floors isn’t necessarily hard but extra thought and care are involved, particularly for solid wood. The level of care is dependent on the kind of wood as some are more high maintenance than others.
