Brushed finishes are produced with a rotary steel wire brush that goes over the surface of the wood. This process removes grains and leaves the upper surface with a textured finish. When wooden floors are brushed it gives a textured finish to the wood. The depth of the texture can vary from light to heavy. Light means a small amount of texture and heavy means deeper texture that will be more obvious. There are things you should consider other than the way they look when you’re thinking about textured hardwood flooring.
PROS OF TEXTURED HARDWOOD FLOORING
The distressed and rustic look of textured boards can make your home feel more traditional. Some people don’t like the plastic, shiny feel of some of these lacquered floors and may opt for boards brushed with oil to avoid this look. You can have the best of both worlds by choosing boards that are lightly sanded and treated with matte oil. They will still look authentic, minus the textured finish. These floors are great at hiding scratches and damage that can occur with hardwood floors because they will blend in with a finish that is already rough. Textured floors can also have a tactile feel and grip on the surface. The surface of wire-brushed wood floors becomes stronger when the softer wood is removed, exposing the hardwood. Once the softer wood is removed, wire-brushed floors can withstand more wear and tear because they are harder. Homes with kids, pets, and lots of foot traffic are ideal for wire-brushed flooring because new scratches will blend right in!
CONS OF TEXTURED HARDWOOD FLOORS
Textured wood floors can be more difficult to clean because the textured grain collects dirt and grime more easily. It will be harder to wipe spills up than it would be on smooth boards. Smooth doesn’t necessarily mean floors that are shiny and plastic-looking. Smooth means finely sanded and smooth to the touch. Another downfall to wire brushed hardwood floors is the sanding aspect. If you were to sand a particular area or room there will be an inconsistency of the texture throughout the home that can look unsightly. If boards are sanded too much it can wear down too much of the wood and it won’t last as long. Many will argue that sanding these boards would rarely happen because they are designed to look rough and beaten and the scuffs and scraps that the floor will experience only add to its character. Other than trying to get an authentic look, these manufactured finishes can look unnatural if they aren’t done correctly. You will need to keep in mind that a small sample of wood can be hard to use as a guide. See the largest section of the wood you’re considering as possible to get the best idea of how it will look. Many textured boards can be very inconsistent with small samples and aren’t really the best way to demonstrate how it will actually look.
