Considering Distressed Wood Flooring? Here's What to Keep in Mind

It's rare that we marvel at the beauty of a historic home without saying, "Ooooh, look at the old floors!" When properly cared for, hardwood floors become more interesting over time, showing off their unique knots, knicks, and streaks of colors enhanced by decades of foot traffic. 

But what if you want to get that tread-upon, rustic look without moving into an 18-century log cabin? Distressed wood flooring involves installing old or synthetically aged boards to give a room that vintage edge without the wait.

Distressing Highlights the Wood's Unique Features

We all love natural hardwood flooring for its individuality. From oak to maple, each slice has its own grain structure, imperfections, and depth of color. As hardwood floorboards age, foot traffic, sunlight, and years of mops, brooms, and cleaners make many of these factors more prominent.

Over time, the edge of each board becomes uneven, the knots from the wood's resin begin to darken, and scratch marks stand out. 

Distressing hardwood floorboard mimics this natural wear-and-tear process while protecting the strength of the floors. In other words, the structure and stability of your floorboards are not in jeopardy; you are only changing the look of the boards' exterior.

How to Get Distressed Wood Floors

You can either purchase hundred-year-old floorboards to build your floor from scratch, request factory-distressed boards, or call in your hardwood flooring pros to perform distressing techniques to your current floors.

Laminate flooring also comes in several distressed varieties made in the factory, but this only mimics the look of aged hardwood. You cannot, for example, use the same process as you would for natural hardwood boards to get the exact effect.

It's Great for Busy Homes

New hardwood floors come with a few common headaches. You're bound to end up with some dents and dings in your new floors if you have a rambunctious golden retriever, a favorite pair of spiky heels, or a living room packed with energetic kids.

Distressed wood flooring is a great solution for high-traffic homes. With the scrapes, dings, and dents already worked in, you're less likely to see any new “stresses” when the dog runs through. If anything, new dents can add to the desired aesthetic. It's a bit like buying a patterned shirt because you know you're going to spill ketchup on it.

Distressed wood floors do require some (manageable) maintenance. You must protect the wood from water damage, warping, or an abundance of impact damage in the same area. Distressed woods are finished and will need to be refinished in about 20 years when it wears down.

Distressing Wood Can Salvage Old Floors

If you're considering refinishing old floors, opting for a distressed look is a great way to get around having to replace your floorboards. Loose or excessively damaged boards will, of course, need to come out, but if only the finish needs salvaging, distressing could be a cost-effective alternative to starting from scratch.

You Have A Wide Range of Finishing Options

Not all wood responds to the distressing process the same way. Harder woods may not dent or soak in finishes as well as softer varieties like pine and oak, for example. Additionally, you have your pick of wood-distressing methods. Designers can use everything from wire brushes to chainlinks to add dents and scratches for a customized appearance.

Homeowners also mix and match wood styles to push the rustic look a bit further. Combine floorboard in one room with a variety of thickness, distressed style, and even the color or variety of the wood itself.

Hand Scraping

Hand scraping is one of the most intensive forms of floor distressing. The name implies that it is typically done by hand; however, you can find machine-scraped boards that mimic this process. Hand scraping breaks down the even surface of each board, bringing out the wood's natural texture.

Wire Brushing

Wire brushing finds the happy middle-ground between hand-scraped and traditional wood floors. Designers use a hard wire brush to add grooves and scratches to each board before adding a finish. The final look is a lightly worn vibe that won’t alter the shape of the board.

Color Streaks

Designers may even add streaks of darker paints and finishes to mimic or bring out the natural wood grain in individual boards.

Edge Variations

You can also play with the edge of each board and how much it varies from spot to spot. Pillowed edges, for example, have a more pronounced look while beveled edges are more subtle. Add a darker finish to the edge of the plank to create a French bleed between each board.

It'll Cost a Bit Extra

Traditionally refinishing floors costs anywhere between $3 and $8 per square foot. Distressing floors require more labor and expertise, so expect the higher end of this range. 

Buying the floorboards separately will cost more than traditional planks as well.  According to HomeAdvisor, buying hand-scraped planks will run you $10 to $20 per square foot while reclaimed hardwood planks are as high as $15 to $30 per square foot.

If you consider that these floors are very durable, easy to clean, and—in the case of reclaimed wood—lower your carbon footprint, the higher price tag could be worth the investment. In the end, chat with your local hardwood floor refinisher for the best route for your home.