Mahogany Hardwood Floors

The smooth finish and lovely colors of mahogany hardwood floors will make anyone fall in love with this exotic solid wood. The deep and rich brown-red color adds a touch of timelessness to any room. Besides its visual appeal, the wood is incredibly durable and functional.

If you have been thinking of installing mahogany hardwood floors, then look no further. Here is your complete guide to this wood so you can make an informed decision.

Is Mahogany a Good Wood for Flooring?

Mahogany is a good option for flooring because it is one of the most stable hardwood you will find out there. That means it will not shrink or swell and it is incredibly strong. This wood also has excellent rot-resistance property and with proper sealing, it can be used for decking, outdoor furniture, building boats, etc. These properties make mahogany one of the most long-lasting woods out there.

It is used for flooring in many commercial and residential properties because it adds a modern finish with a touch of timelessness. If you are looking for a high-quality hardwood flooring option that lasts, then mahogany is one of the best choices for you.

What Nailer for Mahogany Hardwood Flooring?

Look for the hardwood manufactures recommendation first. Generally, a flooring nail gun with 16-gauge or 18-gauge cleats works best for solid hardwood flooring.

A cleat or flooring nail has an L-shaped head (hence the name L-Cleats) and has a flat body which allows it to penetrate parallel to the grain of the hardwood without causing splits. It also has teeth that provide a strong grip on the plywood subfloor and is less likely to deflect at the end.

Unless recommended by the manufacturer, I prefer cleats over staples since the cleats allow for expansion and contraction of the solid wood according to heat and humidity. The staple which provides a tighter grip works best for engineered wood flooring. You can get 3-in-1 flooring nailers that accept different size cleat nails and staples.

3-in-1 Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler

Valu-Air 3-in-1 Flooring Nailer -Click to See Price

You should avoid using regular brad nailers or pin nailers since the hardwood is very dense and their smooth nail shank and nail-head designs are not ideal. You could use an angled finished nailer, but I suggest you go for a dedicated flooring nail gun.

Mahogany Flooring: Pros and Cons

If you still don’t know what to choose, then here are all the pros and cons of opting for mahogany hardwood flooring.

Pros

Following are some of the major advantages of opting for this flooring:

1. Stable Wood

The strength of wood lies in its stability and hardness. Mahogany is harder than other woods such as pine, oak, and many others. It is at least 70% harder and its grains are denser than most wood out there.

Such hardness means that the mahogany wood is scratch-resistant and water-resistant. In the long-run, this is the most stable and durable flooring option for you.

2. Aesthetic Appearance

We all want our homes and offices to look beautiful. The striped and deep-red look of the wood makes it one of the most timeless options out there. That is one of the top reasons why people opt for mahogany hardwood flowing.

It matches all types of décor and furniture and adds texture to the room. You can match different patterns and designs with the flooring and it will still look timeless. That is why it is one of the best choices for flooring in terms of its visual appeal and aesthetic.

3. Does Not Fade Easy

Mahogany hardwood flooring absorbs all the sunlight. Because of this, it will not fade away easily. Many other hardwoods that are used for flooring don’t have this quality and the sunlight causes wear and tear to the flooring.

Of course, with mahogany floors, you will not face this problem. The flooring will look smooth and fresh for a long time. Sunlight will not cause wear and tear.

4. Easy to Maintain

The best part about mahogany hardwood is that it has very good resistance to wood rot. On solid wood flooring, if you identify the wood decay before it is too late, you could use a sander and refinish it. With engineered wood, you may have to replace it.

Another advantage is the dark color of the wood. Due to this dark color, it does not show dust easily. Your flooring will always look clean and free of dust at all times.

This makes it easy to maintain your hardwood flooring. All you need is some cleaner and water to take care of the wood. You can do this once a week and your wood flooring will be as good as new.

Cons

Here are a few disadvantages of mahogany hardwood flooring:

1. Difficult to Work With

The hardness of the mahogany flooring is a blessing and a curse sometimes. That is because the hardness makes the wood difficult to cut and machine to shapes. Besides that, the installation process of the flooring is also long and tiring.

Of course, this is not a problem for you if you use the right power tool such as a flooring saw or a miter saw with a high-quality circular saw blade. In case you are not comfortable doing it yourselves, then hire professional and experienced specialists to perform this job.

2. Wood Becomes Darker Over Time

Because mahogany photo-reactive, the wood will not fade but it will get dark over time. The process is called photo-oxidation which happens when the wood is exposed to the sun continuously. The process is very slow, but in the end, it can adopt a deep brown color that may not be what you are looking for. The darkness is not a con, but you will have to be smart about choosing the flooring.

If you don’t want the color to get too dark over time, then you have to finish it with UN blockers or you need to opt for light-colored mahogany. The light color will get dark over time and it will give the look of a color you want as it will not get too dark.

Mahogany vs. Oak Flooring

Now that you know the benefits of mahogany wood, let’s compare it to oak wood to decide which the better option is. Here are some things to know about these flooring options:

1. Color Variations

Mahogany can be available in many different colors and hues. The hues range from orange to a deep brown. However, you will notice that medium brown is a constant color in every hue.

On the other hand, we have white oak and red oak. White oak provides earthy colors such as brown and gold. However, red oak provides colors such as brown and red.

2. Grains

Grains add texture to the wood. Mahogany hardwood flooring has striped grains, a uniform texture, and fine grains. Oak comes in white and red varieties.

Red oak is porous. However, white oak has internal rays and streaks that are longer than red oak. The grain patterns vary between these varieties.

3. Workability

If you hire a professional to install the flooring for you, then the workability of mahogany will not be an issue. However, the process will be more time-consuming and messier.

On the other hand, oak has fair workability. This means that it is easy to cut and install. However, the color of the oak might change over time due to wear and tear.

Is Mahogany Hardwood Flooring the Right Choice for You?

Mahogany is a good choice but it may not be the right choice for everyone. That is because we all have our budget, preferences, and aesthetic sense. The right choice for you depends on what you want and how you want your home to look.

Once you have chosen the right flooring for your property, you can get it installed in no time. Of course, you need to remember to maintain it the right way too.