Eucalyptus Hardwood Flooring

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About Eucalyptus Flooring

Eucalyptus trees have been used for centuries in everything from building materials to cough drops, and, of course, their leaves are the only thing a koala will eat. The trees are second only to American coastal redwoods in height, and they grow extremely fast. Most species will reach maturity in only 14 years, which means the harvest of these trees never threatens their overall existence. Eucalyptus hardwood flooring is similarly hard as Acacia and is available not only in multiple subvarities but also in two distinct groups: engineered and solid. The solid varieties, sometimes called strand Eucalyptus flooring, consist of solid blocks of intricately woven fibers that are squeezed together using a combination of intense heat, crushing pressure and super-sticky adhesive. They're three times harder than engineered Eucalyptus flooring and are among the absolute hardest of all woods. Australian Aborigines make didgeridoos from solid eucalyptus, although the wood is so hard that it cannot be hollowed out. The musicians must rely on termites to do the job.

In color, Eucalyptus flooring, whether engineered or solid, ranges from near-white to deep chocolate, which is almost as black as an overcast night in the Outback. All available types of Eucalyptus hardwood flooring are hand-scraped. The Natural Strand-woven Eucalyptus actually has its ultra-protective nine layers of aluminum oxide applied over bare wood, which lends an irresistible rustic quality to its extremely remarkable durability. Some varieties have a reddish tinge, such as the Cognac, and will mix well with other hardwoods of the same ilk, such as Acacia, Marmot Russian Elm or Gunstock Red Oak. These hardwoods, especially the strand Eucalyptus flooring options, all have multiple patterns to their grains, making them easily matched. That means, in combination, the hardest selections would be for high-traffic areas, and the not-quite-so-hard varieties would be well-suited for side rooms.

Both engineered and solid Eucalyptus hardwoods are cut in 4-foot-long planks that are either five or 5.5 inches wide. The engineered versions have a 0.0787-inch-thick wear layer, while the solid options are 1/2-inch thick. Both types are also extremely resistant to liquid spills because of the aluminum oxide finish. The engineered hardwoods are able to float without adhesive above the subfloor using tongue-and-groove connectors, but the solid varieties, despite having similar connectors, must be glued or nailed down.

Cleaning and caring for Eucalyptus hardwood flooring couldn't be easier. Generally, such hardwoods should be dusted or swept daily and cleaned with either a 90 percent/10 percent mixture of water and glass cleaner or a commercially available cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors. A hardwood floor should never remain wet for longer than necessary to get it clean. Deep cleansing should be done once or twice a year, usually in the beginning of spring and the end of autumn. If hardwood floors are properly maintained, they'll almost never need sanding and refinishing. Any spots that remain after normal cleaning can be touched up with fine steel wool, small-grain sandpaper and a quantity of polyurethane to reseal the finish. After resealing, the shine can be restored with a soft buffing cloth.

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