Cherry (Black) Wood Flooring

Prunus serotina

Sample is 3/4-by-3 1/8-inch square-edge solid strip.
Top portion is finished with water-base urethane;
bottom with oil-modified polyurethane.

Appearance

Color: Heartwood is light to dark reddish brown, lustrous; sapwood is light brown to pale with a light pinkish tone. Some flooring manufacturers steam lumber to bleed the darker heartwood color into the sapwood, resulting in a more uniform color.
Grain: Fine, frequently wavy, uniform texture. Distinctive flake pattern on true quartersawn surfaces. Texture is satiny, with some gum pockets.
Variations Within Species And Grades: Significant color variation between boards.
 

Properties

Hardness/Janka: 950; 26% softer than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Above average (change coefficient .00248; 33% more stable than red oak).

Durability: Strong, moderately hard; excellent shock resistance. Usually considered too soft for an entire floor - mostly used for borders and accents.
 

Workability

Sawing/Machining: Good machining qualities.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good holding ability.
Finishing: No known problems.
Comments: High in bending strength. Light-sensitive; strong color change upon exposure to light.
 

Cost

(relative to plainsawn select red oak)
Multiplier: 1.7
 

Availability

Limited.