Acacia flooring is one of the lesser reviewed hardwood floor types and I am excited to show you why this is a fantastic choice for your home. Read the entire article or click one of the links below to jump to the section that interests you.
- Get a completely free sample of this hardwood without any obligations.
- A summary infographic of this article if you are short on time
- Where acacia comes from and its impact on our environment
- The appearance of acacia, along with some illustrative photos
- The durability assessment of this type of hardwood floor
- Potential issues to remember when you choose acacia wood floors
- The the full price tag breakdown with absolutely no hidden costs
- A couple reviews on acacia from some real people who have it installed
Where Does Acacia Hardwood Come From?
Acacia trees (used for hardwood flooring) are native to South East Asia and Australia, but can also be found in many other countries around the world. Acacia wood doesn’t have to be harvested from pristine forests either.
According to worldwidewattle, an estimated 2 million hectares of commercial plantations are currently in use (in over 70 countries) to meet the growing demand for this beautiful hardwood species.
Is Acacia Hardwood Flooring Sustainable?
Yes, although they are classified as an exotic hardwood (like teak flooring), they are fast growing trees in their native countries (due to warmer climates) and provided harvesting is controlled (FSC certified, etc.), your choice to install this type of hardwood for your floors will not have an impact.
Additionally, if your acacia is purchased from dedicated plantations (which is very common), their yield is much higher, which means more usable hardwood and as a bonus, they are not touching our forests at all. In fact, I dare say that supporting these businesses is beneficial for our environment (for the most part).
Lastly, one of my readers made a good point that its durability also lends itself to being sustainable. Although this specific topic will be discussed in more detail shortly, it is logical to think that if the hardwood lasts longer, it won’t need to be replaced soon.
What Does Acacia Wood Flooring Look Like?
Although an acacia floor will always have a luxurious brown color, the wood is known for its dynamic display of knots, vibrant hues (red, bronze, blonde, golden, etc.) and frequently swirling grain. It is worth noting that each plank usually has some degree of variance to it, which means your floor will have that too, even in the same room. This is not a problem, however, as the lack of consistency is part of what makes it special.
In saying that, you can definitely shop around and get options that are more attuned to a specific look. I personally love dark hardwood floors, so I would always try to get acacia planks that are primarily darker in appearance. You might prefer a lighter look, which is also perfectly fine. Others choose acacia for the variation, then apply a stain over it to give it a specific tone. I have even heard of a few artistic people who paint a few of the wood planks. In the end, everyone has their own personal taste when it comes to decor and the lovely thing about Acacia flooring is that it gives you a choice of styles.
If you have a look at the example images below, you will note that although there are similarities, each installation of acacia flooring looks unique. Let me know if you want more photos or pictures of this hardwood and I will organize them for the community.
Is Acacia Wood Flooring Durable and Will It Last?
Yes, solid wood acacia is very durable. It scores 1750 on the Janka hardness scale, which makes it a very hard wood that is absolutely perfect for any flooring requirements. Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
Firstly,it offers great resistance to regular foot traffic, meaning it is unlikely to be damaged if you have lots of people walking or running around the home. Although precaution is still recommended, this is great news for parents and pet owners, who might have nightmares about their beautiful, pristine acacia floors being destroyed after a couple months.
Are There Any Long-term Problems with Acacia Flooring?
Yes, but they are not unique to acacia wood. Some issues common to most hardwood floors are:
- It is not immune to heavy impact damage. Yes, acacia wood is stronger than a lot of other types, but if you drop something fairly heavy on your new floor, it will usually leave a small mark at least. This wood floor damage can be repaired but rather proactively avoid it.
- If they experience heavy foot traffic for a number of years, your acacia hardwood will start to lose a little of its previous luster, especially on the finishing product. It isn’t anything to worry about, though, since you can simply refinish the wood floor every 10 years or so, which will bring them back to their former glory.
- You need to keep it clean. Hopefully, you are already in the habit of keeping the house nice and tidy but it is even more important when you have hardwood floors. I am not suggesting that it needs to be a daily ritual but I recommend getting a quality hardwood mop and setting up a regular routine.
- Although I mentioned that acacia is fine if you have pets, please remember that a heavy dog with uncut nails will cause damage over time, no matter what hardwood you use. It is nothing to stress about, simply make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed on a regular basis and you will be fine.
In the end, despite the common problems, acacia solid hardwood flooring will last and it comes highly recommended by Pro Floor Tips.
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Firstly,to get the obvious out the way, the actual acacia floor planks will cost around USD 6-8 per square foot. This price can vary on a per supplier basis, with some online “direct from the factory” stores selling them for as low as $4. Just make sure that you measure out the room and purchase them from a reputable company.
Where Can I Install Acacia Floors?
- Acacia flooring actually suits kitchens very well and is very popular. Just make sure that your oven or dish washer, etc. is not projecting excessive, direct heat or prolonged moisture at your floors and they will stand the test of time, even in this busy area. To put it simply, acacia wood looks great (and is safe to use) pretty much everywhere. Provided you love the look, it adds elegance and class to any home and I am confident you will fall in love with them.
- A lot of people presume that since acacia flooring is resistant to water, that it is completely waterproof. This simply isn’t the case. The natural oils in the wood protect it better than some other hardwood floor types, but I wouldn’t recommend that you go installing it in your bathroom. The continuously high levels of moisture from steam, etc. will cause damage over time so please do not do this.
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Acacia Solid Hardwood Flooring Reviews
Bill Reed
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I recently started cleaning a home that has beautiful Acacia flooring. The homeowner could not remember the particular kind it is. I will tell you it looks like cherry wood. I clean the floor with a product called Glitsa Clean every 2 weeks. The problem is after a few days when you walk on the floor you leave footprints. This floor is mostly walked on by stocking feet or slippers. Please tell me how to stop this from happening.
Thank you
Khalene
Hi Khalene, it is likely that you have a very glossy finish on your Acacia flooring (that cleaner also kinda confirms it lol) and that will bring out every little mark. I know it is not an easy solution to fix, but that is my feedback on your situation. If you had a bit more matt finish, it is unlikely that you will see the marks that much.
Love the very warm gold tones in some acacia floors but not the dark rustic knots. Any other floor you can recommend?
Hi Susan, since it is not directly related to Acacia, I have sent you an email. Please check your inbox for my recommendation (and free samples). Thanks for your comment!
What are your thoughts on acacia solids in dry climates? Colorado Denver metro area specifically. We do use room humidifiers in the winter but don’t have a whole house humidifier.
Hi there, honestly, it should be fine. I don’t work in that kind of environment so you might want a second opinion, but I say go ahead. Cheers!
We are looking to purchase acacia flooring for our new home. I notice big box stores carry more color options. Are there different grades of this flooring? Is it better to purchase from a flooring company or from Lowe’s?
Hi Kimberly, sorry for the delayed response. Yes there are different grades, and many hardwoods (even from the same family) have different hues. The best way forward is to get a couple samples, just click on the link in the blue box (on this page) and add a couple to your basket, it is completely free (no credit card needed).
Hi Bill. I’ve been using Boma wood floor cleaner for our Acacia floors. I use a slightly damp boma mop. It always leaves a dull look. What is your best suggestion for cleaning an acacia floor. The finish on the floor wasn’t super shiny to begin with, but I want it to look clean. It always seems kinda dull. Thanks!
Hi Ginna! Generally speaking, you shouldn’t be putting any water (even damp mops) on an this type of flooring. I recommend using a hardwood floor cleaning product (such as the Bruce range) and a microfiber mop. Simply spray the floor and wipe it up, easy as that. Also, keep up a regular schedule of using the dry microfiber mop even without the cleaner on a weekly basis.
Thanks very much, Bill. My flooring guy suggested the Boma, but it has just never looked right. I’ll try this out this week. I am good about using a dry mop a couple of times a week at least, I have teens who are in and out and really make it dusty. Will look for a microfiber though. Thank you!!
Looking at LWM (LW Mountain) acacia wood flooring (3/4 in, not veneer, hand scraped). Do you have any experience with this companies product? Just want to make sure they are reputable.
Hi Alisha! I will send you a link shortly that you can use to request a free quote from a number of reputable companies.
Mr. Reed
I have always used a steamer on my hardwood flooring. I currently have 5″ white oak finished in place. I am building a new home and I saw the Acadia this past week in a flooring shop. He told me the price for th product was $6.50sf. For solid wood. Is this a good price and would using the steamer be an issue
Hi Pat, yes it is a fairly decent price and RE the steamer, use it and just keep an eye on the situation, should be fine. Hope that helps you.