What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pecan Flooring?

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Flooring is one of the most basic parts of your home’s build and design. Choosing the right kind of flooring can make or break you’re home’s look, feel, and durability. That’s why more people than ever before are getting picky about the wood they choose for their flooring. Pecan wood is one of the many flooring types available to you, but is it really worth the money you’d pay for it?

Pecan wood is known for its durability and hardness, making it a resilient pick that will look great for years to come. It’s also remarkably cost-effective compared to other hardwoods. However, pecan flooring is prone to warping and can be very difficult to stain. It can be difficult to work with on an aesthetic level.

Getting pecan flooring is one of those decisions that many people tend to think fondly of or regret. Let’s talk about the pros and cons to help you decide if it’s right for you.

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What Is Pecan Flooring?

Have you ever sunk your teeth into a pecan pie? If so, you have an idea of the tree that this wood came from. It’s the same one that makes pecans, naturally. Pecan wood is a member of the hickory wood family. So, it’s a classic staple among American country homes. Pecan flooring is considered to be a hardwood, not a softwood.

You might recognize it as the peachy-golden wood that is used in country kitchens. It’s a staple in many parts of the Midwest and American South, but you can find it almost everywhere.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pecan Flooring?

Curious to find out if you’re going to be sitting pretty in pecan? It’s smart to weigh out the perks, pitfalls, and everything in between if you’re considering this often divisive hardwood.

The Pros Of Pecan Flooring

Pecan flooring is often maligned, but it might not deserve a lot of the hate it gets. These upsides might have you pleading for pecan soon enough:

  • You will have a hard time finding a more affordable hardwood flooring. Compared to many other hardwoods, pecan is dirt cheap. It’s a good way to get hardwood flooring without a traditional hardwood flooring budget.
  • Pecan flooring is exceptionally durable. It works well as a reliable flooring for high traffic areas. If you’re worried about scratches, dents, rot, or discoloration, you need not worry with pecan.
  • It has a naturally pretty look to it. A good slab of pecan will have gorgeous little auburn accents and swirls, giving you a nice subtle flow to your flooring. If you are a fan of rustic looks, then pecan is going to be a natural shoo-in for your home.
  • You can add a wide range of textures to it. You can choose from a natural plank look, flat sanding, and more. It’s one of the easier hardwoods to texturized. It’s awesome like that.
  • Many people find pecan flooring to be timeless. Unlike honey oak, which has a very outdated appeal, pecan can be updated with ease. Just add some equally country-style wood furniture and you’re good to go.

The Pitfalls Of Pecan Flooring

Pecan is great, but it’s not ideal for everyone. Most people will try to avoid it simply because of some of the issues that can arise with pecan:

  • Installation is difficult. Pecan is a member of the hickory family, and that means that it’s one of the hardest woods in America. (It’s got a Janka score over 1800, for reference.) This wood is notoriously difficult to work with, especially when it comes to tearout risk.
  • If you have pecan flooring, then you might as well kiss color staining goodbye. Unfortunately, pecan wood is notoriously bad at taking stains. It will not take to most stains, even if they are fairly similar to the color of the wood itself. Unless you love the color of natural pecan, don’t take it as a flooring option.
  • You can’t install this flooring on your own. Due to the sheer difficulty of this wood’s workability, you should never try to DIY this installation. In some areas, you might actually have to pay extra for flooring installations involving pecan and other hickories.
  • Oh, and if it breaks, it’s a professional job. While you might never actually see this happen, it’s something to keep in mind.
  • Warping is going to be a serious issue. While pecan wood is resistant to many different things (including mold and UV discoloration), warping is one thing that it’s very vulnerable to. This is particularly true if you live in a moisture-rich area or if you installed the flooring quickly.

How Much Does Pecan Flooring Cost?

Most hardwoods are way more expensive than softwoods, but this is not the case with pecan. Pecan flooring is actually one of the cheapest hardwoods on the market. (It’s also the biggest perk for people on a tight budget! Woo #MillennialLife!) Pecan wood currently costs between $5 to $10 per square foot to install, depending on the kind of wood planks you get.

In the recent past, it wasn’t unheard of for people to have pecan flooring for as little as $3 per square foot. However, it’s important to remember that the world is in the middle of a major wood shortage. As a result, wood prices have been fluctuating across the board. What you may be quoted may not be reflected in the prices listed above, simply because shipments are so unpredictable.

Is Pecan Flooring Worth It?

Honestly, it depends on what you want to do with it. Pecan flooring is an excellent choice for people who want a durable hardwood at a softwood price. However, it’s only going to be worth it if you are okay with the particular shade that it has naturally. If you are not okay with the way pecan flooring looks when it’s fresh out of the lumber yard, you’re not going to have a good time with this wood.

Moreover, it’s important to remember that pecan wood has its drawbacks. It is prone to warping, and while it’s durable, you’re pretty much stuck with it. If you’re the type of person who likes to give your home a style overhaul on a regular basis, you might find that pecan’s rosy hue might clash with the new decor you put up. So, be careful if you choose this flooring. It’s only something that you should take in if you want to make it work long-term.

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Related Questions

Is pecan wood a true hickory?

While pecan is still considered to be a part of the hickory family of trees, it is not actually a true hickory tree. Pecans come from hickory trees, but this tree family is spread into two parts: the pecan side and the hickory side. True hickories include the shellbark, shagbark, pignut, and mockernut. All other trees in the hickory family are pecan trees and produce pecan nuts of different types.


What is the hardest wood in North America?

Believe it or not, the hardest wood in North America is not really sold in stores as lumber. It’s the black locust tree, and it is a whopping 40 percent harder than hickory trees. If you want to get the hardest hardwood regularly sold in stores, then you should pick almost any type of true hickory tree you can find. Third up on the list is pecan wood, which is one of the more popular wood types for flooring and deck wood.


Which is more durable, oak or hickory?

Both oak and hickory are considered to be exceptionally hard woods capable of offering excellent durability levels. However, it’s worth noting that hickory is slightly more durable than oak. It’s more resistant to mold and less likely to rot. Hickory woods are also generally harder than woods that are members of the oak family.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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