Best Hardwood Species for Rhode Island Homes
By Jayson Matias · Owner, Independent Wood Flooring · 6 min read
After 30+ years installing and refinishing floors across Rhode Island, I've worked with just about every species. Here's my honest take on what performs best in RI homes and why.
Rhode Island's climate — humid summers, cold dry winters — puts real demands on wood floors. Humidity swings cause expansion and contraction, so species stability matters. So does hardness, especially in busy households.
Red Oak
Most Common in RIRed oak is by far the most common hardwood species in Rhode Island homes — especially in houses built before 1990. It has a warm, open grain pattern with slight pink/red tones and takes stain very well. It's widely available, affordable, and there's a huge amount of existing red oak in RI homes that gets refinished every year.
White Oak
Most Popular New InstallWhite oak has become the most requested species for new installations in the past 5–10 years. It's slightly harder than red oak, has tighter grain, and takes gray and cool-toned stains beautifully — which is exactly what's trending in RI home design. If you're renovating and want a modern look, white oak is almost always the answer.
Maple
Maple is one of the hardest domestic species — great for high-traffic areas. It has a tight, fine grain with a very light, creamy color. The trade-off: because it's so dense, it's harder to stain evenly. It's best left natural or with a light stain. Works beautifully in contemporary homes and is very popular in kitchens.
Pine
Pine is common in older Rhode Island homes — Colonial, Federal, and Victorian-era properties frequently have original wide-plank pine floors. It's soft (scratches more easily), but it develops a beautiful patina over decades. Refinishing original pine is one of our favorite projects. For new installations, we rarely recommend pine unless the client specifically wants that character.
Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba)
Brazilian cherry is one of the hardest and most visually striking species available. It starts as a salmon/orange color and deepens to a rich reddish-brown with sun exposure. It's challenging to work with — extremely hard, difficult to sand, and has limited availability and higher pricing. We install it, but we're upfront about the complexity and scheduling requirements.
My Recommendation for Most RI Homeowners
If you're refinishing existing floors — work with what you have. If you're installing new and want something timeless: white oak. If you're on a tighter budget: red oak. If you want maximum durability in a high-traffic area: maple. We'll walk you through the options for your specific home and goals.
Not Sure Which Species to Choose?
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