Heartwood is yellowish tan to light reddish brown. Douglas fir has a straight grain. Douglas fir is softer than american cherry. Douglas fir is more stable than oak. Douglas fir darkens when exposed to sunlight. Douglas fir is not a true fir it is actually in the pinaceae family (pine)

Hickory the sapwood is white to cream. Heartwood is tan to dark brown. Hickory has a close grain with moderate grain patterning. Grain can be similar to oak. Hickory is slightly harder than red oak. Hickory is slightly less stability than oak. Hickory is a tough wood and hard to sand. Occasionally pieces of pecan are mixed in with hickory and it is almost impossible to tell the difference.

Red Oak sapwood and heartwood are similar; a medium to light brown with a red tone. The grain is open and coarse. Red oaks’ hardness is the benchmark and the stability average. Red oak is durable. Red oak stains well with strong contrast because of the large pores. Red oak works well for bleached floors. Red oak is available in quarter sawn and rift grain.

White Oak’s sapwood is a cream brown and heartwood is a light brown with gray tinge. The grain is open and coarse. White oak is slightly harder than red oak and average stability. White oak is durable. White oak can have a greenish hue when bleached. White oak is available in quarter sawn and rift grain. Rift and quarter sawing are ways to saw a log to yield a specific grain orientation.

Poplar sapwood is creamy white to tan. The heartwood is brown with hues of green and purple. Poplar has a fine grain and texture. Poplar is softer than red oak. Poplar is less stable than oak. Poplar is a good choice for painted floors. Poplar can be woolly when sanding. The green and purple hues brown with age so the wider range of colors decrease. Poplar floors are fun and great when painted.

The sapwood is tan and the heartwood is dark rich brown to purplish black. Walnut is often steamed to bleed the dark brown into the lighter sap. Walnut has uniform texture. Walnut is softer than red oak. Walnut has excellent stability. Walnut flooring has a richness unmatched in other woods.

Heart pine sapwood is a yellowish brown. The heartwood is orange to warm reddish brown. The wood is resinous. The grain is open and broad. Heart pine is softer than red oak and above average stability. When sanding the paper will tend to clog due to resin. Sanding may be difficult.