Can You Use Regular Pine Boards for Flooring?

Pine Lumber vs. Heart Pine

• Regular pine lumber boards are typically used to build subfloors and house frames based on price, availability and structural strength. Lumber-grade pine is typically cut from tree’s outer parts and is softer than heart pine, so it easily shows nicks and dents. Heart pine is cut from the tree’s center. It is harder than lumber grade and is usually reserved for flooring and woodworking projects where grain and knots are aesthetic factors.

Pine Board Floors

• Low-cost pine boards come in various widths and lengths that are turned into a floor pattern that resembles those from colonial times. Stain, oil or varnish them. Attach them to the floor with nails or glue. They are hooked together with tongue-and-groove styling or simply laid side-by-side. Pine boards easily show dents and gouges, which adds to the rustic finish.

Heart Pine Options

• Consider various factors when buying heart pine for flooring. Antique heart pine is cut from older pine and has a darker hue and finer grain than pine cut from younger trees. If it was salvaged, it usually contains holes and other imperfections. New-growth heart pine cut from farmed trees typically has fewer rings per inch of lumber and less density than older, forest-harvested trees. The deeper the heart pine is cut from the tree, the darker it is. Heart pine is available with no knots, or knots ranging in size from small to large. Knots add interesting designs to floors, but only tight knots are recommended because looser ones break away from the rest of the wood with age.

Points for Consideration

• Both types of pine boards shrink. Choosing types that are thoroughly dried either naturally or by kiln minimizes shrinkage. Pine stained or covered with varnish maintains its original color, while oil-treated pine darkens with age and light exposure. Due to their softness, most pine floors require periodic refinishing maintaining their luster and beauty.