Jamie Sandford was the Owner and Chief Editor of Home Flooring Pros. After 12 years’ experience in screen and stage set construction, followed by a further 15 years working in the home renovation and remodeling business, he now writes and curates online home improvement advice.
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Once you’ve seen Acacia wood flooring the chances are you’ll never forget it. It certainly is unique in appearance and not for those who like uniformity in their flooring, as you can see from the image below.
We think there’s something sensual and luxurious about this wood as opposed to something like low maintenance laminate flooring, but accept that it would only suit certain properties and, even then, should perhaps be used as part of a carefully considered interior design scheme. Read on to find out more about Acacia wood and whether it’s right for you.
Acacia is a term that refers to more than 1,200 varieties of tree and shrub species that are native to Australia and Africa, but are also grown in parts of Asia, the Pacific Islands and North America. These varieties grow in diverse habitats including rainforests, woodlands and coastal dunes. The acacia species used in hardwood flooring are grouped into two categories: small leaf acacia and large leaf acacia.
Acacia is known by several other names, most commonly asian walnut and wattle. It is marked by a wide, open and modulating grain pattern combined with distinctive knots that produce beauty and interest. The wood is also resistant to water, mold and fire (NOTE-fire resistant, not fireproof).
Richly colored acacia wood has many uses including:
Acacia trees and shrubs also provide seeds that are ground into flour rich in fiber and protein, edible gum with antibacterial properties, tannins for tanning, and tinctures and ointments to treat a range of digestive and skin maladies.
Like most wood flooring species, acacia is used in the production of three types of products.
Solid Acacia flooring is 3/4″ (19mm) thick. Plank width ranges from 3” to 5”. Standard and hand scraped acacia flooring is produced in solid wood.
Engineered Acacia flooring is available in 3/8” (10mm) and 1/2″ (12mm) thicknesses with plank widths from 3” to 5”. As with solid flooring, standard and hand scraped engineered acacia are made. Engineered acacia has an engineered plywood base and a solid acacia wood wear layer.
Laminate Acacia flooring features a photographic applique of acacia wood fused to a wood composite base and covered with a clear, protective wear layer. It is made in thicknesses from 1/4” (7mm) to 9/16” (15mm) and a variety of plank lengths.
Several colors are available in all the acacia flooring products. Warranties are as little as 5 years for cheap acacia laminate to 50 years for solid hardwood flooring.
Leading acacia flooring brands and prices include:
There are hardwood flooring pros and cons for all species, and the following list will assist you in comparing acacia to the other hardwood types you’re considering.
Color variety and beauty: The large number of species used for flooring gives you an excellent selection of colors from chocolate brown through rusty reds to off-whites and golden yellows, all with acacia’s distinctive grain patterns and textures. However, note the acacia flooring problems below for more information about color variation.
Options: This flooring is produced in solid, engineered and laminate in a variety of plank widths and detail choices such as popular hand scraped and hand carved finishes.
Durability and wear: Acacia is harder than oak and maple and provides many years of dependable wear before refinishing or replacing is required (see Durability & Hardness below for more details).
Easy maintenance and low costs: Acacia flooring is easily maintained with sweeping or just-damp mopping, so the floor won’t trap allergens and dirt like carpet does, and no special cleaners are required.
Cost: Most acacia flooring is moderately priced which, combined with its durability and low maintenance requirements, produces outstanding cost value over the lifetime of the floor.
Resistance to water and mold: The wood is naturally resistant to moisture and can be installed above and at grade (all types) and below grade (engineered) too
Sustainability and Eco-friendliness: This is a green flooring choice because acacia grows quickly, harvesting is managed in most areas, production requires fewer emissions than many flooring choices and the wood is recyclable and reusable.
Versatile installation: Installation options vary by manufacturer and product but include nailing, gluing and floating the material.
Short plank lengths: Because acacia plants used in flooring are usually shrubs or short trees, long planks are not possible.
Knots, stains, variations and defects: While you might enjoy the rustic and varied character of acacia, some prefer wood flooring that is “cleaner” and more consistent. Because it is so distinctive, it is also therefore a very personal choice which will not appeal to everyone – so it could be a negative factor when/if you come to sell your home.
Possible shrinkage: Acacia flooring problems occur when the wood hasn’t been properly kiln dried and in very dry homes.
Expense: This is a pro and a con because acacia costs less than many exotic wood species but is still costlier than most carpet and sheet vinyl flooring.
One of the reasons to consider acacia hardwood flooring is its hardness. The Janka Hardness Rating for small leaf acacia is 2220 and for large leaf acacia is 1700, so the wood is harder than popular species like hard maple (1450), white oak (1360) and red oak (1290), though not as hard as exotic woods such as African cedar (2600) and Brazilian walnut/ipe (3670).
The hardness of acacia wood offers two significant benefits. First, it wears well, so is very durable. With proper care, solid acacia hardwood flooring will last 50-100 years depending on its thickness. It can be refinished multiple times over its lifetime and look like new each time.
Secondly, acacia’s hardness makes it less susceptible than softer woods to dents, gouges, scratches and other damage. It is a good choice for families with pets, active kids and their toys and anywhere very heavy furniture will be used. Acacia is popular in commercial settings, though warranties are shorter than when used in residential application.
We’ve mentioned potential acacia flooring problems that you should consider before selecting it for your home or business. Here are more details.
The first three acacia floor problems might not be a concern to you. The thousands of homeowners that have made acacia a trending home flooring material view them as part of the uniquely appealing appearance of this beautiful wood. The final issue with acacia flooring is overcome with the solutions provided. In short, if you love its rich and varied beauty, the potential acacia problems shouldn’t stop you from putting it on your short list of possible flooring materials.
You will find a selection of acacia plank flooring at the big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s, however the flooring will be engineered hardwood with a thin veneer of acacia rather than solid acacia planks.
We have seen a nice selection of solid acacia wood planks at Floor & Decor and also at Wayfair.
You can also take a look at specialist online flooring stores like Hardwood Bargains and Unique Wood Floors; of course you should also enquire at your local flooring store.
If you’re desperate for the look of acacia wood flooring but either can’t find the material near you or at a price you can afford then don’t despair. There are some great alternatives to consider:
Laminate flooring is a budget friendly and increasingly stylish way to get a wood look floor installed in your home. Big laminate brands like Pergo XP and Quick Step produce laminate with an acacia finish which you can purchase at Lowe’s and Home Depot.
And not to be outdone by laminate, there is a broad range of luxury wood look acacia vinyl plank flooring to consider. Again Home Depot is a low cost retailer selling acacia vinyl by popular brands like Cali and we’ve seen some classy acacia vinyl plank by Nucore. Also, take a look at Mannington Adura Flex who have an acacia LVP.
Homeowners interested in installing an exotic hardwood floor like acacia often consider another Asian hardwood, teak flooring. Let’s take a quick look at the similarities and differences between these two exotic hardwood floors.
Acacia wood is sustainable because it is grown in many regions and is a fast growing tree that can be easily replanted quickly. However, as an exotic wood that has to be transported into the US it doesn’t have the best carbon footprint. Look for acacia wood with sustainable certification for organisations like the FSC and PEFC.
Acacia wood is extremely hard and very dense, making it super durable. Different species of acacia score between 1700 and 2220 on the Janka hardness scale, which measures a woods resistance to denting and wear.
You should clean acacia wood flooring the same way you would clean any hardwood floor. Clear away surface dust and dirt. Use a slightly damp more to clean the surface if necessary and leave to dry. Use a hardwood floor cleaning spray with a microfiber mop to shine your floor.
Acacia wood flooring is NOT waterproof and care should be taken to avoid moisture as you would with any hardwood flooring. Acacia wood has a higher concentration of natural oils within it that does make it more water-resistance than any other species.
Phonetically, acacia is pronounced uh·kay·shuh
You can stain acacia wood, the question is would you want to? Acacia has such a rich and striking appearance naturally that staining your acacia flooring seems unnecessary.
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