Wide plank hardwood flooring in Los Angeles

What counts as wide plank

Most homeowners mean boards about 7 inches and wider. In our hardwood catalog, 429 floors are 8 to 10 inches wide and 164 are wider than 10 inches, most of them engineered European and French oak, with walnut, hickory and other species too.

Wider boards mean fewer seams, so large rooms and open plans read as one calm surface. Long lengths matter as much as width: a wide board that is also long looks more relaxed than one cut short.

Engineered is usually the right choice

A wide solid board moves more across its width when humidity changes, which can show up as gaps or cupping. Engineered hardwood has a real wood top layer over a cross-layered core that keeps the board flatter, which is why most wide-plank floors are engineered.

Engineered wide planks can usually be glued down or floated over a concrete slab once moisture testing passes the manufacturer's limits. Look at the wear layer too: a thicker top layer can be sanded and refinished more times over the life of the floor. More on engineered hardwood.

Subfloor, moisture and Los Angeles weather

Wide boards are less forgiving of an uneven subfloor than narrow strips. We check moisture in the slab or wood subfloor and its flatness at the estimate, and grind or level where needed before installation. Dry Santa Ana spells can open small seasonal gaps in any wood floor; an engineered core and acclimation as the manufacturer requires keep that to a minimum.

Read our guide to engineered hardwood over concrete and how we handle subfloor preparation.

Choosing color, grade and finish

Light and natural European white oak is the wide-plank look we are asked about most. A matte or wire-brushed finish hides everyday wear, pet scratches and dust better than a glossy one. Character grades show knots and color variation; cleaner grades read calmer and usually cost more.

Comparing oaks? See European white oak flooring and our European vs. American white oak guide. Want a pattern instead? See herringbone and chevron floors.

What affects the cost of a wide plank floor

The main factors are species, width and length, grade, wear-layer thickness, finish, the installation method, how much subfloor preparation the home needs, and stairs. We do not publish prices because these vary so much from home to home.

Call for pricing or book a free in-home estimate. Materials and installation are quoted together after we measure every room.

To size the job before we visit, use our flooring calculator. Wide planks come in fewer boards per box, so check the square feet per carton on the product page.