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Cottonwood
Wood Flooring Species
Scientific Name:
Populus balsamifera
Other Names and Species:
Balm
Balsam Poplar
Boreal
California Poplar
Tacamahac
Origin:
Northern United States and Canada
Appearance:
The sapwood of cottonwood is white to faint yellow, while the heartwood is grayish-white to light brown in color. The species has a figured, straight grain and is uniform and somewhat coarse in texture. The wood’s figure becomes more pronounced with staining.
Properties:
Cottonwood is not overly durable in its exposed form with regards to decay. It is not the best choice in such high-risk situations. The wood is reported to have no odor. Cottonwood can be somewhat difficult to dry properly but does so fairly quickly.
Janka Hardness: 1023
As a flooring option, cottonwood is somewhat softer of a wood. It is slightly harder than black walnut, roughly eighty percent as hard as red oak, about seventy-five percent as hard as white oak, and about seventy-nine percent as hard as ash.
Workability:
Cottonwood cuts rather easily and cleanly. It glues easily and nails without splitting being reported. This species is generally dificult to sand.
Principal Uses:
Cottonwood’s uses include furniture, veneers, and violins.
