Ash Hardwood Flooring

Growing throughout the Eastern United States, ash belongs to the olive family of trees. The tree ranges in height from 80 to 120 feet, with a diameter of 2 to 5 feet. Its historical uses have been significant, including use as snowshoes during early polar explorations and as an early material for windmills.

Ash is popular in an interesting variety of modern-day roles outside of hardwood flooring, especially in sports, where it is a prime material for baseball bats, hockey sticks, skis, oars and billiard cues. Home interiors often use ash for kitchen cabinets, furniture, and paneling. Ash is also used for food containers, as the wood has no taste. Before modern advances in tennis racquet technology, ash was the preferred choice for making tennis racquets.

Ash sapwoods are light-colored while the heartwoods are light-brown or pale yellow. Generally, the wood is straight-grained and coarse. As a material, ash hardwoods are easy to work with. Ash stains well, machines well, dries easily, and is resistant. It lends itself to easy nailing, screwing, gluing and staining, has great shock resistance, and is good for steam bending.

Browse All Species