Best Hardwood Flooring for Metro Detroit Homes

Discover how Metro Detroit homeowners trust Al Havner & Sons Hardwood Flooring to select the best wood species for Michigan’s unique climate, from Royal Oak to Dearborn Heights.

Choosing the Right Hardwood for Michigan’s Seasonal Swings

Metro Detroit’s weather can be a hardwood floor’s greatest challenge. From the icy winds off Lake St. Clair to the humid summer nights along the Detroit Riverwalk, your floors face wide temperature and moisture swings. At Al Havner & Sons Hardwood Flooring, we are a 5th-generation family business with decades of expertise in Hardwood Floors and Finishing. We understand that selecting the right species—from solid oak to engineered hickory—sets the stage for floors that remain stable, beautiful, and durable across winter freeze-thaw cycles and summer humidity.

Our Michigan-specialized expertise means we factor in neighborhood microclimates. Whether you’re in Ann Arbor near the Huron River, in Troy’s winding suburbs, or downtown Detroit by Campus Martius Park’s ice rink, we tailor wood choices and finish systems. We’ve completed award-winning installations and offer on-site custom finishing to ensure a flawless look. Plus, our veteran-trained team is on-call for emergency repairs on weekends—perfect for urgent projects in Ferndale or Grosse Pointe Park.

Before diving into species recommendations, remember that proper installation and acclimation are as important as the wood itself. Our installation services include subfloor preparation and moisture testing to prevent cupping or gapping. Next, we handle sanding and staining onsite, delivering a seamless finish that resists Michigan’s humidity swings.

Top Hardwood Species for Michigan Homes

Selecting the right wood starts with understanding hardness, stability, and moisture tolerance. Here are our top five picks for Metro Detroit:

• White Oak: As the North American Hardwood Council’s top recommendation, white oak combines a Janka hardness of 1360 with superior moisture resistance. Ideal for homes in Warren and Sterling Heights, its closed grain minimizes water absorption.
• Red Oak: A classic choice for Royal Oak and Dearborn Heights residences. With a Janka rating of 1290, red oak offers durability and a warm, inviting hue. It performs well under radiant-floor heating systems common in Novi and Rochester Hills.
• Engineered Hickory: Engineered construction makes hickory exceptionally stable against seasonal expansion. Its dramatic color variation works beautifully in Ann Arbor lofts and Farmington Hills country estates.
• Maple: With a clean, light appearance and a hardness of 1450, maple resists scratching in high-traffic Detroit Riverwalk condos and Ferndale bungalows. It adapts well to our low-VOC finish systems.
• Walnut: For homeowners seeking luxury, walnut’s deep chocolate tones and moderate hardness (1010 Janka) shine in dining rooms overlooking Belle Isle. We recommend engineered walnut planks for extra stability.

Other species like ash and Brazilian cherry can work, but require careful acclimation. Our Michigan-specialized expertise ensures every board is seasoned to local humidity levels before installation. Combine species selection with our on-site custom finishing to match your décor—whether it’s a matte finish for Troy’s craftsman homes or a glossy coat for Birmingham’s upscale interiors.

Choosing the right species also unlocks eligibility for our free discount when bundling Installation and Refinishing services. Ask about our emergency & on-call services if you need timely project completion near the Detroit Zoo or at the annual Motor City Winterfest.

Winter Maintenance: Protecting Your Hardwood Floors

Winter in Metro Detroit brings salt, ice, and dry indoor air—three factors that can damage hardwood floors. To preserve beauty and structural integrity through months of flurries and blasts off Lake Huron, follow these essential maintenance steps:

• Use Entryway Rugs and Mats: Place heavy-duty mats at all exterior doors—especially at snow-prone entrances in Grosse Pointe Woods and Bloomfield Township. This prevents grit and salt from scratching the finish.
• Monitor Indoor Humidity: Keep humidity between 35–55%. We recommend using humidifiers near exposed windows in West Bloomfield and Canton homes. Low humidity causes gaps; too much promotes cupping.
• Invest in Quality Floor Finish: Our polyurethane and eco-friendly Rubio Monocoat finishes add a durable barrier against salt stains. We offer screen and coat services in the winter to refresh finish without sanding.
• Trim Pet Nails and Furniture Feet: For families in Ann Arbor and Detroit’s Corktown district, clipping pet nails and adding felt pads under chairs prevents scratches aggravated by winter-dry floors.
• Clean with pH-Neutral Products: Use gentle, wood-specific cleaners to avoid stripping the finish. Avoid water- or oil-based household cleaners that react poorly with our specialized finishes.

Additionally, schedule a professional check-up in late winter. Our veteran-trained technicians can spot minor gaps or finish wear near high-traffic zones like kitchen islands in Troy and entry halls in Dearborn. For urgent needs, our emergency floor repair team is on-call—even weekends—to address cracked boards or loose stairs treads. Contact us for stairs flooring specialists and protect every step from winter damage.

By choosing the right species and partnering with Al Havner & Sons Hardwood Flooring, you ensure your hardwood floors in Metro Detroit stand up to winter’s trials. From the snow-laden rooftops of Royal Oak to the frost-lined riverbanks of Grosse Pointe, trust our award-winning craftsmanship and customer satisfaction guarantee for floors that stay stunning year-round.