What is the difference between sapwood and heart wood?
Heart wood is the centermost portion of the tree, and is the part that “died off” as the tree grew. It is harder than the sapwood, and because it is not actively carrying nutrients it is more dimensionally stable when the wood is cut into flooring planks. Sapwood is the living outer portion of the tree just under the bark. It is generally lighter in color and softer than the heart wood due to the continued work of the sapwood in carrying water from the roots to the leaves. In our flooring, the percentage of heart wood & sapwood can vary – be sure to check out our grade specifications to see how much of each you will see in your floor.
