Since Colonial times Heart Pine has been prized as an elegant and durable flooring for American homes. A check on the internet will show that this remains true today. A casual search will turn up many options. All are called “heart pine flooring” but there are very large ranges of quality and cost. Below is a list of some of these differences:
| Red Hills Heart Pine | Reclaimed Heart Pine | Most New Heart Pine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Sustainable natural forest | Old buildings or river recovery | Planted and clear cut |
| Cost | $6-$12/sq' | $12-$25+/sq' | $4-$9/sq' |
| Age of trees | 90-200+ | 90-300 | 50-75 |
| Species | Longleaf | Mostly longleaf but varied | Mostly Loblolly |
| Janka scale hardness | 1225 (Longleaf Heart) | 1225 (Longleaf Heart) | 690 (Loblolly and Shortleaf) |
| Board lengths | 8’ and 12’ | Random (2’ to 12’) | 6'-12' Most Common |
| Widths | 2”-9 1/4” (wider custom jobs) | 3”-9 1/4" Most Common | 3” to 8” Most Common |
| % Heartwood | 80-100% for heart grades | 75-100% Most Common | 20-50% Most Common |
| Knots | Varies by grade | Varies by grade | Varies by grade |