Why Choose Wide Plank Wood Flooring?

Wide Plank Wood Flooring in San Francisco

When you think of wide plank wood flooring, you might picture a rustic cabin or a 200-year-old historic home. While it’s true that this style is often found in traditional settings, wide plank floors have evolved into one of the most elegant and contemporary design choices for today’s homes — from San Francisco’s modern penthouses to restored Victorian residences.

As you’ll discover below, there’s far more to wide plank flooring than pine boards fit for an old cabin. “Wide” doesn’t refer to one particular wood species — it simply describes a board width, meaning you can find wide plank flooring in nearly any material: from softwoods and hardwoods to reclaimed, antique, and even exotic species.

Wide plank wood floors aren’t the right fit for every home or every application, but they offer a refined alternative to standard narrow-strip flooring. For those looking to make a visual statement and elevate their interior design, wide plank floors are well worth a closer look.

Just What Is Meant by “Wide Plank”?

In the world of hardwood flooring, the term “wide plank” refers to boards that are typically wider than 3 inches, give or take a quarter inch. Anything narrower generally falls into the “strip flooring” category. Beyond that technical definition, however, wide plank wood flooring carries an added layer of design distinction. Most wide plank floors range from 5 inches to 20 inches in width, giving them a bold, expansive look that adds character and luxury to any space.

It’s within these generous widths that wide plank wood flooring in San Francisco truly stands out — offering a sense of drama, craftsmanship, and visual continuity that narrow strip floors simply can’t replicate.

“Wide” Isn’t Limited — Endless Design Possibilities

One of the greatest advantages of wide plank flooring is its versatility. You’re not confined to a single wood type or aesthetic. Wide planks can be crafted from softwoods like pine or fir, as well as nearly any hardwood species, from classic white oak to rich walnut. They’re also available in reclaimed, antique, and exotic woods, giving San Francisco homeowners and designers an incredible range of options to suit any architectural style — from Victorian restorations in Pacific Heights to modern minimalist homes in Noe Valley.

Reclaimed wood is especially popular for wide planks because it often originates from old-growth timber, prized for its tight grain and natural density — qualities that enhance stability and reduce movement. Meanwhile, exotic hardwoods offer striking color variation and natural beauty that shine even more vividly in wider boards. The result is a floor that’s both timeless and contemporary — a true expression of luxury and craftsmanship that complements San Francisco’s sophisticated interiors.

Are There Any Benefits to Wide Plank Wood Flooring?

If you’re considering new hardwood floors for your home, you may wonder whether wide plank wood flooring offers any advantages over traditional strip flooring. Historically, using wide planks made practical sense — larger, old-growth trees were abundant, and wider boards meant faster installation with fewer cuts. Today, however, the real benefit lies in aesthetic appeal. Wide planks bring a sense of openness, craftsmanship, and understated luxury, making them a sought-after choice in San Francisco’s modern and historic homes alike.

Still, because of their size, wide plank floors behave differently than narrow boards. Understanding how they move and how to control that movement will help you make a more informed decision about whether they’re right for your space.

Controlling Wide Plank "Movement"

Once that’s under your belt there are a few things to be aware of regarding wide plank wood floors. An important one is that wider planks will shrink and swell more than narrow strip flooring for a given set of conditions. This “movement” refers to a wood’s dimensional stability, or the amount that it changes in size based on temperature and humidity. A wide plank wood floor will expand and contract more than its narrower counterpart. Too much swelling can cause cupping, described by the edges of the board lifting, or crowning, where the center of the board bows up. Excessive shrinkage can cause large gaps between individual boards. How do you control this? Let’s count the ways:

• Control the humidity and temperature as best you can: The more you can minimize humidity and temperature fluctuations in your home, the less chance your wide plank floor will have problems. Doing that is easier in climates with more constancy but it’s harder in areas with greater temperature (and corresponding humidity) swings. Air conditioning in the summer and some form of humidification in drier winter months will help.

• Pay attention to the wood’s grain orientation: Choosing a wood with a tighter, denser grain and/or a quarter-sawn or vertical grain orientation (based on the way it’s cut from the log) also helps to minimize swelling and shrinking. Bear in mind that these cuts look different than plain and flat sawn wood, so you’ll want to be sure you’re ok with that. Reclaimed old growth lumber from old buildings or sunken logs is one source of wood with a dense grain structure. New growth wood doesn’t have this tight grain that was product of centuries old virgin growth forests.

• Wood with a predominant vertical grain structure is achieved by how the boards are cut from the log. Flooring made from quartersawn wood has a vertical grain that helps a floor be more stable. Wide boards milled from the center of the log also result in a plank with most of the grain in a vertical position.

• Use an engineered wood: An engineered wood is inherently more stable than solid wood because it’s designed to be that way. Similar to plywood, the grain pattern in each of its multiple layers is oriented at different angles with respect to each other. This helps to “cancel out” some of the swelling and shrinking action on the board as a whole. Engineered wood will still react to changes in humidity but the layered construction minimizes that reaction, and there’s no shortage of engineered wide plank flooring.

• Choose a more stable wood: Finally, choosing a wood that’s more dimensionally stable (less shrinking and swelling) is a plus. Understandably, that decision sometimes takes a back seat to choosing a wood based on its beauty and visual appeal. But if your heart isn’t set on any particular type of wood, it helps to choose a more stable one. As an example, the following table ranks the stability of some wood species based on their dimensional change coefficient. That’s just a fancy name for a number that quantifies how much the wood changes (in this case, in the tangential or ‘width’ direction) in the presence of a humidity change. For these woods listed here, Teak is more stable (will experience less change in size) than Beech for a given set of conditions.

Environmental Impact

One important consideration when choosing wide plank wood flooring in San Francisco is its environmental impact. Many of today’s wide plank floors are made from reclaimed lumber—wood salvaged from old barns, warehouses, and historic structures. This reclaimed material has been rescued from the waste stream and repurposed, giving it new life while preserving the charm and character of its past.

Some of the very wide planks available today come from large beams originally milled from old-growth trees nearly a century ago. By reusing this wood, manufacturers help reduce the demand for new logging and protect existing forests. The result is a sustainable flooring option that blends history, craftsmanship, and eco-conscious design — a perfect fit for San Francisco’s environmentally aware homeowners and designers.

For newly sourced materials, look for wood harvested from FSC-certified forests. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international nonprofit organization that promotes responsible forest management around the world. Products with FSC certification come from sustainably managed forests, ensuring long-term environmental balance and resource renewal. Choosing FSC-certified flooring allows you to enjoy the beauty of hardwood while minimizing your ecological footprint.

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of wide plank wood flooring in San Francisco depends on several key factors: the wood species, whether it’s solid or engineered, and its category—such as antique, reclaimed, or exotic. Generally, pricing starts with the type of wood (which sets the “neighborhood” of cost) and increases as plank width expands. Wider planks require larger, rarer boards, which makes them more expensive to produce and mill.

Pricing for reclaimed and antique flooring is often organized in width-based tiers. For instance, an antique oak floor may have separate price ranges for 3–7 inch, 9–10 inch, and 11–12 inch planks. As width increases, so does price—often by 30% to 125%, depending on the species and supplier.

Pricing for reclaimed and antique flooring is often organized in width-based tiers. For instance, an antique oak floor may have separate price ranges for 3–7 inch, 9–10 inch, and 11–12 inch planks. As width increases, so does price—often by 30% to 125%, depending on the species and supplier.

Typically, engineered wide plank flooring costs less than premium solid wood options while providing added dimensional stability, making it ideal for San Francisco’s variable coastal climate. However, ultra-wide engineered planks (10 inches and above) are less common; most products fall within the 5- to 7-inch range.

Ultimately, investing in wide plank hardwood floors delivers more than aesthetic value — it’s a long-term upgrade that enhances the architectural character, comfort, and resale appeal of your home.