Fashion Meets Function in Classic Style.

It’s funky. It’s chic. And it’s at home in any décor. Match the symmetry of classic herringbone with the unique color and grain of exotic hardwood.

A design effect emerges that’s guaranteed to stand the test of time, regardless of the next home fashion trend.

Rooted in ancient origins, the herringbone pattern dates back to Egyptian and African cultures where it was used to fashion decorative jewelry and basketry. The distinctive zig-zag pattern consists of short, slanted parallel lines, the direction of which alternates row-by-row.

In the States, herringbone hardwood flooring became popular during the 19th Century. Reserved for the wealthy classes, herringbone was often used in formal living and dining rooms, libraries and foyers. The installation was costly and labor intensive, requiring extensive custom milling.

Today, a host of flooring manufacturers is offering classic herringbone flooring that is factory prefinished, precision milled in fixed board lengths, and packaged with an equal mix of “left” and “right” boards. Custom milling and special tools are no longer needed for the installation, making it easier than ever to create the look of authentic herringbone hardwood flooring.

BR-111 Exotic Hardwood Flooring has answered consumer demand for easy-to-install designer flooring options, recently adding herringbone to its Indusparquet 5/16" Prefinished Solid line. The product is prefinished with crystal-clear aluminum oxide for added durability and is available in a variety of exciting South American wood species, ranging from Brazilian Cherry, Santos Mahogany and Amendoim to Brazilian Hickory, Macchiato Pecan and Tigerwood.

Exotic hardwood, with its unique grain patterns and natural color variation, brings a whole new dimension to herringbone, making the symmetrical pattern even more geometric and interesting. Use in traditional or contemporary décor and watch your floors come alive!

Limited only by your imagination, herringbone offers a wide variety of design options.

Install wall-to-wall throughout a room, or for a more custom touch, consider including a 12- to 18-inch perimeter border using a contrasting species or color. Herringbone can even be used as a decorative insert in foyers and dining rooms.

When shopping herringbone flooring, board thickness and product construction are important considerations. For example, 3/4" solid flooring is recommended for installation on or above grade and should be nailed down to 3/4" subfloors. Thinner solids, like the Indusparquet 5/16" herringbone, may be stapled to wood subfloors or glued down to concrete slabs as long as the installation is on or above grade. Engineered products can be stapled or glued down to subfloors on any level of your home, including below-grade basements.

With the advent of ever-improving manufacturing technology, herringbone has re-emerged as an affordable designer flooring option. Try adding an exotic species to the mix and create a work of art destined to remain a classic throughout the 21st century.