Wide Plank Hardwood: Aesthetic Impact vs. Dimensional Stability in WNY
In the world of Western New York interior design, the trend toward wide-plank hardwood is stronger than ever. Homeowners in Williamsville and Orchard Park are moving away from traditional 2.25-inch strips in favor of 5-inch, 7-inch, or even 9-inch wide planks. The aesthetic impact is undeniable; wide planks create a sense of scale, luxury, and historical continuity that can make a modern home feel like a timeless estate. However, in our region, where the humidity swings from bone-dry winters to sweltering, humid summers, the choice of plank width brings up an important technical consideration: dimensional stability. At Custom Carpet Centers, we want our clients to enjoy the beauty of wide planks without the common pitfalls of wood movement.
The primary appeal of wide planks is their ability to simplify a room. By covering more surface area with each board, you reduce the number of “visual interruptions” or seams on the floor.
Showcasing the Wood’s Natural Story
Wide planks allow the natural character of the wood—the knots, the mineral streaks, and the sweeping cathedral grain patterns—to be seen in their full glory. In a large, open-concept living area in a new Niagara Falls build, wide planks provide a grounded, organic foundation that narrow boards simply cannot match. They evoke the “old-world” charm of early American homes where floorboards were cut from massive, old-growth timber, creating a high-end, custom look that immediately increases property value.
Scaling for the Room
Wide planks have the unique ability to make a large room feel more proportionate and a small room feel more expansive. By reducing the “busyness” of the floor, the eye is allowed to travel across the wood grain without distraction. This creates a serene, high-end aesthetic that is the hallmark of modern transitional and farmhouse-style homes throughout the Buffalo area.
Why Engineering Matters
The wider a piece of solid wood is, the more it will react to moisture. In Western New York, a solid 7-inch oak plank might “cup” in the summer as it absorbs humidity and “gap” in the winter as it dries out. This is where modern flooring technology saves the day.
The Superiority of Engineered Hardwood
To achieve the wide-plank look in WNY, we almost always recommend an engineered construction. Engineered hardwood consists of a real wood veneer atop a multi-ply, cross-grain core. This structure makes the plank significantly more stable than solid wood. It resists the urge to move when the humidity shifts, ensuring your wide-plank floor stays flat and beautiful year-round. At Custom Carpet Centers, we source wide-plank engineered products with thick “wear layers” that can be refinished in the future, giving you the best of both worlds: stability and longevity.
Navigating the Wide Plank Trend
Mastering the balance between sweeping visual beauty and the technical demands of our local climate is what we do best, and we are here to ensure your transition to wide-plank luxury is a seamless one. Trust our 50 years of WNY experience to guide you toward the hardwood solutions that look grand today and remain perfectly stable for a lifetime. Contact us or Visit us at our showroom locations in Orchard Park, NY – Williamsville, NY – Tonawanda, NY – Niagara Falls, NY – Olean, NY (Shop at Home) – Jamestown, NY. We service the areas of Custom Carpet Centers has become the Number One floor covering dealer in the WNY area. We have three distinct divisions: retail/residential, commercial/contract and new home builder, each specializing in the very specific needs of those specific customers. Our areas of expertise include Carpet, Hardwood Flooring, Laminate Flooring, Luxury Vinyl Plank/Luxury Vinyl Tile, Waterproof Flooring and Resilient Flooring. For over 50 years, we have continued to maintain a strict policy that we will never sell seconds or off goods to any of our customers.