Looking to put down about 500 ft^2 of engineered over slab in Ga. (fairly humid area)

Looking for:
Recommendations for wood species that are on the upper end of the hardness scale. Have three kids and anticipate normal kid type abuse.
Love warmer tones (reds) and love a slightly distressed look (which also helps with hiding expected abuse).
Also seems that I should be looking for those with AO or ceramic coatings to help here.

Really like wide planks...and would like 1 strip (vs 2/3 strip).

With this being a fairly small amount of wood, I can spend a little more. The short list of vendors so far is: BR-111, Homerwood, Armstrong, Lauzon, Kahrs, Mirage. Any others I should be considering? Any I should drop off the list?


Thoughts on any of this? Something I'm missing or can't be done?

Biggest question I need to nail down first is what species of wood I need to be looking at. Really like some types, but they're definitely softer unfortunately.

I like to refer people with lots of questions to our sister site. http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com/hardwoodinstaller/

Great site. Actually already been there, done that. Excellent info in a straight-forward format.

Regarding my biggest question though, what types of woods (being that I'm looking at engineered) should I put into my short-list?
Getting this one unknown out of the way (and working with a small manufacturer list) will really help in finding my final choice candidates

Anderson makes some nice engineered, maple and hickory distressed and lightly hand scraped.

Ever consider some mesquite? There's some good small American manufacturers that now offer true native mesquite. Not to be confused with the Brazillian mesquite. Mesquite is way up there on the janka scale.

http://www.texascrazy.com/product/mesqu ... oring.html

wow! I really like the look in those photos on the link.

Happen to have a couple of recommendations for manuf. of this species?

I've only seen a couple true native mesquite enginerred out there so far. It's tough to cut thin enough and you cannot rotary peel it like many manufacturers do.

I did just get some mesquite to makes some sample boards, nice looking stuff; http://www.mesquitewoodproducts.com/about.html

I have heard good things about them and their milling. But they do not offer engineered. However you can glue down the 1/2 inch and finish it yourself if your careful. I just put some Rubio Monocoat on a sample and it's looking mighty fine! Super easy finish to use and all natural.

Thats not a bad price on the first link, comes to about $7.70 or something per sf prefinished. The unfinished solid 1/2 in from the last link is running that much as well. There's a mesquite place just south of me that want $13 a sf and it's not even tongue an grooved!!

Tell Alan I sent you if you could.

Brazilian Cherry might be a good option.