Advice

Discover everything you need to know about hand-scraped wood flooring.

Written by: Yarl Christie

Published on: May 23, 2022

What is Handscraped Wood Flooring?

On your search for the perfect floor, you will come across a wide range of finishes. Hand-scraped wood flooring is a luxury style finish that adds extra texture and definition to the surface. Similar to brushed flooring, it boasts a rustic effect that is sure to add charm and character into the home.

Discover everything you need to know about hand-scraped wood flooring and its benefits below.

What is Hand Scraped Wood Flooring?

Hand-scraped finished planks are produced in the same way whether it is engineered wood flooring or solid hardwood flooring. It is simply the finish that is different.

To create the hand-scraped effect, the surface of the wood is brushed by hand. This scrapes away the top layer of wood, revealing the harsher grains underneath for a rustic effect. As the wood is scraped away, it leaves behind dents, splits, and curves in the surface. This produces an authentic, natural appearance.

Hand Scraped Solid Wood Flooring by Stories Flooring

The handscraped effect has been used as far back as the 1600s. To complete the finish, the floors are coated with oil or lacquer. This helps to protect the surface from wear and tear, enhancing its durability.

Benefits of Hand-scraped Wood Flooring

There are plenty of benefits that hand-scraped wood flooring provides. These include:

  • Striking, luxurious designs
  • Flaws are well hidden
  • Easy maintenance

Most wood floors today come with a traditional look. The hand scraped effect is quite rare, which gives it a more exclusive and luxurious feel. There are plenty of designs to choose from, ensuring you can find something to perfectly match your interior.

Oak Hand Scraped Tongue and Groove Wood Flooring in a Living Room

As the surface features striking imperfections in the wood, it ensures flaws are much harder to see. If the floor does get scratched for example, it will be more difficult to see the scratches than it would on a traditional wood floor. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all scratches will be invisible to the naked eye. You should still take care to maintain the floor and keep it in new condition.

Where Can Handscraped Flooring be Installed?

Hand-scraped wood floors can be installed in the lounge, dining room, home office, or bedroom. Depending upon whether you choose an engineered or solid wood floor, you can also potentially install these floors in the kitchen.

Never install hand scraped wood floors in the bathroom as they will warp and become damaged due to excessive levels of moisture.

Downsides to Hand Scraped Wood Flooring

The only real downside to watch out for with hand-scraped wood flooring, is that it can’t be sanded down and refinished. If a plank becomes damaged, it will need to be completely replaced. You cannot recreate the handscraped effect yourself. This means that unlike some other finishes, you may need to replace the floor on a more frequent basis.

Golden Acacia Hand Scraped Hardwood Floor

Overall, hand-scraped wood floors are a luxurious and striking choice for the home. They produce a rustic effect that adds a ton of character into your living space. Take a look at our engineered wood handscraped floors and hand-scraped solid wood flooring and save up to 65% off top brands.

About The Author

Yarl Christie

Yarl is the Managing Director of Stories Flooring. started his career in the flooring industry by becoming a floor fitter at the age of 18 (2004). Yarl finally decided to move with the times and set up an online flooring store (Flooring Yorkshire, 2018). He works closely with the business managers and resource team to source new products from wholesalers, which in turn brings down the sale price. This enables Stories Flooring to be one of the leading UK flooring retailers.