Solid Hickory, Cherry and Beech Floors for Short Hills and Summit
Posted October 31, 2026
Our prefinished solid collection offers hickory, cherry, beech and maple in 3/4" boards, clear or character grade, for classic New Jersey homes.
Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to review samples and specifications for your project.
Many homes in Short Hills, Summit and Millburn have traditional strip floors, and owners often want a solid board that feels true to the house. Our prefinished solid hardwood comes in classic American species with factory finishes.
Here is what each species offers and how clear and character grades differ.
Clear Grade or Character Grade
Every floor in this collection is offered in clear and character grades. Clear gives a more uniform surface, while character keeps knots and natural markings. Maple Frost shows the difference well, with soft creamy hues, darker reddish-brown undertones and occasional knots.
All are 3/4" solid boards. Width options include 2 1/4", 3 1/4", 4 1/4", 5 1/4" and 6 1/4", and clear grade lengths are random from 1' to 8'. Narrower widths suit a center hall colonial, and our guide to choosing wood helps frame the decision.
Hickory for Busy Family Homes
Hickory is the species to look at for a house with children, dogs and constant traffic. The Hickory Toasted Acorn page notes it is known for durability and strength, with rich brown tones and contrasting character marks.
Hickory Nut blends tan, reddish and cream hues, and the product page cites hickory's exceptional hardness. Both suit a mudroom, kitchen and family room run as one space, where bold grain helps hide everyday wear. In a house where the back door gets more use than the front, that matters more than any other choice.
Cherry for Warmth and Formality
Cherry suits a dining room, study or formal living room. Cherry Solid Silk has a prefinished silk surface that softens the grain and highlights cherry's warm tones for a clean, consistent look.
Cherry Solid Natural lets the wood's color variation show without added treatment. In a traditional Summit house with paneled rooms, natural cherry sits comfortably beside painted millwork and older furniture. Choose clear grade for a quieter, formal floor, or character grade if you want the natural markings to show through the finish.
Want to compare hickory, cherry and beech samples at home? Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation.
Beech and Maple for Lighter Rooms
For a lighter, Scandinavian-leaning interior, Beech Drift highlights beech's light tones with a fine, straight grain and uniform texture. Beech Drift lists clear grade widths from 2 1/4" up to 8 1/4".
Beech Solid Natural offers a soft, balanced look with smooth grain. Light floors open up a room with limited daylight, and our light versus dark guide explains how they behave with different wall colors. Maple, shown in Maple Frost above, is another light option with a fine, straight grain.
Why Prefinished Solid Makes Sense
A prefinished solid floor arrives with its finish already applied, so the house is not closed for days of sanding and coating. That is useful when you are living in the home during the work or have a firm move-in date.
Solid 3/4" boards can also be refinished in the future, which suits owners who plan to stay for many years. If you would prefer to finish on site, our unfinished floors are an alternative, and a virtual consultation can help you compare both routes.
Quick Answers
Which species are in the prefinished solid collection?
Hickory, cherry, beech, maple, red oak, white oak and walnut, each in clear and character grades.
How thick are these solid floors?
Standard thickness is 3/4".
What widths are available?
Options include 2 1/4", 3 1/4", 4 1/4", 5 1/4" and 6 1/4", with more on some species.
Which species is the most durable here?
The hickory product pages note hickory's exceptional hardness and durability.
Plan Your Floor
Updating a home in Short Hills, Summit or Millburn? We can send solid hardwood samples and review species and widths for each room.
Call (908) 232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Browse our collections: Herringbone, Chevron, Wide Plank, Parquet.
About The Author
Joe Avila has worked in wood flooring for 26 years. He is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS) and teaches NWFA continuing-education courses for architects, designers and flooring professionals. Luxury Wood NYC, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand.
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