Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring


Architectural Specification Guide to Allwood™ Hardwood and Bamboo Flooring Systems

Introduction to Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring

In the contemporary landscape of building materials, the shift toward health-conscious and biophilic design has placed a renewed emphasis on the authenticity of materials. Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring, headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, serves as a critical resource for architects, interior designers, and facility managers who prioritize material integrity over synthetic alternatives. The brand distinguishes itself by a steadfast commitment to 100% real wood and bamboo products, explicitly rejecting the use of plastics, vinyl, and harmful synthetic additives often found in mass-market resilient flooring.

The core mission of Allwood is built upon the "Allwood Cares" philosophy—a dual-pronged approach that integrates precision manufacturing with social and environmental stewardship. For the specification professional, this translates to a product line that not only meets aesthetic and performance requirements but also aligns with rigorous sustainability benchmarks and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. By focusing on renewable resources and low-emission manufacturing, Allwood provides a flooring solution that supports both the physical longevity of a structure and the well-being of its occupants.

Product Range and Construction Methodologies

Allwood’s product portfolio is strategically categorized to meet the diverse technical demands of commercial, hospitality, and high-end residential projects. The selection encompasses two primary material categories: Hardwood and Bamboo, each available in multiple formats to suit specific subfloor conditions and environmental variables.

Hardwood Collections: Solid and Engineered

The hardwood range includes both solid wood planks and multi-layer engineered systems. Specification professionals can select from a variety of North American and exotic species, including American Walnut, Hickory, White Oak, European Oak, and Acacia. Solid Hardwood offerings provide the traditional longevity and sand-and-finish potential required for heritage-grade residential or low-traffic executive suites. Engineered Hardwood, however, is often the preferred choice for commercial and multi-family specifications due to its superior dimensional stability. These systems feature a genuine hardwood wear layer bonded to a stable core, significantly reducing the risk of cupping or gapping in environments with fluctuating humidity levels.

Bamboo Flooring: The Sustainable Powerhouse

Allwood’s bamboo products represent the pinnacle of rapidly renewable material technology. The brand offers three distinct constructions:

  • Strand Woven Bamboo: Created by compressing bamboo fibers under extreme pressure, this material achieves a Janka hardness rating that often exceeds traditional hardwoods like Oak or Maple. It is an ideal specification for high-traffic corridors, retail spaces, and educational facilities.
  • Vertical and Horizontal Grain: These traditional constructions showcase the natural nodes and linear grain of the bamboo stalk, providing a clean, organic aesthetic for modern and minimalist interiors.
  • Engineered Bamboo: This format combines the aesthetic of bamboo with a high-stability core, suitable for installation over radiant heating systems or in climates where traditional solid bamboo might be less stable.

Design and Aesthetic Impact in Professional Spaces

For interior designers, the visual versatility of Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring products allows for seamless integration across various design movements. The brand’s "Swatchbook" of finishes and textures is curated to reflect both timeless elegance and contemporary trends.

Contemporary Palette and Textures

The collections range from the light, airy tones of Champagne and Avery to the sophisticated, deep hues of Grove and Teton. For projects requiring a modern, industrial, or coastal feel, the Mesa and Astoria lines offer nuanced grey and neutral brown palettes that complement diverse material boards. Allwood utilizes advanced finishing techniques, such as the Fumé process, which reacts with the natural tannins in the wood to create deep, smoky tones that are consistent throughout the wear layer, rather than just on the surface.

Biophilic Design and Human-Centric Environments

As architects increasingly adopt biophilic design principles to improve occupant productivity and reduce stress, the tactile and visual warmth of real wood becomes indispensable. Allwood flooring provides the organic variation—knots, grain swirls, and mineral streaks—that synthetic vinyl flooring (LVT) cannot authentically replicate. This visual authenticity is crucial in hospitality and healthcare settings where creating a sense of comfort and connection to nature is a primary design objective.

Technical Specifications and Sustainability Credentials

Performance and safety are non-negotiable for facility managers and specifiers. Allwood addresses these through rigorous testing and certification processes that ensure their flooring systems meet modern building codes.

Indoor Air Quality and Health

One of the most significant technical advantages of Allwood products is their FloorScore® Certification. This certification ensures that the flooring meets the most stringent indoor air quality standards for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In an industry where "off-gassing" from synthetic adhesives and plastics is a major concern, Allwood’s commitment to real wood and low-VOC finishes provides a safer environment for schools, offices, and residential complexes. This makes Allwood products highly relevant for projects seeking LEED or WELL Building Standard certifications.

Durability and Maintenance

Allwood flooring is engineered for long-term performance. The strand-woven bamboo and high-quality hardwood finishes are designed to resist abrasion and wear in medium-to-high traffic areas. From a facility management perspective, the maintenance requirements are straightforward: regular sweeping and the use of pH-neutral cleaners specifically formulated for wood. Unlike carpet, which traps allergens and requires intensive deep cleaning, or low-quality vinyl that can delaminate, Allwood’s real wood products can often be screened and recoated to extend their service life for decades.

Applications and Professional Use-Case Scenarios

Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring products are suitable for a wide array of professional applications:

  • Commercial Offices: Using engineered European Oak in executive boardrooms and reception areas to project an image of stability and prestige.
  • Hospitality: Deploying strand-woven bamboo in boutique hotel lobbies to withstand heavy foot traffic while maintaining a warm, welcoming aesthetic.
  • Multi-family Residential: Specifying FloorScore certified engineered planks to ensure tenant health and provide a high-value amenity that increases property valuation.
  • Retail: Utilizing the unique grain patterns of Acacia to create branded environments that feel curated and high-end.

Sustainability and the Allwood Cares Initiative

Beyond the technical data, the "Allwood Cares" program provides a unique narrative for sustainable procurement. The brand actively supports social initiatives, including housing solutions for the homeless through partnerships with organizations like Operation Tiny Home and Catholic Charities. For architects and firms that prioritize social equity and community impact in their supply chains, Allwood offers a transparent and mission-driven partnership. Their environmental efforts extend to addressing ecological crises, such as the Western Juniper crisis, ensuring that their sourcing practices contribute to forest health and biodiversity.

Conclusion and Specification Support

Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring represents a sophisticated intersection of design flexibility, technical performance, and ethical manufacturing. For architects, designers, and facility managers, the brand offers more than just a surface covering; it provides a high-quality, specification-ready system that supports the health of both the building and its occupants. By choosing Allwood, professionals can be confident they are specifying a product that is free from harmful plastics, verified for air quality, and backed by a company that prioritizes "doing good" as much as "doing well."

Next Steps for Professionals

To integrate Allwood™ Hardwood & Bamboo Flooring into your next project, specification professionals are encouraged to:

  • Visit the official Allwood website to browse the full product catalog and digital Swatchbook.
  • Review technical data sheets and FloorScore certification documentation for project compliance.
  • Request physical samples to evaluate grain patterns and finish quality in person.
  • Contact an Allwood sales or specification representative to discuss custom requirements or high-volume project pricing.


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