Blog · Stains & Finishes
Rustic Hickory
We just completed this beautiful 2-1/4 inch hickory project in Woodstock, Ga. The customer selected a natural finish with water based polyurethane.
By David Brannan · Published July 18, 2017 · Updated August 2, 2026 · 3 min read
- 500+ Google Reviews
- Featured on TV Multiple Times
- 25 Years in Business
We just completed this beautiful 2-1/4 inch hickory project in Woodstock, Ga. The customer selected a natural finish with water based polyurethane. Gorgeous floors by The Hardwood Guys of Atlanta. #thehardwoodguys
Why Hickory Stands Out
Hickory is one of the hardest domestic hardwood species we install, which makes it exceptionally resistant to dents and wear from pets and heavy foot traffic. Its defining feature is dramatic natural color variation — a single board can run from pale cream to a deep reddish-brown, which is exactly the rustic, high-character look this Woodstock project was going for.
That same hardness means hickory takes longer under the sander than a softer species, and dark stains can come in less evenly without careful prep, since the grain is tighter in some boards than others. We always run a test patch on hickory before committing to a stain color for a full room.
If you like the character-grade look but want a lighter maintenance schedule, ask us about how hickory compares to red oak and white oak for your specific home and traffic patterns.
Want to See These Finishes on Your Own Floor?
We bring real stain and finish samples to every free estimate, so you can see the look before committing to it.
Finishing and Caring for a Hickory Floor
We run a Hyper Grinder HG planetary sander on hickory the same way we do on any other species — multiple counter-rotating discs cut in several directions at once instead of digging in along one line, which matters even more on a hard species where an uneven pass is harder to correct afterward. That even cut is also what keeps the edges blended into the field instead of leaving a visible ring around the room.
For finish, a commercial-grade water-based topcoat like Bona Traffic HD holds up well to hickory's job as a heavy-traffic, pet-friendly floor, and it will not amber the natural color variation the way an oil-based polyurethane gradually does. Day-to-day care is the same as any solid hardwood: daily dusting, a weekly damp-mop with a hardwood-safe cleaner, and keeping indoor humidity between 45–65% so the boards do not cup or gap with the seasons.
Because hickory is so dent-resistant, most floors we install in it go many years between a screen-and-recoat, and even then it is usually a same-day service rather than a full sand-and-refinish.
How We Approach Every Species
Whether it is hickory, red oak, white oak, or maple, every project starts the same way: a free, on-site estimate where we look at the existing floor or subfloor in person, bring physical stain and finish samples, and give you a written, itemized number rather than a guess over the phone. After 25 years and more than 50,000 completed jobs across North Metro Atlanta, we have a good sense of how each species holds up over time and which finish pairings actually last.
Financing is available up to $55,000, with interest-free options starting from $30 a month, subject to approval, so a character-grade species like hickory does not have to be out of reach for a larger room or a whole-home project.
Backed by 25 Years of Real Reviews
None of this is guesswork on our end. The Hardwood Guys have completed more than 50,000 jobs across Woodstock and North Metro Atlanta since 2001, earned more than 500 five-star Google reviews along the way, and our work has been featured on TV multiple times. That track record is exactly why we can look at a floor in person and tell you honestly what it needs, rather than guessing from a phone call or a photo.
Every project starts with a free, on-site estimate — no obligation, and a written number before anything begins. Call 470-826-3581 or request an estimate below to get started.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a free on-site estimate — we’ll assess your floors and give you an honest recommendation, not a sales pitch.
Request a Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you with an estimate — usually the same business day.
Thanks — We'll Be In Touch
A member of The Hardwood Guys team will call or text you during business hours (Mon–Fri, 7AM–5PM) to schedule your free on-site estimate.