Somerset Hardwood Flooring built its reputation on a vertically integrated operation that controls every step from forest to finished plank. The company owns timberland in Kentucky and Tennessee, runs its own sawmills, kilns its own lumber, and finishes prefinished planks in the same facility. That control shows up in tight specifications, consistent color matching across production runs, and a hardwood floor that competes credibly with much larger competitors at a value price. Somerset Wood Flooring is one of the most popular Appalachian hardwood brands among independent flooring contractors for exactly these reasons. This guide walks through the product lines, real-world performance, and how Somerset stacks against Mullican, Mohawk, and other mainstream brands.
The Somerset Story
Founded in 1995 in Somerset, Kentucky, the company has stayed independently owned and family-run while many competitors consolidated into larger corporate entities. Production happens primarily in Kentucky, with hardwood sourced from sustainably managed Appalachian forests within a 200-mile radius of the mill.
The brand sells primarily through independent flooring retailers and authorized regional distributors rather than big-box stores. That distribution model keeps Somerset slightly less visible than Mohawk or Bruce but generally produces a better in-store buying experience with knowledgeable staff and easier access to samples and custom orders.
Product Lines
Somerset’s catalog runs across solid and engineered formats in multiple plank widths:
- Solid 3/4″ Strip (2-1/4″): Classic narrow-strip oak, the brand’s value workhorse, $4-$6 per sq ft
- Solid 3/4″ Plank (3″ to 5″): Standard residential plank widths, $5-$8 per sq ft
- Wide Plank Solid (5″ to 7″): Premium width, more visual character, $7-$10 per sq ft
- Engineered Hand-Crafted Collection: Hand-scraped engineered in 5″ widths, $6-$9 per sq ft
- Engineered Wide Plank: 6.5″ and 7.5″ wide engineered planks, $7-$11 per sq ft
- Character Collection: Rustic grade with knots and color variation, $5-$8 per sq ft
Installation adds $3-$6 per square foot depending on method (nail-down vs glue-down vs floating) and complexity.
Species Selection
Somerset cuts a mix of Appalachian hardwoods with white oak and red oak dominating the catalog. Available species include:
White oak — Janka 1360, the most popular choice and the brand’s strongest seller. Red oak — Janka 1290, traditional warm grain, slightly less prestigious than white oak in current design trends. Hickory — Janka 1820, dramatic grain variation, exceptional hardness. Maple — Janka 1450, lighter color, more uniform grain. Walnut — Janka 1010, rich brown tones, softer than oak. Cherry — Janka 950, deepens with age, softer surface.
For pet households or busy families, hickory and white oak are the best Somerset picks. Walnut and cherry suit lower-traffic formal spaces.
Prefinished Finishes
Somerset’s prefinished options use aluminum oxide-fortified urethane finishes with manufacturer-claimed 25-year warranty. Sheen options run from low matte through satin to gloss, with most current production in low-sheen or matte finishes that match the contemporary design preference.
Hand-scraped and wire-brushed surface treatments are available on premium lines. The wire-brushing reveals the softer summerwood between the harder winterwood grain, creating a tactile surface that hides scratches well and reads as authentic vintage hardwood.
Solid Versus Engineered Decisions
Solid Somerset hardwood (3/4 inch) installs by nail-down or staple-down over wood subfloor only. It cannot go over concrete slab and is inappropriate for basements or installations below grade. Solid handles refinishing 5-7 times over a 50-year life.
Engineered Somerset hardwood uses a 3-4 mm hardwood wear layer over a multi-ply hardwood core (typically Baltic birch or similar). Engineered can install via nail, staple, glue-down, or floating click-lock depending on the specific product. Most engineered products handle 1-3 refinishes over a 25-40 year life.
For climates with significant humidity swings (anywhere outside the 35-55 percent RH band), engineered is the safer choice. For climate-controlled homes with stable indoor humidity, solid offers more refinishing potential and slightly better resale appeal.
Subfloor Prep and Installation
Plywood subfloor minimum 5/8 inch, ideally 3/4 inch tongue-and-groove OSB or plywood, with all fasteners countersunk. Subfloor must read within 4 percent moisture content of the hardwood at installation time — measure with a pin moisture meter on multiple boards before opening any boxes.
Acclimate hardwood in the install space for 5-10 days before laying. Stack boards open and crosshatched to allow air movement. The HVAC must be running at the home’s normal year-round temperature and humidity setpoints during acclimation.
Janka Hardness in Real Terms
The Janka hardness test measures pounds of force needed to drive a steel ball halfway into the wood. Higher numbers mean harder wood and more scratch resistance. For Somerset’s primary species in a real-world context:
- Brazilian cherry (Jatoba) – 2350: Extremely scratch-resistant, suits busy active households
- Hickory – 1820: Premium hardness with dramatic grain
- Maple – 1450: Hard but shows dents from point loads
- White oak – 1360: Industry standard, balances appearance and durability
- Red oak – 1290: Slightly softer than white oak
- Walnut – 1010: Soft enough to show wear in active rooms
- Cherry – 950: Soft, develops patina rapidly
Warranty and Support
Somerset offers a 25-year residential structural and finish warranty on most product lines, registered through the dealer at purchase. Coverage requires installation per manufacturer instructions, including subfloor moisture testing and proper acclimation. Document the install with photos and save all receipts and box labels — claim processing requires production batch information that lives on the box.
For service issues, Somerset works through the dealer network rather than direct consumer support, which can be faster or slower than national brands depending on the dealer.
Where Somerset Wins and Where It Doesn’t
Somerset wins on value-to-quality ratio, consistent batch matching across orders, and a knowledgeable dealer network. Against Mullican (similar Appalachian focus), Somerset’s character grades read more rustic. Against Mohawk and Shaw, Somerset offers wider plank options at competitive pricing but with less marketing presence.
Where Somerset is less competitive: waterproof or water-resistant engineered hardwood, exotic species beyond what Appalachian forests produce, and immediate availability of unusual specs. For a standard 3 to 5-inch white oak or red oak install, Somerset is one of the best value picks in the US hardwood market.
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