The price of hardwood is heavily influenced by the availability of the raw material. Wide planks require large, mature logs that are increasingly rare. Additionally, these wider boards are more susceptible to cupping and bowing as they react to moisture, necessitating longer seasoning periods or specialized engineered construction. The manufacturing process often results in more yield loss when milling wide boards, which drives up the overall production cost per square foot for the consumer.
Ask an ExpertHardwood
Are wider wood planks more expensive to install?
Yes, wider planks are often more expensive. This is due to the scarcity of high-quality, wide-diameter trees required to produce large planks without structural defects, as well as the increased waste generated during the milling process compared to standard narrow strips.