Is Brazilian cherry or hickory too hard to work with for a DIY install in my Burnaby home?

Brazilian cherry (jatoba) and hickory are among the hardest domestic and exotic species available, and yes, their extreme density makes them significantly more challenging for a DIY nail-down or staple-down installation. Brazilian cherry has a Janka hardness rating of approximately 2,350 lbf, while hickory comes in around 1,820 lbf — both far exceeding red oak's 1,290 lbf benchmark. This hardness means more difficult cutting, more wear on saw blades, and a greater likelihood of splitting boards when nailing near edges.

The primary challenge with these ultra-hard species is cutting and fastening. A standard 40-tooth carbide blade on a mitre saw will dull noticeably faster when cutting Brazilian cherry, and you may need to replace or resharpen blades partway through a typical 500-800 sq ft Burnaby home project. Hickory is somewhat more forgiving but still demands sharp, high-quality blades. Both species are prone to splitting if you nail too close to the board ends without pre-drilling, and a pneumatic flooring nailer set for softer species may struggle to seat cleats properly in these dense woods. Professional installers adjust their nailer pressure and often pre-drill at board ends — techniques that take experience to execute consistently.

If you're set on DIY, consider engineered versions of either species rather than solid planks. Engineered Brazilian cherry and engineered hickory have real hardwood wear layers bonded to a plywood or HDF core, and many come in click-lock floating floor profiles. A floating installation eliminates the need for a pneumatic nailer entirely — you simply click planks together and let the floor float over underlayment. This dramatically reduces the difficulty level and makes these beautiful species genuinely accessible for a careful DIYer. For a Burnaby home, engineered versions also offer better dimensional stability in Metro Vancouver's humid marine climate, where indoor humidity typically ranges from 40-60% year-round.

Regardless of which format you choose, acclimatization is absolutely critical with these species. Store the flooring in your Burnaby home for a minimum of 5-7 days with your HVAC running at normal living conditions before installation. Both Brazilian cherry and hickory are sensitive to moisture changes, and rushing acclimatization in Vancouver's climate leads to cupping, gapping, or buckling within the first season. If you have a concrete subfloor — common in Burnaby condos and newer builds — perform a moisture test before installation. Concrete should read below 75% relative humidity on an in-situ probe test, and you will need a proper vapour barrier underneath any floating installation.

For cost planning, expect to pay $10-$18 per sq ft for solid Brazilian cherry or hickory materials alone, with engineered versions running $8-$14 per sq ft. If you attempt a solid nail-down installation yourself and run into problems — split boards, uneven rows, or fastener issues — the cost of wasted material adds up quickly at these price points. The safer and more practical route for most Burnaby homeowners is an engineered click-lock version that delivers the same stunning appearance with far less installation risk.

If you want that rich, exotic look without the DIY headaches, Vancouver Floor Installers can match you with experienced hardwood professionals who work with these premium species regularly.

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