I am currently installing Ash wood hard flooring into my living room floor. But that seems to be a few planks that have different colours and doesnt run along the grains of the wood. I understand that natural wood flooring will have different shades of colour but i am not sure about differing colours that doesnt run along the grains. The supplier has assured me that its natural while some of my friends who have seen it have said that it looks like the supplier have used old wood planks and soaked it into some chemicals to make it look newer or more natural and these chemicals would cause future damage to the wood.

Below is a link to the picture i have taken of 1 of the wood uploaded onto flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27658294@N07/4510008954/

Can any expert tell me if its really natural or it will cause future problems in the future?? I am not sure whether to have them replaced by the supplier or just leave it in. I dont mind the look, just worried about having to replaced it when problems arise in the future.

That coloration is typical of Ash. It wasn't done by the manufacturer, and wont affect the performance of the floor. When installing Ash, I am extra selective of board placement.

Looks like my cabinets

Thanks alot for the clarification! It gives me peace of mind.

1 other question... does the different shades of Ash have light grey to it besides the usual light and dark brown?

Yes, Ash also will have a light grey . Ofcoarse in no particular pattern, sometimes it stops and starts in straight or jagged lines, & sometimes it's sort of a clouding coloration.

Thanks for the assurance Howard!

for the reason your worried about is the same reason we have ash in in 2no rooms in our house. just love the grain structure and differences in colour.