Ideal settings
We've mentioned the versatility of oak floors, and you've already got an idea from the pictures above. Now check out this slide show for a sampling of the incredible range of settings in which it performs.
select grade white oak with a dark walnut stain
rustic red oak planks with a natural finish
select grade white oak with a natural finish
White oak
- above average hardness
- long wearing, with excellent dent resistance
- well suited for staining, good choice for custom colors
- also available in multiple widths
Red and White Oak
It is said that an oak tree spends its first three hundred years growing, its next three hundred flourishing, and its final three hundred dying. Together the red and white oak families compromise nearly fifty percent of hardwood trees in America. The wood harvested from these trees is dense, highly durable, and in its different varieties it is suitable for every style from rugged barn floors to contemporary art museums. With such a record of longevity and versatility, it's no wonder that oak has become the gold standard of wood flooring.
Appearance
Red oak is an attractive, light-colored wood, ranging in hue from light reds and whites to the occasional blue-grey and brown. It has wide, arched grain patterns. White oak is darker overall, with more tans and browns, and is most frequently stained to a custom color. In a quartersawn configuration, both red and white oak show beautiful vertical grain, but white oak is especially noted for its gorgeous medullary ray flecking that can turn an everyday floor into a highly figured design centerpiece.
Characteristics
Red oak
- medium hardness
- available in widths from 1 1/2 inches to over 12 inches
- attractive for its light red color tones
- in different grades it can be full of character and variation, or clear and uniform