Red Oak Vs White Oak Flooring

White oak flooring is also more stable.

Red oak vs white oak flooring. Because the open pores in red oak absorb stain, the grain patterns become very evident when a dark stain is used as a finish. The name white oak might make you think that this flooring is lighter in color, but in fact the opposite is true. White oak would be ideal in these areas, while red oak could be better suited in bedrooms and living rooms. For those that love the darker ebony, it often shows even better on the white oak floors as the white oak is a bit darker/more yellow whereas the red oak floors are a bit more red.

The janka hardness scale lists white oak at 1360 and red oak at 1290. White oak has a smoother and cleaner look. As a result of this, this wood tends to have a warm appearance that looks great with yellow, orange, or red wallpaper and decorations. Red oak vs white oak.

White oak grain patterns tend to be more moderate, while red oak grain is often stronger and more dramatic. Compared to birch or maple, red oak finishes and stains easily and doesn’t have blotching problems. Both red and white oak are fairly dense varieties of wood, however, white oak is a little more durable with a janka scale rating of about 1360 while red oak sits at about a 1290. The grains of white are finer and not as pronounced as red oak.

Red oak vs white oak bark. White oak is the preeminent oak for outdoor and cooperage use. Red oak and white oak are the two most common species of oak that you will find when it comes to flooring. This type of wood is great for boats or other areas where the conditions might not be stable over time (think wind and rain).

The market changes frequently with commodities like hardwood flooring, so differentiating red oak vs white oak based on cost can be difficult. For red oak, the consensus is that since it is more abundant in the united states, it tends to be slightly more affordable. Therefore, though both would be good in high traffic areas of your home or space, wood flooring made from white oak is just a little better suited to stand up to wear. The grain in white oak runs straighter and tighter than red oak, with fewer swirls, circles or deviations.

Red oak also has wider grain lines that can run in zigzag patterns, or subtle, wavy lines that are absent from white oak. Ironically, white oak flooring generally has a darker hue than red oak does. Red oak should only be used for interior pieces such as cabinets, indoor furniture, flooring, etc. If you are searching for white oak vs.

White oak flooring is slightly harder than red oak. Red oak is porous and has open grains. White oak tends to be more dense, while red oak is a bit lighter and has a more porous and open grain. Red oak has pinkish and red tones throughout.

Both species of wood are known for their incredible durability, although white oak is somewhat harder than red oak. White is more resistant to moisture, rot, and fungus, while red absorbs stains and finishes more evenly and easily. So, i know i said there was more to red vs white than just color, but color is still an important aspect. Grain identification of white oak vs red oak.

White cabinets are very in style and by far the most popular and look amazing w/ dark hardwood, regardless of whether it is red oak or white oak. White oak flooring is slightly harder (and oddly enough, darker) than red oak with a janka rating of about 1360. It’s more prone to shrink than white oak. Note that this does not have an impact on scratching…that is determined by the type of polyurethane or finish.

This makes it a bit more resilient when it comes to denting. Another reason that red oak flooring displays a more prominent grain pattern than white oak is because it is a lighter wood. The most obvious difference between the two types of oak flooring is their color. Red and white oak are strong, durable, beautiful woods.

Red oak displays longer rays, whereas white oak comes with mineral streaks that offer a more modern design aesthetic. Here is a link that might be useful: White oak registers at 1360 on the jenka hardness scale, while red oak is rated at 1290. White oak has a slightly higher hardness rating than red oak.

On the janka scale, red oak has a hardness of 1290 while white oak has a hardness of 1360. White oak has a smoother grain. Both species of oak rank among the hardest of the hardwoods. Because of this, white oak is denser.

Red oak grain patterns tend to be more unique or ”wild” than the finer, less pronounced grain pattern common to white oak. However, with planks that are 5” or wider, white oak tends to be more expensive. However, both types of flooring are notoriously durable, especially when compared to other domestic types of hardwood. It tends to be a beige color that leans toward light brown.

The pores are so large, some people say you can blow into one end of the wood and air will come out on the opposite end. There are two more noticeable differences in red oak vs. White oak flooring has been noted as being harder than red oak with a janka hardness rating of approximately 1360. In terms of hardness, with a janka rating of 1290 red oak is the industry standard, meaning that you’ll hear comparisons of hardwoods as being less hard or more hard than red oak.

White oak is bit harder then red oak on the janka hardness scale (white oak is 1360 vs red oak is 1290). If maple is at the top of the hardness scale, white oak ranks one point under it, with red oak ranking one point below white oak. Although white oak is technically more durable, the nature of red oak’s grain and coloring is such that dents can be better hidden. By jim hill june 1, 2017.

However, because red oak has a more pronounced grain pattern, it tends to hide scratches and dents better than white oak. Even the untrained eye will see that red oak flooring has a pinkish undertone to it, and often a red oak plank will have a variation of colors from light cream to deeper amber. Because it is harder, it accepts stain color more evenly than red oak flooring does. They vary in a few important ways that i will discuss.

White oak is actually a mix of browns and tans, making it darker than red oak. That means, even though white oak is slightly harder, dents and scratches may be more easily hidden by the grain patterns in a red oak floor. When building floors, furniture or cabinets though, it’s the debate of red oak vs white oak that rages on. The grains of red oak are more prominent than white oak.

For a full explanation of the differences between red oak and white oak flooring read our red oak vs white oak post. When examined closer, the pores of red oak and white oak are very different.