So you’re looking at hardwood floors for inspiration? | Maybe it’s for your renovation, new home build, or just getting ideas for the next project you are about to pitch to your partner (and convince them that it’s their idea 😉) and you’re starting to feel a little overwhelmed with wood information. You have seen thousands of photos of flooring online but are still unsure – should I be going with white oak or red oak? Which one is going to give me the right look, set the tone for our home, and help me achieve the stain color I’m after. Let’s walk through some of the key similarities and differences of the white oak and red oak flooring.
THE LOOK
Both white oak and red oak floors have been amongst the most popular hardwood floors for many years. While both of the floors have a similar grain pattern, you will notice some differences in the overall look of the two floors. Let's take a dive into it below breaking it down by look considering factors like grain pattern, character (knots, checks etc), and board width.
Red Oak
Red oak floors have been commonly seen in the past in century homes and very classic settings. In prior years, it was finished naturally with a high gloss and naturally aged over the years giving that golden tone we have grown accustomed to. This is where we can sometimes see apprehension with Client’s because they definitely don’t want “their parents floor or a floor from their childhood home”. This is where the stain, texture, and gloss can really update this great classic floor.
Grain Pattern: You typically see red oak being offered in a plain sawn cut which gives you that classic oak, open grain look. Some boards will have lots of “patterning” where the grain is very open and pronounced and some will be milder and have quartersawn pieces. It is important to note that grain pattern can be highlighted or muted with stain, depending on the look you are after.
Character: Most commonly you see red oak in a cleaner grade – such as a prime grade, with minimal knots and character. We can also do red oak in a rustic grade if you want a little bit more character in your floor. You will have colour variation throughout your floor, which again is dependent on the stain that you are choosing.
Board Width: Red Oak is available in 2.25”-5” wide boards. If you are looking for a wider plank than 5” wide, we’d recommend opting for a white oak floor to achieve your look.
White Oak
White Oak has been very popular over the last few years (and let’s be real, it’s not going anywhere). It is widely seen online and throughout magazines, especially when you are looking at those nice wide plank floors. This floor is a great versatile option as it can easily suit an array of different styles, depending on stain and the cut of wood that you purchase. [Wait, let's look more at Different Cuts of Wood]
Grain pattern: Our most popular cut of white oak is our livesawn white oak, which gives you those nice wide plank floors and lots of stunning character throughout. You will have more of the open grain (classic oak) look in the center of the boards and more of the quartersawn (clean + straight) grain on the sides of the boards. Visually this gives a very balanced look and is a great option if you are looking for something less “oaky” (Yes, that’s a technical term). We also do quartersawn white oak, which is another specialty cut where the log is cut into quarters and sawn vertically – this gives you a very clean, linear look. It’s great for a contemporary, modern space and if you are looking for something that has less movement.
Character: In our livesawn white oak, you will have gorgeous character. Lots of knots, checks, and pieces that really show off woods natural features. In our quatersawn white oak, you can opt for our prime/select grade which has minimal character or a more rustic grade which has that linear/consistent look but with some knots throughout giving a nice light rustic look to a space. Both the livesawn and quartersawn white oak will have colour variation throughout.
Board Width: In the white oak we range in widths in our livesawn white oak offering options from 4”-10” wide. In our quartersawn white oak we have options available from 3.25”-6”. Both the livesawn and the quartersawn white oak have beautiful long board lengths up to 10’.
Hardwood Flooring Installed by BJC Luxury Homes in East Hampton.
Custom Build by Z properties in Florida.
DURABILITY
Okay, so now that we’ve covered the look– let’s talk hardness/durability and see if one of these outperforms the other.
Technically speaking, if you are looking at the janka hardness scale they do not measure the same. Red oak has a Janka Hardness of 1290 and White oak has the Janka hardness of 1360. However, the difference between the two is fairly minimal and wouldn’t necessarily show one is greater than the other. Both the white oak and red oak are nice durable hardwood floors. There are other factors that can contribute to the maintenance of your floor. Your stain colour plays a large role in how much you are going to see on your floor and how it “wears”. Opting for something natural – to mid tone will be your best friend when looking to keep it low maintenance and what will wear the best. In addition, you want to choose a low sheen (matte finish) and opt for a textured wire- brushed finish. This has been our most popular finish over the past decade, and to be honest we don’t see this going anywhere.
HOW DOES IT TAKE STAINS
Red oak and white oak show some differences in their natural wood state with differing undertones. Red oak has a slight red undertone naturally and it works great with classic stains to give a very elevated classic feel. Some stains we love are Red Oak Natural, toffee, virgina. It also works great on some of our light to mid tone floors that have a light brown/beige undertone. We do find that some of the stains with heavy white can lend themselves to a peachy family. White oak naturally has more beige and brown undertones and can really handle any stain that we apply. This ranges in light airy tones (such as Lombardy or Champagne) to our more rustic finishes from our 1850 collection (such as Natural 1850).
STAIRS + YOUR HARDWOOD FLOOR
Don't worry - we didn't forget about your beautiful new staircases (or maybe you are matching up with an existing) we've got you covered. Stair treads can be made from either red oak or white oak and both look stunning (We love a good staircase). Stairs can be most commonly seen in red oak, where they are stained to match your white oak or red oak flooring. Client’s typically give their stair manufacturer a sample piece of the flooring and they are stained to match the flooring (either red or white oak). Over the past few years, we’ve noticed an increase in white oak stair cases and again, clients are able to provide their stair manufacturer/stainer with a sample piece of the flooring to get a close match. With the increased popularity of our livesawn white oak floors, we also can supply rustic white oak stair treads. These are hand stained to match your hardwood flooring. You will see knots and character throughout, just like your beautiful flooring and are a great option to create a really continuous feel in your home.
Custom Yacht by Arkup in Miami, Florida.
PRICING & COST COMPARISON
When pricing the two different options, it is important to look at some factors such as: cut of wood, wood grade, and width of the boards. The price will generally increase with the width of the board as larger logs and lumber are required to manufacture this material. Generally speaking, red oak can be a more cost effective option than white oak – however, it depends on availability, inventory and again the above factors. It is always recommended to get a personalized quote for your project to better understand your individual cost. [Contact us for a quote]
IS ONE BETTER THAN THE OTHER?
No – both make beautiful hardwood floors that can be low maintenance for your home. Ultimately, it is important to consider what works for your style and what look you are trying to achieve. If you like clean, refined looks – quartersawn white oak and red oak may suit you best. If you like a rustic floor, light airy stains, and want wide planks then white oak is your ideal choice.
Now that you’ve looked at both the differences and similaries of the red oak and white oak. Which one do you think suits you best? Let us know which one you’d be picking in your next project.
