DHF: The Floor Guys

Oak

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With natural stain	Red oak with domestic cherry shaker style cabinets	Red oak


White oak sedona/neutral stain with red birch cabinets	Another view of the previous floor	Also white oak sedona/neutral stain


White oak stain 5	Custom red oak with inlay	Red oak herringbone floor


Example of china lotus slate insert in oak floor	White oak flooring

White Oak versus Red Oak

There are two main reasons one would choose red or white in preference to the other. The first reason is visual appeal. Some people prefer the pinkish cast of red oak, while others feel the golden hue of white oak is the best background color. Opinions vary because of personal taste, the rooms color scheme, and the species of other prominent woodwork in the room. Unfortunately, the white or red issue is often solved by a contractor long before the home owner (who might have a preference) gets involved with the home.

The second reason which should affect the white/red decision is the amount of traffic the floor will receive. Red oak works well in many residential areas. However, white oak wins hands down when it comes to the dreaded "heel pecks". Therefore, for high traffic areas like foyers and rooms for entertaining, taking a good look at white oak might save a few headaches.

The dark specks or streaks that sometimes appear in Red Oak flooring after finishing
According to a report from Gene Wengert and Fred M. Lamb of the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA, "the spots are actually dark deposits located within the large conducting cells of oak called vessels." The deposits are considered water soluble so the newer water based finishes may allow the originally insignificant small black speck to expand and become quite noticeable. Small pecks less than 1/64" x 1/4" may show discoloration 1/16" x 1" after application of a water based finish. As described, the black specks in unfinished wood are small. This small size is generally enough to be considered a grade character for any grade. The number of specks would be the limiting factor for CLEAR and/or SELECT grade flooring.