Not all oak species are the same.
Red Oak vs White Oak
| 1. COLOR Red Oak is lighter and pink or reddish. White Oak is darker and more yellow. |
2. GRAIN Red Oak has short, closer markings. White Oak has longer, wider markings. |
| 3. GROWTH RINGS Red Oak rings are more spaced out. White Oak rings are tighter together. |
4. PORES | small holes, in between rings Red Oak has lots of large pores. White Oak has a few small pores. |
Why It Matters
It is very common for big box retailers to mix the two species in the same batch in an attempt to secure lower prices. Unfortunately this lower price can come at a much higher cost down the road.
COLOR MATCH & STAINING
Red Oak and White Oak take stain differently which makes it very hard to color match between species.
REFINISHING
A mixed species floor often times results in a splotchy appearance which can only be fixed with floor replacement.
STABILITY OVER TIME
White Oak is slightly harder & denser due to the ring and pore structure so over time will have higher stability.
Impressions Flooring Collection ensures each customer receives one species throughout their project. This ensures the best results for the lifetime of the floor.
