So, you’ve been thinking about what type of hardwood could be your best choice for your new home flooring and you are concerned about choosing a hardwood that is not good enough for your modern taste and not durable enough to withstand the foot traffic! You just need that flooring that can withstand wear and tear and never goes out of style at the same time!
There are a lot of hardwood options to choose from for flooring and white oak is one of the best of the best! this oak species is one of the most chosen hardwoods by homeowners.
So whether you are looking for a modern or rustic look, white oak flooring is a premier choice. There are a lot of different reasons this species is one of the most famous hardwoods for floorings. Let’s jump right into 6 reasons why you should consider choosing this wood for your flooring!
Durability
White oak hardwood flooring is one of the best flooring options anyone can choose when considering durability and longevity.
The hardness and resistance of wood to denting are rated by the Janka Hardness Scale, which measures the needed force to embed an 11,28 mm steel ball halfway into a wood piece (1). White oak shows up with a score of 1360 on the Janka scale which makes it harder than many other popular wood species such as white ash, American walnut, yellow birch, and heart pine (2). White oak is not only aesthetically great but can resist decay and wear and tear.
Moisture Resistance
White oak is almost impenetrable to water due to its closed-grain structure. The pores of the heartwood are plugged with tyloses, which makes the wood more unsusceptible to decay that is caused by moisture and liquids (3). That’s why this species is a great choice for boat building, kitchens, powder rooms, outdoor furniture, decks, and entry areas where moisture can be expected (4).
White Oak Hardwood Flooring Is Easy To Care For
The longevity and durability of your flooring depend not only on the quality and type of wood but on the way you treat it as well. A white oak floor can last for decades if it’s treated and maintained properly. Considering the inevitable scratches and dents from heavy traffic, pet nails & furniture, all impacts that can add character and drama to your flooring, you will want to care for and treat your floors through the years.
Liquid spills and excess water could potentially ruin your oak flooring. So make sure to vacuum or sweep your flooring regularly and to clean it with a damp towel occasionally to avoid damages. White oak flooring is very easy to care for, and if you feel like it needs to be revived, sanding and refinishing can give it a fresh new look.
White oak is reasonably priced
If you are thinking about beautiful flooring on a budget, then white oak hardwood flooring can be a great option. The cost of white oak flooring usually depends not only on the quality of the wood but on the length and width of the boards and related supply chain fluctuations as well. A wide plank white oak flooring can be costlier than a narrow plank white oak flooring. But, a wood with such a wide choice of grain patterns and durability is reasonably priced compared to other species of hardwood.
It's easy to stain white oak hardwood floors
Even though it is called white oak, this species is darker than red oak and maple with a wide palette of colors. It’s easy to find a lot of finish and stain options to choose from with white oak since it has large open pores that absorbs stain easily (5). It can go well with stains that create warmth and a bold statement like golden hues and rich brown coffee tones.
It’s one of the easiest hardwoods that you can stain without having unpleasant pinkish or orange undertones. The most winning stain colors now are dark and a lot of people are looking for style and modernity that can be found in dark colors. That’s why white oak can be a great choice! And if you prefer to go lighter, this species can work easily with light stain colors as well.
A creamy grey can be a great option for a calming environment! Several colors can be used on other hardwoods. But, since white oak has that special neutral wheat color, nearly all colors can be achieved a lot more accurately (6)!
White oak floors can be a little bit challenging to stain and refinish due to the hardness of the wood compared to red oak, but that challenge is only a challenge for someone who is not familiar with refinishing. That’s why we recommend you hire a professional and not risk potentially damaging your flooring by yourself!
Everlasting Style!
White oak has a very smooth and uniform graining due to its growth rings that tend to be closer together, which makes it look more modern than many other hardwoods. This species has more mineral streaks, thus it has a more even pattern that gives it that modern, contemporary style (7).
If you want to go for white oak hardwood flooring, you don’t need to think twice, because it won’t go out of style for sure! Even if you one day sell your house buyers will always consider it a huge selling point if they know you have white oak flooring. White oak is always fashionable and timeless!
If you would like to see more images of white oak floors in action, visit www.oldworldtimber.com/solid-flooring/
and take a look around.
(1) “Janka Hardness Scale”, Cali Bamboo, calibamboo.com/janka-hardness-scale/
(2) ” Five benefits of white oak flooring” [Blog], Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, February 10, 2020, elmwoodreclaimedtimber.com/blog/white-oak-flooring/
(3) Ron Smith, ” American White Oak and Red Oak Qualities & Uses”, Wagner meters, May 5, 2021, wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/wood-info/about-american-white-red-oak/
(4) (7) Debbie Gartner, ” 7 Advantages of White Oak Hardwood Flooring” [Blog], The Flooring Girl, November 14, 2017, theflooringgirl.com/blog/advantages-white-oak-hardwood-flooring/
(5) (6) Brandi Copeland, ” 5 Reasons to Choose White Oak”, Peachey Hardwood Flooring, January 15, 2019, peacheyhardwoodflooring.com/5-reasons-to-choose-white-oak/
