The most significant difference between Red Oak and White Oak flooring is in their color. Surprisingly, White Oak tends to be a bit darker and has more beige and brownish hues, while Red Oak color has more salmon and pink undertones.

Is it white or red oak?

White oak vs red oak tree in nature





Red oak varieties usually have pointed tips on their jagged leaves, as well as a smoother appearance to their bark. In contrast, a white oak’s more bulbous leaf will be rounded at the tips, and the bark will have deep grooves, giving it a much more textured appearance.

How do you identify white oak?

1. Look at the endgrain. The pores found in the growth rings on red oak are very open and porous, and should be easily identifiable. White oak, however, has its pores plugged with tyloses, which help make white oak suitable for water-tight vessels, and give it increased resistance to rot and decay.

Is white oak lighter than red oak?

Color-wise, red oak is naturally redder and lighter than white oak, which appears darker, as well as more brown or yellow. With lighter stains, the differences between their natural color are more visible, but if you go with a dark stain, white and red oak can appear almost the same.

Is red oak better than white oak?

Graining. If you appreciate a strong wood grain pattern, you’re going to love red oak flooring. Red oak has a much stronger graining than white oak, which appears smoother. Overall, the strong graining of red oak also helps hide scratches and dents that may occur, which is perfect for busy households with kids and pets …

Can red oak look like white oak?





You can’t make red oak look exactly like white oak. The wood species are SO different & how they look with different stains reflects that.

What does white oak floors look like?

White oak wood floors have a grey/brown undertone to them that sets them apart from the pink and red undertones of red oak while having more character and interest than clear wood species. Whether you’re going for a rustic look or a modern look, white oak hardwood flooring is a great complement to your interior space.

Is red oak flooring out of style?

Although it may have lost some popularity with the rise of other woods, oak is quickly making a comeback to “new style” thanks to trending finishing techniques and popular design styles.

Is red oak a good hardwood floor?

Hardness and Durability of Red Oak Floors



Red oak flooring tends to be quite durable, which helps to explain its enduring popularity as a floor covering option. Red oak has been used for centuries in structures from castles to cottages, and it has good dimensional stability, with a score of 8.6.

How do I identify red oak?

How to Identify Red Oak. To identify a red oak in a landscape, look for its distinctive leaves, acorns, and deeply ridged, dark gray bark. Red oaks have dark green leaves with 9 to 11 deeply pointed lobes and toothed tips. The acorns are 1” (25 mm) long, with a rounded end, pointed tip, and thin flat cap.

What does red oak wood look like?

Quercus spp



The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish-reddish brown. The wood is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less-pronounced figure due to the smaller rays. The wood is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture.

How do you tell the difference between pin oak and red oak?

Red Oak(Quercus rubra) is native to North America. It has open grain.
Red Oak.

# Pin Oak Red Oak
Wood Color: light to medium reddish-brown light brown to pinkish-reddish

Why is it called red oak?

Called the “red” oak because of the fall color and also due to the hint of red in the leaf veins on the underside of the leaves.

Is red oak expensive?

Because unfinished hardwood flooring is a commodity item, the price fluctuates from week to week. At times, Red Oak is more expensive, and sometimes White Oak costs more. The price will also vary based on width of the boards and grade of the wood.

Why is a white oak called a white oak?



White oak trees get their name from the whitish color of the undersides of their leaves, distinguishing them from other oaks.