Wood Floors in Nassau County are available in a wide variety of materials. Red oak and white oak are very popular for flooring, and some homeowners have difficulty choosing which species they prefer. It’s helpful to understand the differences between these two materials before making a decision.
Although it seems counter intuitive, white oak actually tends to be a darker wood than red oak is. Both are essentially brown, but white oak tends to have more of a yellow hue while red oak can have shades ranging from pink to deep reddish-brown. Stains can be applied to Wood Floors in Nassau County that make the colors very similar or bring out a different appearance. For example, many people like the look of gray hardwood floors. White oak tends to work best if the homeowner doesn’t want a reddish-gray appearance for the flooring. The only way to cover that reddish tint is to add a relatively dark gray stain, but that may be entirely suitable for the customer’s preferences.
There are other factors to consider as well. Red oak has more noticeable grain patterns. White oak is not as vulnerable to water damage, which may be important to people who have kids and dogs that might track in snow or mud. Kids are more likely to spill beverages than adults are, and dogs could have an accident on the floor.
Also, pricing of the two woods tends to fluctuate, and one material may cost more than the other at certain moments depending on availability. Red oak managed forests are more prevalent than those for white oaks due to greater demand for the wood and because the trees grow larger.
It’s also essential to learn the differences between grades of oak. Oak categorized as grade 2, for example, has more knots than grade 1. Some individuals like the more rustic look of the knotty wood, while others prefer a more streamlined appearance for the floor planks. A company such as Anthony’s World of Floors Inc. can provide plenty of samples and photos of red and white oak in these grades so property owners can envision exactly what they’ll have in their residences.