The Difference Between Red Oak vs White Oak Flooring
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Today we’re tackling the red oak vs white oak flooring debate. After recently refinishing our own red oak floors and working on numerous other remodeling projects, I decided to share all of the flooring projects complete with before and after pictures to help you in your next DIY flooring project.
Whether you are working with white oak floors or red oak, each requires careful consideration of stain color and the area’s traffic level.
White oak, known for its durability and resistance to water, is ideal for high traffic areas and lighter stains that highlight its natural grain.
Red oak, with its distinct warm undertones, suits both high and low-traffic zones and is versatile in stain color, complementing a range of interior styles.
White Oak vs Red Oak Flooring Cost
In comparing red and white oak flooring, costs differ based on availability, region, and quality.
When our flooring professional refinished our red oak floors, he explained that the red oak flooring is easier to get and a little cheaper than white oak.
He also mentioned that they are both great wood species, durable and boils down to a color preference to many.
Most of the newer homes being built today are installing white oak flooring due to many home owners wanting a lighter brown tone floor.
One of the biggest differences between white oak and red oak flooring is the appearance of the floor, once stained.
Red oak has wider grain lines and will pull a red or salmon undertone once stain is applied.
As you can see below, our red oak flooring shows a deeper shade and grain when the Bona ClassicSeal was applied.
If you do not want an orange toned floor, do not apply a clear coat of oil base polyurathane.
Over 20 years ago, when our red oak floors were first installed, they were stained with a dark stain to mimic the look of Brazilian cherry floors.
As you can see below, our floors were red oak with a dark stain.
This approach offers a cost-effective alternative to the expensive Brazilian cherry, achieving a similar aesthetic with red oak and cherry stain.
Fast forward twenty years after our home’s original dark-stained red oak floors were installed, we faced a challenge when we decided to lighten them, only to discover a pink hue after sanding.
Our attempt to achieve a lighter oak look involved testing 20 different stain samples, learning that red oak does not easily adapt to lighter shades without revealing a pink or orange undertone.
To avoid unwanted reddish or orange tones, we found that using oil-based topcoats or light stains with red undertones was not the way to go.
Eventually, we opted for Bona Nordic Sealer, which successfully whitewashed the red oak floors, significantly reducing the salmon tones.
Visit this blog post, refinishing red oak floors to a lighter white oak look, to see the full refinish process and more details.
White Oak vs Red Oak Flooring – Before and After Pictures
Let’s take a look at a handful of our recent remodeling projects and the flooring that we either installed as new or refinished.
Cape Cod House – White Oak Flooring
Below is the 1950s cape cod home kitchen and living room we recently remodeled featuring white oak with a clear oil based polyurethane.
You will notice that each piece of white oak flooring displays a slight difference in grain variation, which is due to the nature of the trees from different regions.
Ranch House – White Oak Flooring
Below is white oak flooring at the recent ranch house we remodeled and sold last year.
Our flooring expert highlighted that no two hardwood floors are identical, as variations in climate and soil conditions across the country affect the wood’s characteristics.
The two pictures above have a clear poly coat (no stain color – just a clear coat), which darkens the white oak. When you refinish floors, the most affordable option is to apply 2 coats of clear polyurethane (no stain color).
Our Mediterranean House – Red Oak Flooring
Here is a picture of our own kitchen with red oak floors refinished to look like white oak.
If you compare our kitchen with the two picture above featuring white oak, you will see the heavier pronounced grain in the red oak.
Similarly, the redness in red oak floors can vary, with some planks showing less red pigment based on where the wood was purchased.
If you are wondering why our red oak flooring appears so “light” it’s because of the Nordic Sealer (which is the stain color). It essentially white washes the red oak eliminating a lot of the red and pink tones.
Split Level House – White Oak Flooring
The split level house that we remodeled 3 years ago has a beautiful light gray stain over white oak flooring.
You will notice that the white oak floor below looks less “dark brown” vs the other two white oak floors I showed you above.
This floor below has a water base sealer on top of the light gray stain color.
Here is a closer look below at the hallway so you can get a better look.
Keep in mind also, all of the floors I am showing you are original and installed somewhere between 1950 and 2000.
If you are building a new construction home, you will be installing new hardwood floors and not refinishing “old” hardwoods.
I cannot stress enough to sample areas in your home before you make a final decision.
Choosing a floor stain is just like choosing a wall paint color, you need to sample and test!!
Is Red Oak or White Oak Better?
According to the Janka scale (the floor rating for how hard the wood is), white oak comes in at 1360 which surpasses red oak’s 1290 in hardness.
This means that based on a rating of 1360, which oak is slightly better for high traffic areas due to better scratch and moisture resistance.
Janka Hardness Test
Red oak’s open grain and warm, reddish tones offer aesthetic warmth, while white oak’s tighter grain and neutral hues cater to a refined look.
From my personal experience, red oak has several color variations where white oak is a bit more neutral and a better option if you prefer a “less busy” grain look.
Both are a good choice regardless of the differences but if you are purchasing new hardwood floors, be sure to take into consideration the type of wood and the overall look you want, once installed and finished.
Key Differences Between Red Oak and White Oak
Let’s recap and review the key areas you need to consider when choosing a hardwood floor.
Hardness Level & Scratches
As I mentioned earlier, white oak has a harder scale rating making it more likely to hide scratches and imperfections.
Before refinishing our red oak floors, our 160 lb Bull Mastiff did leave a few scratches, which, given his size and energetic play, would likely happen with any hardwood.
This is an important consideration when selecting hardwood flooring for your home.
Color and undertone
Red oak will have a reddish tint with pink tones.
You will notice above our red oak flooring, even with the Nordic Sealer, still has a slight pink tone in some areas. There is no avoiding that with red oak!
White oak will have more neutral tones and look more like a light brown.
Keep in mind, once you apply a stain color, the undertones will either be enhanced or neutralized so always designate a sample area on your floor to test and try different shade variations.
Stain compatibility
How both woods take to lighter stains or a darker stain color for a natural finish or a more dramatic look.
Again, test the colors and see how they look during different times of the day and with natural light vs artificial light at night.
In our experience, red oak tends to show a more noticeable or pronounced look than white oak after staining, primarily because red oak absorbs more stain than its white oak counterpart.
Water resistance
The main difference in water resistance between red oak and white oak is the grain structure.
White oak has a tighter, less porous grain compared to red oak, which makes it more resistant to water penetration and damage.
Red oak, with its wider and more open grain, absorbs more moisture, which can lead to quicker water damage under similar conditions.
Again, the wood grain as I mentioned earlier also plays a role in how much stain is absorbed into the wood determining the overall color shade once stain is applied.
Overall, we love our red oak floors that we refinished to white oak.
They are beautiful floors but if we had to do it again, we would install white oak from the start as it was expensive to refinish the red oak to a lighter white oak look.
However, if you inherited red oak flooring it’s still cheaper to refinish vs installing new white oak.
The most popular choices for new construction hardwood flooring right now, is white oak.
There is a significant difference in wood grain and how each adheres to water and stain color so be sure to do your homework before making the investment in a wood choice. The best choice is one that works for your budget, intent and personal preference.
More Flooring Ideas
- Installing floating vinyl plank flooring over concrete subfloor
- How to install floating vinyl plank flooring over existing floor
- Vinyl plank floating flooring basement remodel
- How to install engineered hardwood flooring with staples
- Best tips for choosing hardwood floors
- Tips on prepping your floor for hardwood
- Refinishing red oak floors lighter (see how we made red oak look like white oak!)
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
