Ok - being no one else is posting yet, I have to keep Ken busy and I dont think this issue was ever addressed on the previous board.

I moved into a new construction home about a year and a half ago. Hardwood flooring was site installed everywhere in the 1st floor except the living room. I am now looking to finish that part by myslef.

I have always assumed it was Red Oak. However, the builder is certain its White Oak, as thats what they use. I am concerned if I indeed put in White Oak (as he says) it will look odd, as my current floor has many boards with a pinkish/amber hue to the them, while others look like White Oak, while yet others look like Red Oak .

So I am in a quandy. White Oak is what I plan to buy, but I am not sold that it aint Red Oak. It is just a natural finsih with 4 coats of waterpoly.

Is it possible that the white oak has ambered a bit (even with water poly)? Is there really much difference between Red/White Oak? Any way to tell for certain??

White Oak will have pink or an orange huge.

I say you have white oak as the existing installation.


Perry Wright
Austin, Texas

They sell a chemical test to determine that. I bet Ken knows who makes it.

Color is not a good indicator of species. Good white oak will be pink sometimes. Good red oak always is. The best way to tell is by cutting a slice off of the wood. You can see through the vessels in red,but not in white. I think that is why white scores a little higher on the janka scale.

I found the product. I think it costs around 20 bucks retail. Here is a link to it.

http://woodwise.com/tools/whiteoak-info.html

Thanks for all the help guys!

I had not one, but two flooring guys come out to estimate a cost (at the same time, I had them identify the floor).

Both seemed a bit unsure, as they said more times than not, depending on the lot/batch, white oak and red oak can be undistinguishable from each other. Given the look of my floor, the consensus was that if it was indeed White Oak, it was a very pinkish batch and thus, I would be wise to go with a Red Oak, as is more likely to match.

So, thanks again. Hopefully I am not on here too much when I actually install it

Red Oak:
Heartwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color; most pieces have a reddish tone. Slightly redder than white oak.
Grain: Open, slightly coarser meaning more porous than white oak. Plainsawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance: riftsawn has a tighter grain pattern.Quartersawn has a flake pattern, called tiger rays or butterflies.


White Oak:
Heartwood is a light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slightly gray cast. Sapwood is white to a cream color.
Grain: Open, with longer rays than red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plainsawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; riftswan has a tighter grain pattern; quartersawn has a flake pattern, called tigerrays or butterflies.


The only real way to tell is to look at the end cut, and look at the vessels.

Did either of the guys tell you what grade they thought it was? That is a big deal. Clear white and clear red look much more alike than,say #1 red and select white. What color are you looking to go with? The darker you go,the less all of this matters.

I thought it was #1 and both guys said the same thing, as there is a lot of character (most notably, color diffs between boards).

Figured some pics would do some good......so here is one (hopefully, it works).