If you're looking for the best flooring options for your home, look no further than hardwood. Incredibly versatile, it can match with virtually any architectural or interior design style, from a contemporary home with bohemian interiors to a classic two-flat with Old World-inspired decor. Hardwood is also incredibly long-lasting. Look at virtually any historic home, and you'll find intact hardwood in need of just a little TLC.
And when it comes to varieties of hardwood, oak flooring is among the most popular. It's practical, affordable, and long-lasting. Hardwood flooring and installation contractors often recommend their varieties of oak flooring because it's a gateway to attainable luxury.
Red and White Oak: Popular Flooring
There are two common species of oak flooring: red oak and white oak. Historically and in today's best homes, red oak and white oak are popular solid hardwood flooring options.
So which of the two is right for your property? Believe it or not, red oak and white oak are quite different, and not even just in their coloring. Here is a simple guide to the perks and unique qualities of each species of oak hardwood flooring.
Obviously, red oak and white oak differ in coloring. The difference isn't quite as marked as you'd expect. Red oak has a deeper, nutty brown color with a hint of red. White oak, meanwhile, has a gentle, light tan color.
Red oak isn't Chinese mahogany red, it just contains a hint of red. But this is actually more advantageous. Its subtle coloring makes it more versatile. White oak, meanwhile, isn't too light to show its natural wooden features, like beautifully textured grain and subtle color variations.
But ask any hardwood flooring company and they'd recommend one or the other for certain design tastes. Here's why.
White oak has a more modern look than red oak, which is more traditional. "Modern" and "traditional" refer to broad architectural and interior design categories. The former consists of newer, more minimalist, and simplistic designs. The latter refers to a variety of old-fashioned or historic styles, like Old World, Victorian, Neoclassical, rustic, and French Provincial.
White oak's brighter, simpler color scheme lends itself well to modern simplicity and contemporary neutrals. Its straight, even grain offers clean lines. Red oak's more romantic and brighter coloring suits traditional styles very well, and its more fluid and shapely grain looks more old-fashioned.
Hardwood flooring contractors can help you identify the type of hardwood that's most appropriate for your design tastes as well as the architecture of your home.
Other Differences
Red and white oak are fairly similar in price. However, in certain instances, it may be more expensive to install one over the other. Red oak is more commonly used for building stairs and banisters, while white oak is almost chiefly a flooring material. Depending on the size of the room in which you're installing flooring, the size and shape of the boards, and the grade of the hardwood, they may vary in price.
White oak is harder than red oak, but both are long-lasting and durable options. Virtually any species of oak is suitable for flooring because of its density.
If you have questions about the type of hardwood you already have and would like serviced, or if you need help deciding which type of hardwood flooring is right for you, call Vintage Flooring Company today. We offer a wide variety of products, as well as professional hardwood floor installation in Chicago.