2 Main Types of Oak Hardwood Flooring: Let’s Break Break Them Down

Oak has long reigned as the king of hardwood flooring, and for good reason. Its inherent strength, remarkable durability, and gorgeous grain patterns make it a versatile choice that suits virtually any design aesthetic, from rustic farmhouse to sleek contemporary.

However, saying you want “oak flooring” is just the beginning of your journey. The world of oak offers diverse options, each with a unique look, feel, and set of performance characteristics.

Understanding these different types of oak flooring is the key to selecting the perfect foundation for your home.

The Two Major Players: Red Oak vs. White Oak

The most fundamental distinction in oak flooring comes down to the species: Red Oak and White Oak.

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Red Oak is arguably the most common and traditional choice for American homes.

Its popularity is due to its beautiful, prominent grain pattern, which features long, swirling rays and unique cathedrals (arches) that add tremendous character.

• Color Profile: Red Oak typically has a light, reddish-brown hue that can sometimes lean toward a pinkish undertone.
• Hardness: It rates around 1290 on the Janka hardness scale, making it extremely durable for everyday life.
• Absorption: Red Oak has a more open pore structure, meaning it tends to absorb stains more readily and can take on deeper, richer tones.

White Oak (Quercus alba)

White Oak has seen a massive surge in popularity in recent years, especially with the trend toward cooler, more modern design palettes.

While its name suggests a light color, it often has warm, honey-colored tones with hints of brown and gray.

• Color Profile: White Oak has a subtle, cooler tone—often a light tan or brown—and its color tends to mellow the prominent reddish hues found in Red Oak.
• Hardness: At around 1360 on the Janka scale, White Oak is slightly harder than Red Oak, offering marginally superior dent resistance.
• Grain: Its grain is straighter and less busy than Red Oak, providing a more uniform and linear look favored in contemporary settings. It also has a closed-pore structure, offering higher resistance to moisture, making it an excellent choice for kitchens or areas prone to spills.

Beyond Species: Cut, Style, and Finish

The species is only part of the equation. How the oak log is cut and how the plank is constructed dramatically alters its appearance and performance.

The Cut:

1. Plain Sawn: This is the most common and least expensive cut. The log is sliced straight through, resulting in the classic, dramatic cathedral grain pattern you see in most traditional oak floors.
2. Quarter Sawn: The log is cut into quarters before being sliced. This technique results in a much straighter, more linear grain and showcases beautiful “ray and fleck” patterns that add a stunning, unique texture. This cut is incredibly dimensionally stable, meaning it resists cupping and warping exceptionally well.
3. Rift Sawn: Similar to quarter-sawn, but cut at a slightly different angle to produce an even tighter, consistent, straight grain pattern with almost no visible fleck. This is the most stable and uniform cut, often seen in high-end, contemporary installations.

The Construction:

1. Solid Oak Flooring: Made from a single piece of oak lumber, solid hardwood is the traditional choice. It offers unmatched longevity and can be sanded and refinished many times over its lifespan—a true investment.
2. Engineered Oak Flooring: Engineered planks are constructed with a high-quality top layer (veneer) of genuine oak glued to multiple cross-layered plywood core layers. This cross-grain construction makes the plank extremely stable and resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations, making it ideal for basements or installations over concrete subfloors.

Finding Your Perfect Oak Hardwood Floor in the Bay Area, California at The Floor Store

Choosing the right oak floor means balancing your aesthetic goals with the practical demands of your lifestyle.

Do you prefer the bold, traditional grain of Red Oak, or the subtle, linear elegance of White Oak? Do you need the moisture stability of engineered, or the timeless refinishing capability of solid hardwood?

Let The Floor Store help you answer these questions! We know that seeing a small sample doesn’t compare to seeing the flooring in your own space.

That’s why we offer the ease of shop-at-home—we can bring large samples right to your door in the Bay Area, so you can see how different types of oak flooring look under your own lighting, next to your existing furniture.

Ready to Begin?

Call or visit one of our 10+ convenient showrooms in Richmond/Albany, Concord, Dublin, Fairfield, San Carlos, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, or Sunnyvale. Servicing the entire Bay Area and Northern California, our knowledgeable team is committed to helping you find the perfect oak floor that matches your style, lifestyle, and budget.