White oak
White oak wood floors have heartwood that is light brown in color. You may find that some boards have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish Appearance. The sapwood is white to cream colored.
The grain in white oak is open, with longer rays than red oak. Many pieces will have an occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plain sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance, while the rift-sawn has a tighter grain pattern, and low figuring. Quarter-sawn has a flake pattern, this type is often called tiger oak, tiger rays, or butterflies.
White oak is readily available in all types, styles and sizes of flooring.
The Hardness of White Oak Hardwood Floors: 1360 Jankas Table, which is 5% harder than Northern red oak. This makes white oak flooring more durable than the red oak. There is tannic acid in the wood, which gives it a natural protection from fungi and most insects.
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Red oak
Red Oak hardwood floors have similar colored heart and sapwood. The sapwood does tend to be lighter in color though. You will find most pieces have a reddish tone, which is just slightly redder than white oak.
Red Oaks grain is open, which means it is slightly coarser (more porous) than white oak. Like the white oak the plain-sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift-sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter-sawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger oak, tiger rays or butterflies.
Red Oak is available in all types, styles, and sizes of flooring. It has a hardness of 1290 Janka Table, which is the benchmark in flooring. Red oak does resist wear; however, it is less durable than the white oak. Red oak gives strong stain contrast, because of pores.