Solid oak flooring is a popular choice among homeowners. It is durable and works well in a variety of stains and finishes. It typically has tight, straight grain lines with undulating waves, almost like concentric mountains, though this can change depending on the cut of the wood.

White Oak is probably the most popular solid oak flooring in America. It has a relatively neutral color. Red Oak, which is another popular species, has a slightly reddish tint to it.

The Janka scale that is used to measure the hardness of a wood indicates that most oak species are reasonably resistant to wear. Keep in mind that the finish place on the wood will also affect its durability. Norther Red Oak, which is the species typically used to compare to all other wood species has a Janka rating of 1,290. Tasmanian Oak  and White Oak, two other popular oak species, have a Janka rating of 1,350 and 1,360 respectively.

Selecting Solid Oak Flooring

For high traffic areas, or areas that will contain heavy furniture, you'll want to go with the White Oak flooring since it has a higher Janka rating than Northern Red Oak.  If you like the reddish hue of the Red Oak species, simply select a stain that has a reddish hue and apply it to a White Oak Flooring.

Quick Look at Solid Oak Flooring

• Very popular choice among homeowners
• Available in White Oak, Tasmanian Oak and Northern Red Oak species
• Red Oak flooring has a slightly redder tint to it than White Oak
• Norther Red Oak is used as the comparison for all other species on the Janka scale
• Janka rating from 1,290 to 1,360 depending on species