Winnipeg Home Repairs: Red Oak vs White Oak Flooring

It’s official: Your dingy old carpet is ready for an upgrade. Sure, you can replace your carpeting. Floor tile installation services are also a great option. But you’ve been scrolling online and brand-new hardwood is calling your name. At Handyman Connection, we’re experts in flooring services in Winnipeg. We’ve installed our fair share of wood floors, and in our experience, red oak and white oak are favourites among homeowners. But how do you know which is right for you? Ask yourself the following questions.

Do I Want Dark or Light Floors?

You want your new floors to be stunning. Red and white oak both deliver on style, though they do have slight colour differences. Red oak’s natural colouring can lean toward pink or amber. Though these warm tones are beautiful, they can show through lighter stains. White oak isn’t white like its name suggests; it has more of a gray tone. That grayish hue makes it a bit easier to achieve the perfect shade in a light stain. The verdict: If you want a light colour, go for white oak. For medium or dark floors, either wood will give you a gorgeous result.

Am I Worried About Water?

We’ve all heard this horror story. Your friend went on vacation and received a rude welcome home. The power went out during the trip, resulting in a leaky fridge and a damaged floor. Water resistance can play a major role in choosing floors in kitchens and bathrooms. White oak’s naturally close grains make it more resistant to water damage and rot. It works so well that it’s often used outdoors or even on boats. That said, all wood floors are sealed to protect against water damage. Red oak is no exception and is a safe choice for your home. But if you prefer added peace of mind, white oak has the edge here.

Will I Leave My Shoes at the Door?

If you’ve been researching wood flooring, you may have heard about Janka ratings. The Janka hardness test measures a wood’s resistance level to damage. The higher the number, the harder and more resilient the wood. Here are just a few Janka rating examples:

• Hard maple – 1450
• White oak – 1360
• Red oak – 1290
• Cedar – 900

To put this in real-life terms: hard maple is often used in bowling alleys. Do you plan on hurling a bowling ball around your living room? Probably not. Therefore, a rating of 1450 is probably way more than you need. Generally speaking, anything rated over 1000 is pretty good. The industry standard for homes hovers around a rating of 1200. A high Janka score doesn’t mean you won’t be able to damage your floors; you’ll just need to work a little harder to do it. Think about day-to-day life around your home. Will kids be throwing toys around? Will Fido be chasing a ball down the hallway? Will you be dancing around in your high heels? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, consider going with white oak. If you’re a no-shoes-in-the-house family, red oak could be perfect.

With Handyman Connection, You Can’t Go Wrong

White and red oak are both durable, beautiful floors that would make a lovely addition to your home. No matter which kind of oak you choose, have them installed by our professionals at Handyman Connection. We’re experts in home remodeling and can walk you through every step along the way. Not ready to commit to a full remodel? We can also help you repair existing flooring. Visit our website to find a complete listing of our services. Maybe you’ll even find a few more projects we can help you tackle.