red or white oak?

Question

How is it possible to determine if an existing floor is "red oak" or "white oak" without removing or sanding any boards?

Edwin Pawlowski · Accepted Answer

You just look at it. If you know the differences, you can easily spot it. Most floors are red.Take a look here

Lawrence · Answer

If you cannot see the difference then you may have a friend who can.

Cindy Hamilton · Answer

If you have any registers set into the floor (e.g., for forced-air heat and/or cold-air returns) you might lift one and see if you can spot some unfinished wood. Or if there's a transition to another type of flooring, poke around there and see what you can. Or if your flooring goes into a closet, try there, around the edges.

Cindy Hamilton

3G · Answer

| > How is it possible to determine if an existing floor is "red oak" or| > "white oak" without removing or sanding any boards?|| If you have any registers set into the floor (e.g., for forced-air| heat and/or cold-air returns) you might lift one and see if| you can spot some unfinished wood.  Or if there's| a transition to another type of flooring, poke around there| and see what you can.  Or if your flooring goes into a closet,| try there, around the edges.|| Cindy Hamilton|I have found that white oak boards are more striped (blonde lines).whereas red oak boards are more solid tone.

nospambob · Answer

Red oak has open pores while white doesn't.  Look at the end grain tosee if pores are open "tubes".

red or white oak?

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