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Oak is one of the first materials that comes to mind when you talk about hardwood flooring. Oak flooring is the overwhelmingly most popular choice when it comes to hardwood materials. For my money (and oak costs a lot) the walnut or cherry materials are the ideal as far as appearance goes, and oak is actually fourth on the list of hardwoods when it comes to hardness (behind maple, birch, and ash) but it may be that some people prefer the middle when it comes to choices. Oak flooring is as durable as any other floor, and its light brown coloring, open pores, and black grain lines make for a nice, formally traditional appearance.
For those who love the idea of oak flooring, there are two types available. Both have many of the same qualities, differing only in their color. Red oak has a pink tinge to it, while white oak is browner and has a less pronounced grain than the red. All woods receive a grade when they are cut based on the appearance of the wood, and the grade that applies to oak flooring is established by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturer’s Association which trains inspectors and workers to grade the materials. Before getting into the grains and what they mean I will say that the grain should not determine the flooring you choose, as most grades are suitable for flooring needs, plus this is just really a bureaucratic measure. Clear oak is the top grade. This wood is mostly from the heart of the tree, and has minimal character marks and flaws, while still allowing for color variations. Select oak includes both heartwood and sapwood, and may have brown streaks that do not extend the length of the board with some pin worm holes and defections. The next grades of oak are No. 1 common oak, No. 2 common oak, and shorts oak. Each of these grades allows for a steadily increasing number of imperfections. However, it is important to note that it is quite possible for any of these grades to make a beautiful appearing floor, and that the standards will not be apparent to anyone outside of the industry. Oak flooring is installed one of the same three manners that apply to other wood floors. Nail down installation is the old stand by; the traditional way of installing oak flooring. The board is placed and then a nail is driven through the tongue (use a pneumatic nailer, there will be a LOT of nails and you will start feeling tired). The groove of the next board is then placed over the tongue to cover up the nail. Some do-it-yourselfers are now choosing to glue down their wood floors, using an adhesive that is similar to that used when installing vinyl. This method only works with boards that are under ¾ inch thick, any larger and they have to be nailed down. The third option for installing oak flooring is the floating installation, wherein boards are glued together or snapped together and held down at the edges by the baseboards.
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