Texture: Oak wood has a course texture; it is heavy, straight-grained, hard, tough, very stiff, and strong. Fast-grown oak, with wide rings, is stronger and heavier than slow-grown oak.

Working Properties: Oak wood has good working properties. It machines and glues well and holds fasteners extremely well. It tends to split when nailed, unless predrilled.

Oak still reigns as king of the hardwood floor choices because of its timeless grains, warmth and rich appearance. Oak is truly a wood that will last the lifetime of your home with proper maintenance. It's these enduring qualities Mother Nature gave to this tree which have made it such a popular choice in hardwood flooring over the centuries.

Oak has several different species that can add different hues, and grain types that add effect to its personality when installed into the home. The look of oak varies within its species. Typically you'll have red and white oak to choose from. White oak colors range from light to medium tans, grey and medium brown. Red Oak has medium colors of light tan, pink and dark browns. Color changes for the both Red and White Oak will tend to amber over time to a slightly more golden color.

Oak has a reputation of being a sturdy and rugged wood in its nature and is considered to have a long life span.  It also tends to have a resiliency against moisture which aids to be a great choice when considering installation in a humid climate. Some other added benefits of oak is its has natural defense against scratching and abrasions which tends to be a higher than that of denser wood species. Additional defense on scratching is applied by different types of finishes that are normally included by the manufacturer utilizing various technologies like UV treating and aluminum oxides.

When considering any kind of hardwood floor you have to keep in mind that wood is a hygroscopic material. This means when wood is exposed to climate elements such as air and water it will dry or pick up moisture until it is an equilibrium with the humidity and air temperature. Moisture absorption causes wood to swell. In return, contraction can occur in dry climate levels. In conclusion, different types of wood species have different toleration levels to different climates. Thus, it is essential to consider what type of wood to include within your home depending on the location of your home.

There appears to be many reasons why oak's the most popular choice in hardwood floors..its versatility and its affordability ranges from inexpensive to moderate. Mother Nature gave us a legacy with a tree as nobel as the oak. The larger than life natural characteristics of the oak are applied to so many uses within our everyday lives has added to the oaks legacy over the centuries. It's no wonder why we invited this species to live  with us in our homes and lives.