| Wood Type | Hardness: Janka Scale Rating | Able to Stain? | Character | Price Point Per Square Foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwoods | ||||
| White Oak | 1360 | Yes | Prominent grain; slight color variation; clear or with knots | $14 - $25 |
| Quartersawn White Oak | 1360 | Yes | Prominent, primarily straight grain with some wavy variation | $18 - $30 |
| Walnut | 1010 | Yes | Soft grain; occasional gold "sapwood" tones | $14 - $25 |
| Cherry | 950 | Yes | Soft grain; consistent color tone | $14 - $20 |
| Maple | 1450 | Not Recommended | Soft grain; consistent color; occasional mineral stain or knot | $14 - $20 |
| Hickory | 1820 | Yes | Soft grain; dramatic color variation; occasional knots | $14 - $20 |
| Red Birch | 1260 | Not Recommended | Soft grain; strong color variation | $14 - $20 |
| Red Oak | 1220 | Yes | Prominent grain; subtle color variation; knots | $14 - $20 |
| Pines | ||||
| Old Growth Eastern White Pine | Soft wood: Will show dents and scratches for a "lived on" look | Yes | Soft grain; consistent color; occasional knots | $10 - $17 |
| Southern Longleaf Heart Pine | 1225 | Yes | Prominent, primarily straight grain; red "heartwood" throughout each plank; knots and other natural character | $12 - $16 |
| Antique Woods | ||||
| Antique Wood Flooring | Between 1290 and 1360 | Not Recommended | Prominent grain; color variation; deep patina from age; knots; mineral streaks; worm holes; other natural character representing aged wood | $18 - $35 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is White Oak the right choice for my project?
White oak is one of the most versatile hardwoods, fitting beautifully into a wide range of styles and types of environments.
White oak lends itself to open-floor plans and large rooms. Because white oak trees grow tall, with long trunks, we are able to make floor planks in stunningly long lengths, from 2′ up to 14′. This means that you will not have all the seams from the short lengths of the floor boards found in mass-produced strip flooring and your open spaces will seem even larger.
To see if this wood type is the right fit for your space, explore real examples of white oak floors in our homeowner galleries, as well as on Pinterest or Houzz. Pay attention to color, grain, and finish in environments similar to what you are hoping to achieve. When the look matches your vision, and if it fits your budget, wide plank walnut can be a lasting, beautiful foundation for your project.
How long do I need to acclimate White Oak before installation?
William & Henry follows NWFA guidelines recommending that solid wood flooring be acclimated on-site until the flooring moisture content is within approximately ±2% of the subfloor. This process typically takes about 8–10 days, depending on the jobsite environment. If both the flooring and the subfloor are already within ±2% of each other and reflect stable, lived-in interior conditions, additional acclimation may not be required.
Can White Oak be installed over radiant-heated floors?
Yes. White oak is a very stable wood floor and can be successfully installed using radiant heat underlayment. There are some important procedures to follow with this type of installation and we will answer all of your questions related to climate, heat sources, and temperature variations.
Learn more about why radiant heat is the best option for wide plank floors.
Does White Oak handle humidity and seasonal changes well?
Yes. All the wide plank floors that William & Henry make will perform beautifully and remain stable in humidity and seasonal changes. The key is to acclimate your floors for the recommended period of time to the environment that the floor will live in prior to installation.
Can White Oak floors be stained?
Yes. In fact, white oak takes stain very uniformly and is an excellent wood choice for using stain or colored oils (which we prefer).
There are many different ways to go about coloring your white oak floors and your choice is often dictated by the way you’ll live with your floor and the design style you are trying to create. The team at William & Henry will work with you to determine the best approach.
What finish options are available for White Oak, and how do they affect maintenance?
Finishing options are extensive these days but our favorites are time tested and have properties that can be counted on for durability and ease of maintenance.
- Loba ImpactOil Color System: The ImpactOil coloring system offers and alternative to staining and finishing. It’s a high-solid coloring oil finishing system based on natural ingredients and available in a wide variety of designer colors. This finish and coloring system is our first recommendation for today’s William & Henry floors. It actually penetrates into the wood for a lasting beauty and forever finish. It is also easy to maintain and you’ll never have to refinish your floors. Learn more about Loba-Wakol 2k ImpactOil on their website.
- Waterbased Urethane: This type of finish is best for natural wood types where you want to maintain the organic color tone without the rich patinas that are the result of oil-based finishes. One example is the white tone of maple or the neutral hue of hickory.
- Tung Oil: We like 100% pure tung oil, which comes from the nut of the tung tree, for many reasons. It actually penetrates into the wood fibers, strengthening your solid wood floors all the way through. It is the best finish for highlighting and richening the natural beauty of wood and produces a matte sheen appearance. Visit the Waterlox Website to learn more about 100% Pure Tung Oil.
How do I clean and maintain White Oak?
Maintenance of your wood floor is determined by the type of finish used to protect the floor.
- Some finishes are harder initially and will last years. Eventually, based on traffic levels and wear, floors will need to be refinished. This is common with urethanes.
- Other finishes, such as the natural tung oil or ImpactOil are not as hard, but will never need to be refinished. You can touch up noticeable wear areas by applying another layer of oil.
Our recommendation for cleaning your wood floors is to use Swiffer products for woof floors as well as Bona or Loba products. Make sure your floor cleaner products are pH-neutral.
Can White Oak be refinished, and how often?
Yes, but you may not need to.
Solid Wood Floors:
- With natural tung oil or ImpactOil you will never need to refinish your floors. Simply apply a new layer or spot apply to areas that show signs of wear.
- With urethane finishes, when and how often you do so will depend on the level of heavy traffic and visible signs of wear a deterioration of the finish.
Engineered Wood Floors:
- With pre-finished engineered wood floors using natural tung oil or ImpactOil you will never need to refinish your floors. Simply apply a new layer or spot apply to areas that show signs of wear.
- With urethane finishes, when and how often you do so will depend on the level of heavy traffic and visible signs of wear and deterioration of the finish. Most engineered wood floors can only be refinished a limited number of times (one or two). William & Henry wide plank engineered wood floors have a thicker wear layer than mass-produced engineered products, and can be sanded and refinished three to four times.
What warranty typically comes with White Oak Flooring?
At William & Henry, every floor we craft is backed by our unwavering commitment to your satisfaction and the integrity of our work. Our lifetime limited structural warranty reflects the confidence we have in our craftsmanship — ensuring your floor will remain solid, stable, and beautiful for generations. Each plank is designed to be refinished multiple times (when necessary and appropriate), extending its life and deepening its character with age.
We ask that our customers and installers handle our floors with the same care and respect with which they were made, following proper installation and maintenance guidelines to preserve their quality. Should an issue ever arise, we’ll work with you directly to make it right — because our relationship with you matters just as much as the floors we create.
How much should I budget for White Oak flooring?
Plan to spend $xx to $xx for your white oak wide plank solid or engineered floors.
Is White Oak flooring environmentally responsible?
At William and Henry, we prioritize sustainability by using older, mature trees — often 80 – 12- years old — that have naturally contributed to the health of the forest ecosystem through generations of seeds and natural reforestation.
By allowing trees to reach full maturity, we work with the natural lifecycle of the forest rather than against it, creating wide plank floors that reflect centuries of strength and resilience.
This approach not only preserves the value and character of each tree, but also maximizes its life, keeping its benefits in use rather than letting it decay unused. In doing so, we honor both the forest and the craftsmanship traditions that inspire us, creating floors that are beautiful, enduring, and environmentally responsible.
Learn more about Don Carlisle’s approach to sustainability.
What is the Janka hardness rating of White Oak, and why does it matter?
The Janka hardness scale measures how much force it takes to embed a steel ball into wood—a method that doesn’t truly reflect how a floor performs in a home. What matters most is how the wood is procured, milled, and installed: at William & Henry, we craft our wide plank floors from the heart of slow-growing, old-growth trees, maximizing stability, strength, and long-term durability. In fact, many homes built with their original wide plank floors are still standing in America today.
For those curious about the Janka test and why it’s not the whole story, we cover it in more detail on our blog.
Start a Conversation About White Oak Flooring
Bring the strength and versatility of White Oak into your home. Connect with us to explore how this timeless hardwood can be customized to fit your style and built to last for generations to come.