Could someone identify what type of hardwood this is?

Question

I got a couple quotes from two different hardwood refinishers for my primary residence. I’m trying to find a nice stain but one said my floor is red oak and we’ll be able to do a certain stain, the other said it’s white oak and we wouldn’t be able to do that white washed stain. What do these pictures look like?

Account Closed · Answer

You can sand two areas next to each other 2 ft x 2 ft each and stain. That way you can see which one you like. Typically you do the test in the least seen part of the floor as in behind a door or in a closet.

David M. · Answer

@Nader Hachem

Definitely just do a test area or two.

Normally, my guys will sand the floor and when I stop by will test stain one or two areas so we can double check --- similar to painting.  If there is a problem or I don't like it, we can switch stains.  Whatever he just stains he just sands off on the spot...

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Nader Hachem any good flooring contractor will give you test spots with the diffrent stain colors you choose so you can see it on your floor before you decide on the final. Most builder grade hardwood planks are white or red oak, those look like red oak

Bill Brown · Answer

It certainly looks like red oak.  White oak doesn't usually have color variation like that.  As far as getting an even look, that will depend on the stain, but I doubt you're going to get an even look.  Some boards are flat sawn, some rift sawn and quarter sawn.  And some of the lighter streaks look like sapwood.  Stain will probably take differently on each one no matter what oak it is.  A good finisher should have ideas on how to get an even look, but you may have to lower your expectations.

Mike Dymski · Answer

Sounds backwards...white oak will handle things like Duraseal White better than red oak will (which may look pink).  Or, you will need to bleach the red oak before staining and not many flooring companies outside of the west coast will know how to do that (and it will cost more).  Google staining red oak a light color and you will find lots of pictures.  We wanted the Scandinavian look for a property with red oak, had the contractor test stains as others mentioned, and ended up going with Duraseal Weathered Oak instead of using some mix that included White.  It does not look weathered...it's just looks natural without looking rustic.  The White was too pink/orange, even with the White mixed with Natural.

We also had the contractor "pop" the wood prior to the stain application, which is lightly coating it with water.  That made the grain take on a little grey tint, which made the floor look a little more muted than pure natural look.  That was one of the test samples.

Your floors are going to look great whether you can get whitewashed or not.  They will be smooth, can get rid of the yellow tint, can use satin instead of gloss to look more current, and the light color makes the house look open and expansive.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

Or go buy pieces of each, and stain off-site. Easy stuff....

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

The bare wood photo say it's white oak. But why are you involved? Sign a contract and make the Flooring Contractor responsible to make the end product satisfactory to you. Make the wording in your contract specific.....

David M. · Answer

@Nader Hachem

Unless something "hokey" is going on, once its sanded it will be bare wood.  Oh, well if the wood is actually "dirty stained" (e.g. animal urine, wine that soaked in...) then sanding won't help.  So, once its stained it will look very even.  This is my experience.

Generally, one way to tell if the floor was prefinished is the edges of the wood will be chamfered.  So, the edges of the wood won't meet up squarely -- not counting some movement where the boards actually separate.  But prefinished wood ends up with a slight groove between the boards even when properly installed together.  I've never seen a 'refinished prefinished' floor to know if that goes away when sanded down...  If it does, thats fine because the prefinish is going and like a postfnished floor ! :)

So, what are you looking for as the final product?  An evenly stained floor?

Nader Hachem · Answer

Yeah I’m not sure if this was originally bought as pre stained. What I’m trying to do is have the contractor sand it down and restain. But I’m not sure if the uneven staining in the boards from each other will go away and be more even. Or will it vary even when it’s sanded down

Could someone identify what type of hardwood this is?

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