So, you’ve made the decision to install oak floors in your home. You still have to choose among the types of oak flooring available. There are a number of choices still left to consider, each of which has practical and aesthetic considerations. As with all home construction and/or decorating decisions, your choices are going to be unique to you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to hardwood flooring. Oak floors come in several types and styles, as do all types of hardwood floors.

Three Types of Oak Flooring and Their Characteristics

1. Solid – As the name implies, this product is made of solid wood. The thickness of the planking can range from a quarter inch to one inch. As the thickness increases, the price goes up. Thicker products are going to be more durable, allow for more refinish jobs and feel more ‘solid under your feet. There is a wide variety of wood species used to make this type of hardwood floor with types of oak flooring being among the the most popular. Solid oak flooring can literally last for generations in your home. In general, solid hardwood flooring will make the most lasting contribution to the value of your home.

2. Engineered – These products are constructed in layers. The way the planks are constructed, the grain of the wood is laid in opposing directions and this makes the floor more stable. Most engineered floor products are between three and twelve layers with the more expensive products having more layers. The advantage to engineered wood floors is due to their greater moisture resistance they can be installed in places not suited to solid wood flooring, like basements or in climates with high levels of humidity. These floors have nearly the same variety of species to choose from as solid hardwood floors. The top layer of the floor is the one that imparts the ‘look’ to the floor so you could choose oak veneer if you are looking for oak flooring and get essentially the same result. There are many types of oak flooring available as engineered products. High quality engineered floors can be refinished up to five times, however the cheaper brands may have as little as .6mm of veneer and can only be recoated once they become worn. Engineered oak flooring is popular because it can give a very pleasing appearance for a more budget friendly price than solid oak flooring.

3. Acrylic Impregnated – This type of wood floor is very hard and stands up to a lot of wear and tear. The wood grain is injected with acrylic resins. This type of floor can be obtained in most of the hardwoods as the other floors and it is ideal for very high traffic areas, even commercial installations in restaurants and stores. It also makes a very durable choice for homeowners. It is one of the types of oak flooring that can handle nearly any situation.

The way you assess each of these various types of hardwood flooring is to first consider where the flooring is to be installed. Solid hardwood flooring is not appropriate for some installations. In places where high moisture is going to be an issue you should consider other choices. Budget considerations will also come into play. Remember that you can get the same look as solid oak flooring at a more attractive price if you choose engineered oak flooring. So you can see that there are many types of oak flooring that fit your unique circumstances.

Oak flooring is extremely durable and easy to maintain. But with continuous use, even a well-cared for oak floor will start to show some wear. One of the best things about wood flooring is that it can be refinished. So unlike carpeting or tile, which must be replaced once it starts looking tired, wood floors can easily be brought back to life again. If you opt to add the special ambiance of antique oak flooring, you will still need to follow the same steps to refinish oak flooring.

How do you know when it’s time to refinish oak flooring? The finish will start to lose its luster and you’ll see lots of superficial scratches on the surface. While the floors themselves are just as strong as ever and can last for many years even in poor condition, you’ll want to invest the time to restore your oak flooring–America’s most popular choice in hardwood flooring. The next step is figuring out what kind of finish your floor has now. Because you’ll need to use the same kind when you refinish your oak floors.

Can I refinish oak flooring myself?

Refinishing hardwoods floor isn’t hard. But it is messy because it produces a lot of sawdust. And if you use an oil-based polyurethane, the fumes can be pretty noxious. So if you have respiratory problems, it’s probably best to hire professionals to refinish your floors.

Professionals usually charge between $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot. That price should include materials.

If you do tackle it yourself, you’ll need to rent a sander or two, buy sandpaper, miscellaneous supplies like tack cloth, and whatever stain or finishes you choose.

No special skills are required. But you will need to take care in order to get results that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Sanding is the first step to refinish oak flooring.

First, empty the room, removing all furniture, carpets, window treatments, etc. Remove the nails from any baseboards or quarter round, and take them off. To make them easier to reinstall, number them and put the corresponding number on the wall.

Go over the wood flooring and remove or countersink any nails, carpet tacks or staples. These can tear the paper you use to sand the floors – which is annoying, because you have to stop work, and expensive, because it wastes sandpaper.

Once your room is prepared, your next stop is the equipment rental store. There are several types of sanders you can rent. A drum sander is the choice of professionals, but they can be hard to control. And if you don’t keep them moving they can sand down one spot so quickly that it will leave a dip in your floor. Or worse, remove the entire veneer.

An orbital sander is easier for beginners to manage. Have the person you rent the sander from demonstrate it for you and make sure you’re comfortable with it before you leave the shop. Most big sanders won’t reach all the way to the edge of the floor, so rent an edging machine or a palm sander for the hard-to-reach spots.

You’ll need several grades of sandpaper, usually 36-, 60-, 80-, 100-, and 120-. Start with the coarsest (36). Run the sander back and forth with the grain in smooth, even strokes. Always keep the sander moving when it’s turned on. Otherwise, you may sand one area too deeply. And be sure to use a respirator every time you sand.

When you finish sanding your wood floor, vacuum up all the sawdust with a shop vac, and go over the floor with a tack cloth to make sure all the dust has been removed. Then, repeat the process with every grade of sandpaper. By the time you get down to the 120-grade, your oak floor should be soft as a baby’s bottom.

Use the edger or palm sander to prepare the parts your couldn’t reach with the bigger sander. Then, clean the floor as thoroughly as you can, removing any remaining dust. The cleaner you get the wood, the better the finish will be as you complete the steps to refinish oak flooring.

Staining is the Second Step in Refinishing Oak Flooring

If you want a shade that’s darker than the natural color of your wood flooring, you’ll need to apply a stain. For subtle changes, apply the stain with a rag. For a more dramatic difference, use a brush and remove the excess with rags. Do a test in the back of a closet or some other inconspicuous place to make sure you like the color.

Let the stain dry completely. Then apply a second coat if you want more color.

Last Step to Refinish Oak Flooring — Polyurethane Finish

Otherwise, you can start applying the polyurethane finish. There are two main types of polyurethane used for finishing hardwood floors: oil-based polyurethane and water-based polyurethane.

Oil-based is a little easier to work with because it takes longer to dry, so it’s easier to blend and go over any mistakes. It yellows a little with age. The downside is that the fumes can be quite strong. Water-based product dries very quickly, which can sometimes result in streaks where wet polyurethane was applied over partially dried finish.

Stir the polyurethane well, don’t shake it – that can cause bubbles that will end up in the finish. Then apply it evenly with a brush or roller. Go with the grain, working as quickly as you can.

When the first coat has dried thoroughly, sand lightly with the finest grade of sandpaper and then apply another coat. Wait at least three days before reattaching the baseboards and moving furniture and rugs back into the room. Then, sit back and enjoy the renewed beauty of your wood flooring.

Read about finishes for wood flooring here.

If you don’t want to wait a century for your oak floors to get that gorgeous luster, you can buy antique floors that have been salvaged from old barns in the American northeast and mid-Atlantic states. 

In addition to the rich finish, antique oak flooring usually has some nail holes, saw marks, and cracks that add even more character.  There may even be worm holes and other traces of insects.

Because barn builders weren’t concerned with appearance, the oak they used was a lower grade than what most home builders use today for flooring.  So the wood originally had more knots and coarse grain patterns than clear grade lumber would have.   Some board may have a beautiful ripple-grain effect known as “tigering.”  All in all, these little peccadilloes  make antique oak flooring truly unique.

With antique flooring, no two floors, or even boards, will be exactly alike. 

Uneven sizes also add to the appeal.

Unlike traditional wood floors which usually have planks that are all the same width, antique wood floors often use planks ranging in width from 3” to 12”.  The boards are often random in length as well.  And since the original finish is uneven – giving the boards much less uniform color than a traditional wood floor – antique wood flooring makes a strong statement.

Instead of the neutral palette provided by a new, red or white oak floor, an antique oak floor will provide lots of drama and visual interest.

Since most antique oak floor boards are a little uneven, most have beveled edges to minimize the differences.  Another option is to buy boards with a worn edge that replicates the wear that would occur naturally over decades of use.

Although the old boards are milled to modern specifications with tongue-and-groove joinery, those looking for an even more rustic look can use visible square-head nails to install the boards.

Where to use antique oak flooring.  

Conventional oak floors can be used to enhance virtually any decorating style, adding warmth to modern interiors or sophistication to traditional ones.  Antique oak floors work best with early American, country, rustic, or lodge-style decors.

Because genuine antique wood flooring is recycled, it’s environmentally responsible too.  Most reclaimed flooring is solid, but some manufactures offer an engineered antique wood floor which is suitable to use over concrete sub floors.

Learn more about conventional wood flooring.  Or learn more about oak flooring.

Chances are that oak floors will cause you to love your home even more.  And they will increase the value of your home as well.  Unlike more distinctive woods like walnut or pecan, oak is liked by almost everyone – and it goes with virtually everything.  Light and dark furniture both look good with oak.  And it can be used in traditional, contemporary, or sophisticated settings. 

Oak flooring comes in a wide variety of finishes, so if you prefer a light or dark floor, you can still use oak.   You can choose from a glossy, satin, or matte finish.  You can get oak in varying widths, from 2-1/4” strips to foot-wide planks.   And you can buy oak flooring that’s hand scraped, quartersawn, or distressed.

No matter what kind of look or mood you want to create, chances are, you can do it with oak.  And since it’s  available as solid wood flooring and also as engineered wood flooring, it can be installed virtually anywhere. 

It doesn’t take much effort to maintain oak flooring.  When cared for properly, oak floors will last for generations. 

Unlike some tropical wood, Oak is naturally resistant to fungus, insects, and other pests.  And when finished correctly, it resists liquids.   But to prevent damage, any spills should be wiped up quickly. 

A few concerns to consider before buying oak flooring.

Although oak is quite hard, it does scratch.  High-heeled shoes, dog claws, and furniture can all leave visible marks.  Fortunately, these are fairly easy to prevent, except in the case of dogs.  Your best bet there is to use lots of area rugs.

Place pads under the feet of your furniture and pick it up to move it.  Sliding furniture across the floor is just asking for trouble.  Don’t wear high heels, cleats, or other athletic shoes on your oak floors.  And use door mats in front of entry ways and throw rugs inside. 

On the topic of rugs, be sure to rotate them occasionally. Oak flooring will fade in direct sunlight.  And many unsuspecting homeowners have rolled up their area rugs for cleaning and seen that that flooring under the rug is no longer the same color.
 
Oak flooring often darkens with time, but many people find this a positive characteristic.  If you’ve ever visited a 100-year-old home with oak floors, you know how beautiful the patina that comes with age can be. 

When you compare the advantages and disadvantages of oak flooring, you’ll likely conclude that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.  Investing in oak floors will improve your home’s appearance and value, and give you decades of pleasure and use.

You can learn about other domestic hardwoods used in wood flooring here.