White oak is the species most often specified for wide plank floors. Here’s how to choose between the many ways it can be cut, graded and finished.
Why white oak
White oak has a neutral base color, tight grain and good dimensional stability. It takes natural finishes, warm browns and custom colors evenly, which makes it a dependable choice for wide boards in Michigan homes.
Plain, rift or quarter sawn
Plain sawn white oak shows the classic cathedral grain. Rift and quarter sawn boards have straight grain — quarter sawn adds ray fleck — and move less seasonally. Compare White Oak Natural with White Oak Natural Rift & Quarter.
Character or clean
Character grade keeps knots and color variation for a relaxed look, like White Oak Nature Character. Clean grade, like White Oak Nature Clean, is quieter and more uniform.
Smooth or wire brushed
Wire brushing opens the grain for texture and helps hide everyday wear — see White Oak Wire Brushed White Grain and White Oak Wire Brushed Satin.
Color
Standard finishes include Bourbon, Mackinaw and Blacksmith. For something specific to your project, see our custom color process.
Other species to compare
If white oak isn’t quite right, hickory is harder with more contrast and red oak is warmer. See the species guide or all white oak floors.