Oak is one of the more common domestic species for flooring. Aside from its attractive and neutral appearance, both red and white oak present no issues in installation.

In general, oak hardwood is characterized by somewhat coarse, open grain, high shock resistance, durability, and good holding ability. Beyond these qualities, however, red and white oak have some notable differences.

With light red heartwood and sapwood, red oak is known for its plumed or flared appearance. With a Janka scale rating of 1290, red oak sands well and is ideal for bleaching floors.

A white, cream, or light-brown shade, white oak is characterized by longer rays, but when riftsawn or quartersawn, the hardwood's appearance has less variation compared to its red counterpart. With a Janka scale rating of 1360, white oak is moderately dense and more durable than red oak. While the hardwood is not the best for bleaching, white oak is better for machining and has a high concentration of tannic acid, which makes it resistant to fungi and insects.

While the cost of red and white oak flooring is similar, other factors need to be taken into consideration when a floor is being installed. Aside from the grade and whether the product is solid or engineered, the cost of oak flooring encompasses the installation procedures and any materials used.

Before any oak hardwood is added, a professional may need to remove and dispose of old flooring materials, such as carpet, and the cost of this procedure runs about $60 per hour. Aside from flooring preparation, the cost of oak flooring includes nailing, gluing, or floating the planks. If plywood needs to be added on top of the subfloor first, an additional cost per hour is added. Fasteners, such as nails or staples, and other installation materials, such as underlayment or adhesive for a lock flooring product, are also part of the overall cost.