Oak Overview
Oak has long been an extremely popular choice for wood flooring, particularly in traditional-style homes. It has a warm, rich tone and a distinctive grain pattern. Oak flooring is also strong and durable; it can last for generations.
There are two basic types of oak flooring: red oak and white oak. Red oak has a reddish tone and a more distinctive grain pattern. White oak has a browner tone and a less pronounced grain pattern, and it is harder than red oak.
Like most other types of wood flooring, oak is available in engineered or solid wood form, pre-finished or unfinished, and in a variety of grades.
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How Much Does Oak Flooring Cost?
Oak flooring varies in price depending on the quality. The average price for materials and installation is about $8 to $12 per square foot, but in some cases you could pay as much as $20 per square foot. Installing the floors yourself saves a significant amount of money, usually $3 to $7 per square foot.
Pros of Oak
- Durable – Oak is a strong wood that is highly resistant to dents and scratches.
- Lots of character – The distinctive wood grains and warm tones give oak lots of character. The unique patterns of the wood grains stand out even more when the floors are stained.
- Stains well – Oak’s slightly porous surface takes well to stain. You can achieve a beautiful finish with light or dark stain.
Cons of Oak
- More expensive – Oak is slightly pricier than maple.
- More imperfections – To some, the distinctive wood grain is not an attractive feature. Oak is probably not the best choice if you like a clean, modern look.
Maple Overview
Maple flooring has a blondish tint and is much lighter in color than oak flooring. It has a smooth texture and a less prominent grain pattern than oak. It’s ideal for creating a clean, modern look. Maple is also extremely strong and durable; it too can last for generations.
Like oak, maple is available in solid or engineered form, pre-finished or unfinished, and in a variety of grades.
How Much Does Maple Hardwood Flooring Cost
Maple is slightly less expensive than oak, with an average price of $7 to $11 per square foot for materials and installation. In some cases, you could pay $15 or more per square foot. As with oak, d0-it-yourself installation can shave $3 to $7 per square foot from the total price.
Pros of Maple Hardwood
- Durable – Maple flooring is extremely hard and dent-resistant – even more so than oak flooring. This is largely because it is virtually non-porous.
- Fewer imperfections – Maple has a consistent grain pattern that is more subtle than oak with fewer imperfections.
- Less expensive – Maple is slightly lower in price than oak. The price difference is usually anywhere from $1 to $5 per square foot.
Cons of Maple Hardwood
- Less character – For some people, the lack of a distinctive grain pattern makes maple less attractive than oak. If you love traditional style and lots of character, maple is not the best choice.
- Doesn’t stain well – Maple’s non-porous surface doesn’t take to stain very well. Dark stains in particular might look blotchy or uneven.
A lawyer never retires. So I would just say that I am not as active as I used to be. Now I simply dedicate myself to fishing, my hobby, and my grandchildren. For Business Finance News I write about legal aspects of mortgage policies, mostly regarding the rights of policyholders. I also have articles about personal injuries.
