Solid and Engineered Oak Hardwood Floors

Solid Oak flooring is the highest-quality product for its species. Constructed with real, 100% hardwood and without any alternations except for a finish, solid Oak flooring is a popular option for many homes. If you are considering this hardwood for your own, what should you expect when looking for and installing solid Oak flooring?

Like any other species, solid Oak flooring is typically 3/4″ thick and 2 1/4″ to 8″ wide. Solid hardwoods, however, are available even thinner. In fact, some manufacturers even offer planks in 5/16″ to even 1/2″ thick, making them unique in that they can actually be glued down to your subfloor.

For installing traditional 3/4″ thick solid Oak floors, the hardwood needs to be added to wood subfloors or built with a floor joist system. All boards are then nailed or stapled down.

Solid Oak flooring is available in both prefinished and unfinished. For the former, the installation process stops after the planks are nailed or stapled down. Unfinished hardwoods, however, need to be sanded and finished. Although the installation process for unfinished solid Oak takes longer, the hardwood blends in better with existing flooring, and finishes are practically limitless and allow you to find an exact match. Both solid red and white oak flooring machine and sand well and are receptive to stains.