Red Oak Wood Floor
Red Oak has great commercial significance in North America. Red Oak finishes easily. It does not have the blotching issues that are associated with Birch or Maple. This type of wood has a strong grain (so be careful) and it glues and sands easily. After the Red Oak is cut into limber, it is used often for furniture, flooring and millwork. However, Red Oak is full of tannic acid, and when mixed with water can create a chemical blue dye. This means, if you use this wood, be sure not to spill water on the floor or black spots will appear. This hardwood is very popular and is very durable against staining. It has a pink appearance and has a grainy surface.
An interesting fact is that Oak Hardwood is an environmentally green resource, renewable and readily available in the United States. The big and majestic Oakwood is multi-faceted for building ships, furniture, veneers and paneling. However, the most obvious choice is the use of it in hardwood flooring. As with most floors, Red Oak will undergo a color altering process with exposure to oxygen and sunlight.
How is your hardwood floor supposed to look?
Appearance: Red oak is white to light brown in color.
Grain: Red Oakwood possesses a very long straight grain.
Properties: Red oak floors are easier to clean than white, because they are more porous, making the wood more tolerant of cleaners and refinishers.
General Guidelines to Keep Your Hardwood Flooring in Great Shape
Keeping your hardwood floors looking great is essential since hardwood is one of the most expensive floor types around. Simple steps can prolong the life of your hardwood floor, regardless of the type you may have. Here are some tricks that will keep your hardwood floor looking new:
- Close curtains and blinds- UV rays from sunlight can fade colors on floor and sometimes cause discoloration
- Place floor protectors under furniture
- Clean, wipe or blot spills immediately to help prevent stains.
- Place doormats at every door- this helps to trap dirt at the doorway instead of transferring it to the floor inside the home. The coco mat, featured on QVC, traps all types of particles such as dust, mud, snow and can be used for the front door, patio or even the garage.
- Take care when moving heavy objects like furniture and equipment- utilize furniture coaters to transport heavy objects across floors.
- Dust and vacuum floors regularly to maximize beauty and decrease buildup of debris
- Exercise caution when using bleaches, mildew removers, oven cleaners, drain openers and plant food as these contain strong chemicals that can discolor floors.
- Always follow your manufacturer’s guidelines on products that are safe for your hardwood floor type.
- Rearrange area rugs occasionally as they block sunlight causing a discolored appearance under the rug.
- Avoid exposure to water on hardwoods.
- Maintain normal humidity of 40-60% throughout all seasons of the year to reduce the natural expansion and contraction process typically found in hardwoods. Humidity levels can be maintained with air conditioners, humidifiers, de-humidifiers or with a heating system.
- Keep pets nails trimmed and filed and remove stiletto style heels to minimize scratches.
- Never clean hardwood floors with steel wools or scouring powders as these can cause damage.
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