Choosing between European and American Oak Flooring  

09/19/2023

Oak wood is considered to be highly desirable for a wide range of design and construction purposes. Over the years, it has been used extensively around the world for flooring and creating furniture. If you are planning to upgrade the flooring in your home or business, oak wood flooring is probably your best bet.   

American and European oak are two of the most commonly used variants of oak wood. Before making a choice between these two variants, it is important to understand the difference between them and decide which one is better suited for your flooring needs.  

Before discussing ahead, it is important to note that both European and American oak are derived from the same species of tree. However, these two types of oak are significantly different in terms of their texture, colouring, and hardness. There are many scenarios where both types can be used with great result. At the same time, both can be better than the other under different situations because of their distinct properties.   

Differences between European and American Oak  

In spite of belonging to the same species, the properties of European and American wood are quite contrasting.  

Colour: Even though they have similar tones, the shade of European oak is somewhat darker compared to American oak. The colour of European Oak resembles honey and warm gold. On the other hand, the colour of American Oak is considerably lighter and may contain pinkish tones.   

Tone variation: Compared to American oak, European oak has a colour tone that offers a higher degree of plank to plank consistency. On the contrary, a greater variation between darker and lighter tones can be exhibited by American oak. 

Finishing: American Oak often comes with a polyurethane finish, which can be applied onsite or prefinished. These floors require refinishing after some years because polyurethane tends to degrade over time. This refinishing process is expensive and takes a lot of time. European oak is extremely versatile, and suitable for a variety of finishing applications. After the finishing process, natural oil is often applied to European oak. The penetrating action of this oil finish strengthens the wood fibre and preserves its inherent splendour.  

Strength and durability: The Janka Scale is used all over the world to measure the durability of hardwood. As per this scale, European Oak is marginally stronger and more durable compared to American oak.  

Plank length and thickness:  European oak trees are naturally higher than American Oak. As a result, they are available in longer plank lengths. European Oak is also broader compared to its American counterpart, and therefore, is available in thicker widths.  

Floorboard movement: As European oak has higher hardness compared to American oak, it is less likely to contract or expand as much as the American type.    

Fuming: This is the process of darkening hardwood by applying gaseous ammonia in a closed chamber.  The European Oak tends to smoke beautifully, producing a deep and black walnut-like hue. The effects produced by fumigation of American oak are less reliable.  

If you have any other questions related to your hardwood flooring, please get in touch with us at Enoak. Our authentic artisan French oak flooring is available in a wide range of finishes and styles that will surely suit your taste.