The Key Benefits of Cherry vs. Oak Floors

Cherry and Oak are both classic choices for hardwood floors and each has distinct advantages. As you’re considering Cherry vs. Oak, you’ll want to know more about how these woods hold up over time, how well they resist scratches and wear, and how difficult it is to keep them clean. Let’s take a quick look at each species and the key benefits they offer to homeowners seeking new wood floors.

Key Benefit of Cherry:  Its Lustrous Beauty

American Cherry wood flooring has long been one of the favorites of homeowners. With rich, deep red tones and subtle grain structure, Cherry is a beautiful and elegant hardwood with uniquely inviting warmth that brightens any room. Polishing a Cherry floor produces a glowing red color, and the lustrous hues of Cherry will mature to a lovely, burnished auburn color.

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Key Benefit of Oak:  Versatility

Unfinished Oak floors in America are fashioned from two species: White Oak and Red Oak. A floor made with Red Oak features deep salmon hues in the heartwood with tight but prominent grain patterns that produce a beautiful, handsome floor. Consequently, Red Oak is one of the most popular choices for common strip hardwood flooring. White Oak planks reveal a more dramatic personality in the grain, with patterns that run from simple and sleek to intricate, vibrant swirls. Featuring nutty brown and cocoa hues, White Oak planks appear a bit darker than Red Oak and offer a more neutral palette that can complement any design scheme.

Is Cherry a hardwood?

Both Cherry and Oak are considered hardwoods, though Oak planks are considerably denser than Cherry boards. With its smooth-grained, reddish-brown hardwood that originates from the American Black Cherry fruit tree, this hardwood has always been cherished in America, for both furniture and flooring.

How hard is Cherry wood?

Cherry rates a 950 on the Janka hardness scale, making it one of the softer hardwoods. With a Cherry floor, you’ll want to take special care to protect it from heavy objects like bookcases or desk legs that could leave a dent. For this reason, Cherry floors are probably not the best choice for high-traffic areas. On the other hand, Red Oak is considerably harder with a 1290 rating. And White Oak has a rating of 1360, making it one of the more durable choices for wood floors.

Which floor accept stain most easily?

Cherry, Red Oak and White Oak all accept stains quite easily. Oak floors can be easily stained to a wide range of colors. Cherry also accepts stains well. But because Cherry floors are usually prized for their beautiful red hues, it’s less common to stain them to another color.

Is it harder to clean Cherry vs. Oak?

There’s no real difference in the effort required to keep Cherry and Oak floors clean. Because Cherry ages to a darker overall patina, these floors will tend to show dust and dirt more easily, meaning you’ll likely need to clean them more often. Sweeping and vacuuming the floors frequently will keep them free of dirt and debris. To remove grime and stubborn dirt, you can lightly mop with a mild solution of water and a bit of white vinegar for a streak-free finish.

The value of engineered Cherry and Oak floors

When considering Cherry vs. Oak, you’ll also need to decide between solid wood and engineered floors. Both Cherry hardwood flooring and Oak hardwood flooring are excellent choices for engineered planks. Engineered floors are fashioned with floorboards that are a composite of materials – usually several layers of plywood or fiberboard – that are glued together to form a core that’s more resistant to changes in moisture and humidity. This composite is topped with a veneer of hardwood like Cherry or Oak to create a floor that looks like solid hardwood but is ideal for installations below grade, over concrete slab and atop radiant heating systems.

Is there a cost differential in Cherry wood vs. Oak wood?

Oak hardwood floors tend to be a bit less expensive than Cherry, as Oak is more widely available, and the consistency of the grain patterns makes it easier to find suitable Oak planks.

Cherry vs. Oak: which is better for your home?

For most homeowners, the choice of Cherry vs. Oak comes down to the color palette they prefer and the hardness of the floor. Cherry floors feel a bit more luxurious, however, they are slightly softer and will tend to show more dents and dings in high traffic areas. If you prefer a floor that’s more resistant to wear, Oak would be a better choice in these areas.

At Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, our design consultants can help you explore the benefits of Cherry vs. Oak as well as Maple vs. Cherry or Hickory vs. Walnut. We can help you find less expensive options or solid French Oak flooring or the right stain for small room flooring to make a space feel larger. Whether you’re seeking a Pine floor or a gleaming new hardwood surface, our Wide Plank Specialists can help you design the floor of your dreams.