Birch vs. Oak Wood Floors: Which Is The Better Option?

Birch vs. Oak: Which is better for wood floors?

Birch and Oak are among the most popular choices for homeowners installing new hardwood floors. These species offer everything you want in a flooring surface – lustrous color, fascinating grain patterns, and exceptional durability and stability that ensure a long life for your newly installed wood floors.

So, Birch vs. Oak – which is the better option? Let’s take a look at these iconic hardwood species side by side to see which floor is best for your purposes.

Endless Inspiration for the Floor of Your Dreams

GET DESIGN BOOK

Birch Wood Flooring

Here at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, our craftsmen will tell you that Birch is the species they would choose for their own homes.  Birch planks feature intriguing combinations of color tones, with blonde outer edges and warm amber portions. Grain patterns vary from highly figured flames to subtle swirls that offer a unique and captivating appearance. Birch is often mistaken for maple and is equally difficult to stain.

Oak Wood Flooring

Oak is probably the single most popular wood for hardwood flooring and is available in two species.

A Red Oak floor is light brown to pinkish in color and features swirling, water-like grain patterns. White Oak features color tones with nutty brown to cocoa hues, along with more consistent grain patterns that range from simple and sleek to intricate swirls. The strong grain in oak floors can help to hide dents and scratches more effectively than other hardwoods. Oak floors can be easily stained, providing color options that range from very light to dark, allowing them to play the role of both classic and contemporary hardwood floors.

The Hardness of Birch vs. Oak

The hardness of a species of wood is measured with the Janka hardness test which determines the amount of force required to embed a small steel ball halfway into a plank of wood. Oak species are slightly harder than Birch – White Oak has a Janka rating of 1360 and Red Oak of 1290, while Birch has a rating of 1260. (Sweet Birch, a less common hardwood, has a higher rating of 1470.)

For context, Hickory (among the hardest of common hardwood species) has a rating of 1820 and Eastern White Pine (the wood used by early New England colonists) has a hardness rating of 380. The mid-range hardness ratings of Birch and Oak mean that the floors can withstand medium to heavy foot traffic while still being relatively easy to work with.

The Durability of Birch and Oak

Both Birch and Oak hardwoods are considered to have excellent durability for their value. White Oak in particular is highly durable and resistant to moisture – it’s often used to build boats and make wine barrels.

Oak and Birch Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is ideal for installation below grade or in locations where relative humidity and temperature may vary widely. Engineered floors are made with a top layer of hardwood that is adhered to multiple layers of backing material to create a floorboard that is more resistant to warping when temperature and humidity change.

Engineered floors can be ordered with both Birch and Oak top layers, also called the “wear layer.” Engineered Birch or engineered Oak hardwood flooring is perfect for installation in basements, over radiant heat and on concrete slabs.

Is Birch or Oak more expensive?

Birch floors are typically more expensive than White or Red Oak floors.

Birch vs. Oak: which is better?

Ultimately, the choice between Birch vs. Oak will likely come down to cost and personal preference. Birch floors will have a somewhat richer and more vibrant feel than Oak floors. Oak offers some cost savings and provides a hardwood floor that’s easier to stain to match any interior design scheme.

To explore all your hardwood floor options – Birch vs. Oak, Maple vs. Cherry, Hickory vs. Ash, and Yellow Pine vs. White Pine – simply contact a design specialist at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors by phone or in person. We’ll be happy to walk you through your options and to deliver samples that will let you compare Birch and Oak planks in a range of finishes.