There is a difference. Northern Red oak will have a tighter grain than southern. Slower growth causes this. Oaks grown in Appalachia also have the tight grain of Northern Red Oaks. Southern Red oak has a more porous, open grain. It is also softer and lighter. It grows quicker than the Northern.

It's pretty easy to get an idea of who is making their products out of Northern or Southern. Just look at where their mills are located.

Alan Ward
WeShipFloors.com
1-844-356-6711

We have used Mullican, Oakcrest, Turman, Sheoga and a few more that I can not remember at the moment. They're all great with quality unfinished products. Sheoga has beautifully milled flooring, however, they will not sell direct to consumer. Mills can typically get any type of hardwood from whichever region. Speak with someone and let them know you would like the Northern oak and not a southern variety.

Oh, I almost forgot. You can not simply ask for Red Oak. There are a few different grades of hardwood. Select, No 1 Common, No 2 Common and No 3 Common(No 3 is sometimes referred as character/cabin grade.)

Go straight to the mill via your floor installer. You don’t need the added layer of a reseller an “brands”. Most flooring pros buy direct. Raw wood is raw wood, and your professional will know the best value local sources.

Yes Northern is better ( my opinion) lighter color, more uniformed color , tighter grain, and bit harder than Southern. It also depend on the mills, what's their avg lengths, hows their milling. Personally my options for top mills; our own Amish mill, Cumberland, Smith, Sheoga, never used Lacrosse or seen it but I do believe they are out of Wisconsin. Sophie W. which mills sell direct ? most mills sell through distributors.