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Does this rift & quartered white oak loo normal?

4 years ago

These 2 sample 5” pieces have squigly spots that are lighter in color. I haven’t noticed this on other samples of r & q white oak. Is this to be expected?

Ignore the dark spot - I spilled coconut oil on it by mistake.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

SJ McCarthy

4 years ago

Those rays (the diagonal blobs of lighter colour) are precisely why I do NOT like rift sawn. The r&q sawn is a requirement for wide plank products. It leaves the wood more stable throughout the heating/cooling seasons.

If you are unsure about these rays, then you might want to rethink some things:

1. Width...do you need anything more than 4" wide?

2. Colour - the smoking or white washing is HIGHLIGHTING the issue - is it a necessity to have this colour or just a personal 'want'?

3. The FINISH...you mention coconut oil causing discolouration. This is a perfect example of what you can expect with a hardwax oil finish. And it is the perfect illustration of what is most likely going to happen with a lower-grade urethane/polyurethane finish on a floor of that colouring

4. It brings us back to the colour.

Hmmm. Lots of things to think about. My advice has always been, "If you see it in the sample you can be guaranteed to see it in the floor. If the sample disturbs you then you should not purchase the floor."

Comments (6)

live_wire_oak
4 years ago
Medullary rays. It’s what you’re paying the big upcharge to get.
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I think it looks awesome! It might not be exactly what you thought, but I think it may be a happy mistake. I gives a little contrast to the floor and a nice back drop for the island. I do agree with Anna - change that trim around the base of the island. That light color will look a mess in a very short time. Assuming you are trying to cover a gap, see if you can get a scribe molding or shoe molding. This looks like a quarter round. . Enjoy!
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G & S Floor Service
4 years ago
It’s normal, these are the quarter cuts. The rifts are the straight lines.
rpwoodard
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you guys very much!

If I get engineered flooring, that will be a stable floor & I won’t need the stability provided by rift & quartered or from rift only?

BTW, the samples in the pic above are unfinished.

(My husband was finally convinced of the benefits of pre-finished floors, but he changed his mind. He wants unfinished. )
rpwoodard
Original Author
4 years ago
@S J McCarthy, we prefer 5”, but it doesn’t have to be. I believe w/engineered flooring, no issues w/wider planks such as 5” ?

Thanks for the tips about the oil.

@G & S, thanks - you already answered my question about rift only (vs rift & quartered).
rpwoodard
Original Author
4 years ago
Now I have a visual example of what I just learned.
Hurst Hardwoods has this photo online of a plank that’s quartered only. I see the medullary rays

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