Quarter Sawn Oak Flooring
Quarter sawn oak flooring, also known as the Wainscot, is when an oak log is cut into four separate pieces. These pieces are cut from the middle of the oak’s trunk, and are dived into four pieces, at ninety-degree angles.
The quarter of the log is then cut one face at a time on opposite sides. As opposed to plain sawn oak lumber, the quarter sawn is lot more laborious to produce, thus making it more expensive.
Plus plain sawn oak produces a lot more lumber, since the cuts are done at vertical lines and with acute angles.
However plain sawn oak comes with certain disadvantages, and is no doubt the inferior of the two.
Quarter sawn oak flooring proves to be more resilient to warping than plain sawn oak.
This is explained by the fact that ninety-degree angle cuts make the oak a lot more stable when the lumber comes into contact with moisture.
This is the material used for floors and cabinets alike, items constructed for their longevity. Plain sawn wood on the other hand, tends to swell up, making it more susceptible to distortion.
While there are many types of oak trees used to make this type of flooring, the most widely used is the white oak variety.
This is due to white oak’s beauty and elegance. Other types of oaks include the red oak and the live oak.
Other types of wood have been utilized for this process, such as ebony and mahogany, but none can compare to oak. Oak is widely chosen for its natural beauty, most notably the clear appearance of wavy and interwoven grain.
While quarter sawn oak flooring costs more than the plain sawn oak and other woods used for quarter sawn, it is without a doubt the better choice both aesthetically and for durability.
Adding to the beauty of the oak wood is its resistance to warping, twisting, and cupping. This explains why this type of wood was used during the Arts and Crafts period, dating to the nineteenth century. This style makes for furniture and flooring that can last for many generations.
