The Differences of Hickory vs. Oak Flooring

Hickory vs. Oak flooring: which hardwood is right for you?

When installing new hardwood floors, the choice for many homeowners comes down to Hickory vs. Oak flooring. Both hardwoods make for stunning surfaces, especially when they are wide plank floors. Whether you’re installing hardwood flooring in a living room or dining room or searching for the right bedroom or nursery flooring, you can’t go wrong with Oak or Hickory hardwood however there are differences that will help you find the right floor for your needs.

That said, there are significant differences between these two giants of the hardwood flooring industry. Let’s take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of Hickory vs. Oak flooring.

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Hickory is big on character

Hickory is a hardwood with tons of personality. On a Hickory floor, it’s not unusual to see a range of light and dark colors within a single plank, as well as mineral streaks, knots and lots of variation in grain patterns depending on the grade that you choose.

Some love the visual interest of this variety while others feel Hickory’s character is a little too busy. Color variation in Hickory planks ranges from creamy white sapwood to dark, brown heartwood, which is on full display when you are using a natural or lighter tone finish. Some of this variation becomes much more subtle as you move into darker stains that are able to overcome the natural variation in the wood.

When naturally finished or just lightly stained Hickory’s lighter color is frequently selected for more modern decor than for traditional designs that might pair better with a darker wood. Hickory’s personality really shines on wide plank floors where the striking grain patterns and color variations are on full display.

When stained in darker tones the subtle variation that pushes through the stain creates a much older handcrafted feel to the floor.

Oak is everybody’s friend

Hickory and White Oak are the most popular hardwoods in the flooring industry – and for good reason. Oak seems to offer a near-perfect balance of beauty, character, durability and affordability. With salmon-colored hues in the heartwood, Hickory is actually somewhat lighter than White Oak, which has a more nutty brown color. The graining in both varieties is similar and not over-the-top. White Oak offers strong grain features that can range from simple and sleek to intricate swirls, while red Oak features dramatic, somewhat wilder patterns. In general, Oak floorboards will have a lot more consistency than Hickory planks, making it easier to achieve an even look across the entire floor, if desired.

Hickory vs. Oak flooring: which is tougher?

Hickory wins this category easily as it’s one of the strongest domestic hardwoods available. It has an 1820 rating on the Janka Hardness scale which measures a hardwood’s density.  White Oak has a 1360 rating which makes them both denser than woods like Cherry, Walnut and Pine. While Hickory’s density makes it much more resistant to dents and dings, Hickory and White Oak are still considered excellent floors for durability.

Stability of Hickory vs. Oak flooring

Some hardwoods are more stable than others when it comes to humidity – they don’t absorb as much moisture from the surrounding air. Others are more susceptible to higher levels of humidity and can expand and warp as humidity levels rise. While Hickory is an incredibly dense hardwood, it’s not as stable as Oak. If you’re installing Hickory in a space that is prone to larger fluctuations in relative humidity, you may want to consider engineered Hickory floorboards rather than solid wood.

Choosing solid or engineered planks

Both Hickory and Oak can be ordered as solid or engineered floors. While solid planks are cut from a single piece of timber, engineered floors are made with multiple layers of material that are glued together and topped with a veneer of hardwood. The resulting floorboard forms a stronger core that’s more resistant to changes in moisture and humidity. The only difference in engineered Hickory vs. Oak flooring is the hardwood veneer – the backing material for both types of floors will be the same.

The cost of Hickory vs. Oak flooring

Pricing can vary greatly depending on what dimension, grade and structure you are considering in each wood. At Carlisle, these woods are fairly similar in price, but this may not be true for all manufacturers.

Working with color and stain

Both Oak and Hickory accept stains quite well, so it’s easy to adapt these floors to almost any interior design. But with its prominent grain patterns, Hickory can be harder to stain evenly. That’s why many homeowners opt for a prefinished Hickory floor when choosing to stain their Hickory floors as it allows us to apply the color in a very controlled environment and a very consistent manner resulting in a more even application of color.

Texturing oak and hickory floorboards

If you’re interested in a textured floor – where craftsmen treat new floorboards with techniques that give the planks an aged appearance – you’ll be happy to know that there’s no real difference in Hickory vs. Oak flooring when it comes to distressing the wood. At Carlisle, our craftsmen use several techniques to texture floors. A hand-scraped hardwood floor has the appearance of vintage boards that were scraped by hand to prepare them for installation. Brushing is our most popular texture which removes some of the slightly softer grain leaving both Oak and Hickory looking a bit older and more worn as if they have been in place for centuries.

Caring for Hickory vs. Oak flooring

Hardwood floors in general are easy to care for and Hickory and Oak floors are no exception. Keeping the floors swept and vacuumed will eliminate much of the dust and debris that might otherwise contribute to scratches and wear. Mopping with a light solution of water and a little white vinegar can easily loosen stubborn dirt.

Learn more about Oak and Hickory flooring at Carlisle

When you’re ready to explore the benefits of Hickory vs. Oak flooring, contact a wide plank specialist at Carlisle or stop by one of our showrooms. We’ll be happy to walk you through the benefits of both hardwoods or to help you compare the advantages of Hickory vs. Ash, Oak vs. Birch or Hickory vs. Walnut. We can show you the difference between solid and engineered floorboards, and what Hickory hand-scraped hardwood flooring actually looks like. And we’ll show you all the options for color, finish, pattern and texture that are available with a Carlisle wide plank floor.