I'm currently renovating an apartment and want to preserve as much of the original flooring as possible while adding new wood flooring that matches. I'm in a bit of a time crunch, and if the wood type isn't what I expected, it could cause some issues. Any insights on distinguishing between ash and oak would be great!
2 Answers
Looks like you're in a tough spot! If you sanded the sample with 120 grit to get rid of old glue, that should help. The grain and color will tell you a lot; ash tends to be lighter and has a more open grain, while oak usually looks a bit darker with a tighter grain.
From the wet look of your sample, it definitely seems more like oak to me. But, if you're unsure, check when the building was constructed. If it's from the 1960s, oak was pretty common back then. Just remember, if your floors are really damaged, laminate over hardwood could be a quick fix!
Exactly! Before you decide, make sure to take good care of that original flooring if you want to keep it visible.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep that in mind while checking the floors.