The Beauty of Wide Plank White Washed Oak Hardwood Floors

The Beauty of Wide Plank White Washed Oak Floors

White washed oak floors are an increasingly popular choice for home interiors. The light and airy look of these floors creates a fresh, timeless style in any room. Wide plank oak floors have an especially attractive, expansive look that shows off the beautiful natural grain and markings of oak wood.

Why Choose Wide Plank Oak Floors

Wide oak planks are generally milled to be 5 inches wide or wider. This shows off more of the natural beauty and character of the wood. The creamy white wash finish softens these characteristics, complementing the wood's knots, whorls, and color variations with a lightly weathered driftwood appearance.

The wider planks have a more dramatic visual impact that contemporizes the traditional appeal of natural hardwood floors. Rooms appear larger, with an added sense of refinement and craftsmanship from the broad expanses of beautiful flooring.

A Sustainable Flooring Option

Oak is a durable sustainable hardwood that makes an excellent long-lasting flooring material. The white washed finish updates the look while allowing the environmentally friendly benefits of wood floors to shine through.

Responsibly harvested from regenerating forests, oak trees grow back quickly and abundantly. Oak wood floors can last for decades, avoiding replacement waste over time with proper care and maintenance.

Easy Maintenance for Busy Homes

A white washed finish makes oak floor care and upkeep simple. The light finish minimizes the appearance of dust and dirt. It also hides minor scratches and dings well for an easy going, family friendly floor.

Compared to darker stains, white washed oak requires less frequent sweeping and light damp mopping. Weekly upkeep easily prevents buildup of grime that could work dirt into the grain over time. An occasional retouch application of white wash finish can also renew scuffed areas.

Achieving the White Washed Oak Look

There are a few techniques flooring specialists use to transform natural oak planks into beautiful white washed floors:

Bleaching

Many pros first bleach the raw oak wood to an even paleness. This uniform lightness allows the most natural variation in grains, knots, and markings to show through the white washed treatment.

Staining

After bleaching, oak planks are stained white. This can involve brushing, rolling, or spraying white pigmented stains across the sanded wooden surfaces.

Multiple thin applications often build up better color depth than a single heavy coating. The wood absorbs the white stain for a translucent whitewashed effect rather than opaque off-white opacity.

Protective Top Coats

Once white stained to the desired tone, oak flooring requires a protective clear top coat. This levels the finish for an even sheen while allowing the painted white treatment to show through clearly.

Polyurethane is the most common protective sealant layered across white stained oak. It protects the decorative finish while lending a nice shine level to elegantly showcase the flooring.

Caring for White Washed Oak Flooring

It's important to note that white washed oak floors require gentler yet more frequent cleaning than darker stained oak. The lighter finish shows dust build up, foot traffic patterns, paw prints, and other dirt that tends to hide against deeper colors.

Regular Dry Mopping

A weekly pass across floors with a microfiber dry mop or dust mop treatment helps tremendously. This lifts soil away before it can abrade into the grain or protective top coats.

Frequent Damp Mopping

Lightly damp mopping also prevents embedded dirt issues. Working in manageable sections, a well wrung mop helps lift soil so it doesn't wear on the finish.

Gentle Cleaner Solutions

When mopping, most pros recommend only mild, non-acidic hardwood floor cleaner solution. Harsh alkaline chemicals could damage protective sealants or white washed staining over time.

With regular upkeep, beautiful wide plank white washed oak floors should maintain their freshly installed look and feel for years before reapplication needs arise.

FAQs

What are the benefits of wide plank floors?

Wide plank floors showcase more of the natural wood grain and markings. They create an expansive, seamless look that makes rooms appear larger. The long boards are also very durable and less likely to cup or warp over time.

How is oak wood whitewashed?

Oak is whitewashed by bleaching, staining multiple thin applications of white pigment, and adding protective clear top coats like polyurethane. The white stain allows the natural variations in oak grain and color to show through for added character.

What maintenance do white washed oak floors need?

White oak floors require frequent but gentle cleaning. Dry mop and damp mop lightly every week to prevent dirt build up that could embed in the grain or abrade the finish. Use only a mild wood floor cleaner solution for occasional deeper mopping.

How long will white washed oak flooring last?

Properly installed and cared for white washed oak floors can retain their smooth finish for decades. With lighter finishes, appearance of wear tends to show earlier through traffic patterns or scratches. But protective top coats allow quick buffers and reapplication to renew white washing.