Identifying a non European oak

[sxtrail]

Hi there

Could someone please give a list of things to look for when buying a solid or engineered oak floor that would suggest the oak is non European? I suspect that general signs would be price, board width, board length and board thickness.

Many thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

Non European Oak floors can have exactly the same thickness, measurements etc as European Oak.

The difference is the look of the Oak, like American White Oak has much more sapwood in it (white streaks or whole white areas) and American Red Oak has - as the name suggest - as red appearance.
Tasmanian Oak isn't Oak at all but Eucalyptus.

 

[sxtrail]

Hi WoodYouLike,

Yep, I understand that, but I've been led to believe that there are sometimes some indications that a product sold as European oak simply isn't. For example, I've had people say that if the planks are supplied in relatively short lengths then it is unlikely to be European. Some people say that European oak tends to be 20mm and supplied in longer lengths. One supplier said he could tell that a plank was chinese by the picture.

It is a case of once bitten, twice shy. I'm being overly cautious about what I buy now. Now considering a product from Boen, I at least then have a 30 year guarantee.

Thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

First things I ever heard to be honest that European Oak only comes in 20mm thick. One of our design parquet manufacturer uses only European Oak and makes it into overlay (6 to 10mm), planks (13 - 20mm) thick.
And short lengths? Cut-off's on to which some manufacturers make a T&G to sell as much as possible (i.e. the 'cheap offers' containing so many shrot lengths).

As for the colour and grain being different, absolutely agree, but Oak from Poland (Europe) looks also different than Oak from France or Germany.

As for guarantees: every self-respecting manufacturer, now matter where it is produced - how many companies do you think work together with companies in the Far East? - give appropriate guarantees.