When it comes to general strength oak is also the winner but fir is more workable.
Is doug fir a hardwood.
Accepts stains glues and finishes well.
More information on our doug fir flooring.
Typically machines well but has a moderate blunting effect on cutters.
Why douglas fir is great for hardwood flooring.
Douglas fir heartwood is rated to be moderately durable in regard to decay but is susceptible to insect attack.
However douglas fir which is a gymnosperm or softwood is actually harder than chestnut an angiosperm that most people would call a hardwood.
Douglas fir is the only redwood type material still available in substantial volumes of clear wood and is characterized by having the highest ratings of any western softwood for extreme fibre stress in bending.
Beautiful durable and easy to work with douglas fir has been utilized for decades by fine craftsmen and homebuilders for wood floors.
Both red oak and white oak are harder than douglas fir wood.
Balsa is a hardwood but its wood is so soft and lightweight that it s most commonly used for making model airplanes.
We have high quality wire brushed circular sawn and hand scraped douglas fir wood floors available in 8 different colors.
Exceptional strength hardness and durability.
Has a distinct resinous odor when being worked.
The janka rating for red oak the softer of the two oaks is 1 220 pounds force while that for douglas fir is only 620 which is a little more than half.