Fumed White Oak Flooring
The contour sanded distress is perhaps our most subtle and elegant hardwood floor. It has gentle ripples, imitating the tranquility of a lake's lightly rolling surface, but unless you are touching the floor or closely inspecting each board under lights, it looks as smooth as glass from a distance. Due to its subtleness, it is difficult to photograph, but the elegance it brings to a home is undeniable. At StoryBook Floors, we offer hand-scraped flooring options to architects and interior designers throughout the country. Contact us today to learn more about our custom hardwood floors or place an order!
History of Fumed Oak Hardwood Flooring
Fumed oak hardwood flooring has its roots in one of our favorite things - old barns. The trace amounts of ammonia naturally released in horse barns and livestock barns due to the inhabitation of the animals fumes the wood over time. Thanks to being able to limit space and control the intensity of ammonia exposure when fuming on purpose, we don't have to wait years for the wood to turn colors, and we can replicate the aged look for a floor in just a matter of days. Coloring can vary from soft and light to rich and dark depending on the length of exposure time, but no matter what, the result is still a cozy and unique look that is perfect for those who love the combination of beauty and tradition of the past with a present-day elegance.
Fun Fact About Fuming
Fuming causes a chemical reaction in the wood's tannins, but sapwood doesn't have enough tannin content to make a dramatic change. Heartwood, on the other hand, fumes much darker and richer because of its tannin concentration. The result is a gorgeous natural masterpiece that highlights the wood grain and pattern unlike any other hardwood flooring distress can do.
Slight color variance in wood is normal when it comes to hardwood flooring, but fuming can cause anything from a subtle difference to an extreme - yet desirable - contrast. With a little bit of sapwood flair, your fumed hardwood floor (and better yet, with matching stair treads!) can quickly become an exquisite centerpiece of your home.
However, if you love the fumed look, but prefer a more consistent color, it's no problem! We'll just work with a more select grade for you that has little to no sapwood, and therefore, little to no color variance.
If you are interested in adding white oak flooring during your project, we welcome you to contact us today to speak with a member of our team or to place an order! We proudly deliver our products to clients nationwide.
