Top portion is finished with water-base urethane; bottom with oil-modified polyurethane.

Appearance

Color: Heartwood is light tan to dark brown; sapwood is creamy white. Similar in appearance to white oak, but frequently more yellow.
Grain: Bold, straight, moderately open grain with occasional wavy figuring. Can have strong contrast in grain in plainsawn boards.
Variations within species and grades: Sometimes confused with hickory; the zone of large pores is more distinctive in ash, similar to that of red oak.

Properties

Hardness (Janka): 1320; 2% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Above average (change coefficient .00274; 26% more stable than red oak).
Durability: Elastic, hard; excellent shock resistance. Remains smooth under friction.

Workability

Sawing/Machining: Good machining qualities.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good holding ability; good resistance to splitting.
Finishing: No known problems. Stains well.

" Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring"