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

Appearance

Color: Heartwood is mostly reddish brown; sapwood is generally pale white.
Grain: Mostly closed, straight grain; fine, uniform texture. Coarser than European beech.
Variations within species and grades: Only one species is native to the United States. Moderate to high color variation between boards.

Properties
Hardness (Janka): 1300; 1% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Below average (change coefficient .00431; 17% less stable than red oak).
Durability: Elastic, hard; excellent shock resistance. Wears well and stays smooth when subjected to friction — popular for factory floors.

Workability
Sawing/Machining: Difficult to work with hand tools, but good machining qualities. Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good holding ability, but has a tendency to split.
Finishing: No known problems.

" Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring"