Site-Finished White Ash Flooring in Ottawa
If you love the character of Oak but want something truly unique, White Ash is the hidden gem of Canadian hardwoods. Famous for its flexibility and shock resistance—it’s the wood of choice for baseball bats—Ash offers incredible durability for active Ottawa homes.
Ash features a bold, pronounced grain pattern that is similar to Oak but more distinct and flowing. It is a fantastic choice for site-finishing because it brightens a room with its pale natural tones but also accepts stain exceptionally well, allowing the deep grain texture to pop through any color you choose.
Why Choose White Ash?
White Ash is the ultimate performance hardwood. It combines the hardness of Red Oak (Janka 1320) with a natural elasticity that makes it comfortable underfoot and resistant to splitting. Its light, creamy sapwood and starkly contrasting grain create a floor with movement and life, perfect for homeowners who want their floor to be a design statement rather than just a background.
Striking Grain Patterns
White Ash offers a bold, sweeping grain that is even more distinct than Red Oak. Its high contrast between the light sapwood and darker grain creates a floor with incredible visual movement, perfect for homeowners who want their flooring to be a central design feature.
Impact & Shock Resistant
Famous for being the wood of choice for professional baseball bats, Ash has unique shock-absorbing qualities. It is naturally elastic and resists splitting or snapping under impact better than almost any other hardwood, making it incredibly resilient in active family homes.
Superior Stain Depth
Ash is the ultimate canvas for custom stains. Its open, thirsty pores absorb pigment deeply, allowing you to change the color dramatically—from 'Whitewash' to 'True Black'—while still retaining that signature grain texture that hides dust and scratches.
Our White Ash Site-Finished Installation Process
White Ash is a performance hardwood that demands expert handling. From managing its natural color variation to precision sanding that preserves its bold grain texture, our process ensures a flawless result that stands up to the heaviest traffic.
Consultation & Grain Selection
Acclimatization & Prep
Ash is famous for its visual contrast. We help you choose between 'Select' grade for a more uniform, pale aesthetic, or 'Natural/Common' grade if you want to highlight the dramatic, rustic mix of dark heartwood and creamy sapwood.
Like all dense hardwoods, Ash needs to adjust to your home's environment. We deliver your raw wood days in advance, allowing the moisture content to stabilize. This prevents gaps and ensures the planks remain flat long after installation.
Precision Sanding & Staining
Ash has a distinct 'open grain.' We sand the floor meticulously flat to ensure the softer grain areas don't 'dish out.' If you choose a stain, this open grain drinks up pigment deeply, creating rich colors that highlight the wood's texture.
High-Impact Sealing
Since Ash is often chosen for active homes, we finish with commercial-grade sealers. These tough topcoats lock in your custom color and protect the wood from impact and dirt without obscuring the beautiful, tactile grain pattern underneath.
Frequently Asked Questions.
01
Is White Ash flooring durable enough for dogs and kids?
Absolutely. White Ash is one of the toughest domestic hardwoods available. With a Janka hardness rating of 1320, it is harder than Red Oak (1290) and slightly softer than Maple (1450). However, its real advantage is shock resistance. Because Ash has natural elasticity (it's used to make baseball bats), it absorbs impacts from dropped toys or heavy footsteps better than brittle woods, making it perfect for active Ottawa families.
03
Does Ash flooring take stain well?
Yes, Ash is arguably the best wood for staining if you want to see the texture. Like Oak, it has an "open grain" structure that drinks up stain pigment. This makes it ideal for dark stains (like Ebony or Jacobean) because the grain remains visible and textured, preventing the floor from looking like a flat, painted surface.
05
Does White Ash flooring turn yellow?
Natural White Ash has light, creamy tones that can warm up to a golden straw color over time if finished with oil-based products. To maintain that modern, pale "driftwood" or Scandinavian aesthetic, we recommend using a commercial-grade water-based finish, which remains clear and prevents the wood from ambering significantly.
07
Is Ash flooring suitable for Ottawa’s dry winters?
Ash is a stable hardwood, but like all solid wood, it moves with humidity changes. It is comparable to Oak in stability. To prevent winter gaps, we acclimatize the raw wood in your home before installation and recommend maintaining an indoor humidity level of 35-45%. Its natural elasticity helps it handle seasonal movement slightly better than more brittle species like Maple.
02
What is the difference between White Ash and Red Oak?
While they look similar, Ash offers a bolder, more distinct look. Ash typically has a wider, more "sweeping" grain pattern compared to the tighter grain of Oak. Color-wise, natural Ash is paler with creamy white sapwood, whereas Red Oak has pinkish undertones. If you want a floor with high contrast and visual movement, Ash is the superior choice.
04
What is "Wire Brushed" Ash flooring?
Ash is the number one species choice for wire-brushed or textured floors. Because the springwood (the light part of the grain) is softer than the summerwood (the dark part), we can mechanically brush the floor to remove the soft fibers. This accentuates the hard grain, creating a 3D texture that hides scratches incredibly well and adds a rustic, custom feel to your home.
06
How much does site-finished Ash flooring cost in Ottawa?
White Ash is a fantastic value option. It is typically priced similarly to Red Oak, ranging from $9 to $13 per square foot for the complete supply, installation, and finishing package. Since it is a domestic North American timber, it offers a premium, exotic look without the import price tag of European species.
08
Can I refinish my Ash floors in the future?
Yes. A solid ¾-inch White Ash floor can be sanded and refinished 4 to 5 times over its lifespan. Because the grain goes all the way through the wood, you can sand it down decades from now and completely change the color—going from a natural blonde to a modern grey or dark walnut—making it a true lifetime investment.
Expert Craftsmanship
Professional Installation Team
Quality Finishes
Warranty Protection
