Expectations vs. Reality- White Oak Edition

We all know that when you’re getting any room in your house done, you want it done your way. You’ve got a vision in your head, and you want that to become reality. Meridian Products wants to help you get there, but there are real-world limitations to keep in mind.

Wood is a versatile material. Depending on the species, you can choose from a plethora of colors and grain patterns. For this blog, we’ll focus on the most popular species at the moment: White Oak.

Your regular White Oak is highly recommended for medium to dark stains. These colors help blend the natural wood characteristics, resulting in a beautifully seamless finish. You also have the option to upgrade to Select White Oak. This option is best used with clear coats or lighter stains. With Select White Oak, you’ll see an even blend of colors, and the color variation between framing and panel will be minimal.

Now that we’ve broken that down, let’s help you understand the finishing process. While providing a swatch is helpful, it won’t show you the whole picture. For this reason, we suggest you opt for a 12 x 15 sample door. Here’s why: a 4 x 4 chip sample won’t reveal the natural tone variation that wood produces—even among select-quality doors.

The next challenge is when a veneer panel is involved. Meridian’s veneer is wood faced with an MDF core. Finishing this combination can introduce issues such as blotchiness and unevenness in the finish. You may also see color variations when you have solid wood framing with a veneer panel—unfortunately, they simply finish differently.

To recap: wood is extremely versatile and a bit tricky to control. However, Meridian Products is here to help you make your dream space a reality—and we want you to be informed and ready for what you’ll receive.

Please contact your Customer Service Representative or Sales Account Coordinator with any questions or concerns.