White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Principally straight with medium to coarse texture; visible large pores and prominent medullary rays consistent with rift-sawn and quarter-sawn figure.
Color Description
Light to medium brown with an olive cast. Sapwood is slightly lighter. Heartwood darkens with age and exposure to light, developing a rich patina.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; heartwood is highly resistant to rot and decay due to tyloses that plug the vascular vessels, making it liquid-tight.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, cooperage (barrels), trim, and interior millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 – $10.00 per board foot, depending on width and rift/quarter-sawn figure percentage.
Wood Age Estimate
Based on the clean cut and lack of oxidation/surface staining, this appears to be contemporary millwork or a recently cut off-cut, likely less than 5 years old.
Sustainability Status
Abundant; not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available with FSC certification.
Workability
Good results with hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Due to high tannin content, it reacts with iron-based fasteners to create blue-black staining. Glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'oaky' scent when worked; high tannin content; ring-porous structure with latewood pores that are thin-walled and angular.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Recommended to use oil-based finishes to enhance grain, or polyurethane for flooring and table surfaces. Avoid water-based finishes directly on bare wood to prevent tannin pull.
Identification Confidence
High; the end grain shows classic ring-porous structure with latewood pores filled with tyloses and prominent broad medullary rays characteristic of Quercus group wood.