White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight and coarse with conspicuous medullary rays and cathedral patterns visible on the face; shows significant checking and pith flecks in this particular board
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast; sapwood is lighter and nearly white. Likely to darken slightly with age to a more amber tone
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, wine barrels, and heavy construction
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and width
Wood Age Estimate
Modern cut, likely seasoned for 1-3 years; shows structural drying checks suggesting it is not fresh green wood
Sustainability Status
Widely available and sustainable; not CITES listed and classified on the IUCN Red List as a species of least concern
Workability
Generally good with hand and machine tools, though it has a high shrinkage rate and can be prone to checking or movement if not dried correctly; reacts with iron to produce blue-black stains
Notable Features
Features a distinct, slightly acidic scent when being worked; contains high tannin content which makes it ideal for fuming with ammonia to darken the color
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to oil-based stains, polyurethane, and wax; fuming with ammonia is a popular specialized finishing technique for this species
Identification Confidence
High; the open grain structure, tan-olive color cast, and the specific pattern of the drying checks are characteristic of domestic White Oak