White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight, coarse grain with a medium to large texture. The image shows a rift-sawn to quarter-sawn orientation, characteristic of prominent medullary rays and straight parallel lines.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast; sapwood is light off-white to light brown. Finishes to a warm honey-gold and darkens slightly over time with light exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to the presence of tyloses in the heartwood pores which make it nearly waterproof.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, barrels (cooperage), trim, and tool handles.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
Approximately $6.00 to $9.00 per board foot depending on width and grain orientation (Quarter-sawn commands higher prices).
Wood Age Estimate
Modern cut; based on the lack of deep oxidation or graying patinas associated with antique reclaimed beams.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available with FSC certification.
Workability
Responds well to machine and hand tools. Good steam-bending properties. Reacts with iron fasteners (causing blue-black staining) and can have a moderate blunting effect on cutters.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when fresh; high tannin content; contains tyloses that plug vessel elements making it suitable for liquid storage.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well, though large pores may require a grain filler for a glass-smooth surface. Penetrating oils help highlight the ray fleck figure.
Identification Confidence
High; the visible porous structure combined with the specific light brown with olive tint and the ray-flake pattern is highly characteristic of the Quercus genus, specifically the white oak group.