White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Strong, ring-porous grain with prominent earlywood and latewood bands. Displays a classic cathedral pattern on the flat-sawn face of the chair rail with coarse, open texture.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is light-colored. The sample shows a warm, amber-toned finish that suggests aging and oxidation under a clear coat.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. Excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores, making it more resistant to liquids than red oak.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, barrels (cooperage), and interior millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $10.00 per board foot for select grade
Wood Age Estimate
30 to 50 years based on the furniture style (ladder-back chair), the wear in the finish, and the deep amber oxidation of the wood beneath the topcoat.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC options.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. It has a moderately high shrinkage rate, but glues, stains, and finishes well. Can react with iron fasteners to cause blue/black staining.
Notable Features
Distinctive tell-tale large pores; possesses a mild, characteristic scent when worked. High tannin content can cause dark stains if in contact with water and steel.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based polyurethane or lacquer to highlight the grain depth. Wiping stains work well to emphasize the large earlywood pores.
Identification Confidence
High. The prominent ring-porous structure, color, and specific grain movement on the curved chair components are textbook characteristics of North American White Oak.