White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Durable (good resistance to rot and decay, excellent for high-traffic applications)
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Grain Pattern
Straight to irregular grain with a prominent coarse texture, featuring a mix of plain-sawn and rift-sawn boards with characteristic growth ring patterns and occasional small knots.
Color & Appearance
Light to medium brown heartwood with distinct grayish-brown tones, and paler sapwood. Exhibits moderate color variation between boards, aging to a slightly warmer amber hue with prolonged light exposure.
Hardness (Janka)
1360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Durable (good resistance to rot and decay, excellent for high-traffic applications)
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 4.00 to 8.00 USD per board foot depending on grade and width
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated to be a modern installed flooring product or relatively recent lumber (0-15 years), showing minor surface wear.
- Sustainability Status
- Generally abundant and sustainable, not listed on CITES or IUCN red lists, widely available with FSC certification options.
Common Uses
Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boat building, cooperage (barrels), and architectural millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally works well with both hand and machine tools, though it can blunt cutters due to its hardness. Responds well to gluing, staining, and screwing, but pre-drilling is recommended.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts a wide variety of finishes including polyurethane, varnishes, oils, and stains; wire-brushing or white-washing highlights the open grain structure nicely.
Notable Features
Contains closed cellular structures (when compared to red oak, though still porous) with tyloses that make it water-resistant, high tannin content which can react with iron.
