White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a coarse, uneven texture. Features prominent tyloses in the pores and exhibits classic rift-sawn to flat-sawn cathedral patterns depending on the section.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is light off-white to light brown. Darkens slightly to a more golden-brown hue with light exposure and age.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses which plug the vascular cells, making it virtually liquid-tight.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), interior trim, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern United States
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot
Wood Age Estimate
Modern processing; appears to be fairly recent stock (less than 10 years old) based on the lack of deep oxidation or mechanical wear.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC certification common.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. Has a moderately high shrinkage rate, so dimensional stability can be an issue. Reacts with iron (rust) to cause staining.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic odor when wet. Contains high tannin content. Notable for its ring-porous structure and large, prominent ray fleck when quarter-sawn.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Due to large pores, a grain filler may be used if a glass-smooth surface is desired. Polyurethane or oil-based finishes are standard.
Identification Confidence
High; the visible open-pore structure, color-cast, and grain arrangement are classic indicators of North American White Oak.