White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight, coarse grain with a medium to large texture. The sample shows a flat-sawn cathedral figure in the center of the board with a consistent, open-pored structure typical of the Quercus genus.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast. Sapwood is near-white to light brown. The wood typically darkens with age and may exhibit a slight amber patina under finishes. Visible tyloses in the pores give it a slightly frosted appearance.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to the presence of tyloses which plug the vascular vessels, making it water and rot resistant. Good resistance to insects.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, wine barrels (cooperage), interior trim, and heavy construction.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $12.00 per board foot depending on grade and width
Wood Age Estimate
Modern kiln-dried lumber, likely harvested and processed within the last 1-3 years based on lack of heavy oxidation or UV weathering.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and sustainable with FSC certification common throughout its range.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well, though it can react with iron-based fasteners to create blue/black staining due to high tannin content.
Notable Features
High tannin content; characteristic 'oak' scent when worked; tyloses in heartwood make it suitable for liquids; heavy and strong with good shock resistance.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating oils or polyurethane to highlight the grain. Reacts well to ammonia fuming for darkening. Grain filler may be used if a glass-smooth surface is desired due to open pores.
Identification Confidence
High. The yellowish-brown hue, prominent open-grain texture, and specific cathedral arch pattern are classic indicators of North American White Oak.