White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern and Central North America
- Hardness
- 1350 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable
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Grain Pattern
Straight to irregular grain with a medium to coarse texture, often showing prominent ray fleck when quarter-sawn.
Color & Appearance
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Sapwood is a lighter, whitish-brown and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
Hardness (Janka)
1350 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 4.00 to 8.00 USD per board foot for standard lumber grades.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Living tree, estimated 60 to 80 years old based on bark development and trunk diameter.
- Sustainability Status
- Not listed on the CITES appendices or IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Readily available and sustainably managed in North America.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, exterior construction, boat building, and tight cooperage (barrels).
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though it can blunt cutting edges due to high density. Glues, stains, and finishes well, but prone to staining in contact with iron.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts a wide variety of finishes including oils, varnishes, lacquers, and polyurethane. Water-based finishes can sometimes react with tannins, so proper sealing is advised.
Notable Features
Contains tyloses in the pores which plug up the wood and make it resistant to water infiltration, hence its historical use in ship building and barrel making. High tannin content.
