White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1350 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable (excellent resistance to decay and rot due to tyloses in the pores)
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Quarter-sawn with prominent medullary ray flecks (flakes/mirror rays)
Color & Appearance
Medium to dark golden-brown with darker filled grain, displaying rich warm tones and a medium natural luster, typical of an aged finish
Hardness (Janka)
1350 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable (excellent resistance to decay and rot due to tyloses in the pores)
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 to $12.00+ per board foot for select quarter-sawn lumber
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated 80 to 120 years old based on the classic Arts and Crafts style construction, deep patina, and quarter-sawn ray fleck characteristic of antique furniture
- Sustainability Status
- Least concern, widely abundant, not listed on CITES appendices, readily available with FSC certification options
Common Uses
Fine furniture, cabinetry, architectural millwork, flooring, boat building, and mission-style furniture
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Good with both hand and machine tools, though it can blunt cutting edges due to silica and hardness; glues, stains, and finishes well, but prone to iron-stain reactions
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains, dyes, oils, shellac, and varnishes exceptionally well; often highlighted with a dark paste wax or glaze in the pores to accentuate the quarter-sawn flake
Notable Features
Contains closed cellular structures (tyloses) making it water-resistant, prominent medullary rays producing striking ray flake figures when quarter-sawn, high tannin content
