White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight and coarse grain. The end grain shows a ring-porous structure with large earlywood pores and prominent medullary rays characteristic of quarter-sawn or rift-sawn cuts.
Color Description
Heartwood is light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is near-white to light brown. Finishes to a warm honey tone over time.
Hardness Rating
1360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. Highly resistant to rot and decay due to tyloses in the pores, making it suitable for water-contact applications.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), and interior trim.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on width and grade.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly milled/kiln-dried commercial lumber, likely harvested from trees 60-100 years old based on grain density.
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available with FSC certification. Highly sustainable.
Workability
Generally easy to work with machine and hand tools. Has a high shrinkage rate, so dimensional stability is a consideration. Glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when wet; high tannin content can cause blue-black staining when in contact with iron in damp conditions. Excellent steam-bending properties.
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to oil-based stains, polyurethane, and lacquer. Takes fuming (ammonia) treatments well to darken the color naturally.
Identification Confidence
High. The visible end grain shows definitive large ring-porous earlywood and characteristic long medullary rays specific to the Quercus genus, with the closed pores (tyloses) indicating White Oak specifically.