White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight with a medium to coarse texture; visible ring-porous structure with large earlywood pores; displays characteristic cathedral patterns on flat-sawn surfaces and prominent ray fleck on quarter-sawn surfaces.
Color Description
Light to medium brown heartwood, often with an olive cast; sapwood is light off-white to light brown and generally well-defined. Darkens slightly with age to a more golden tone.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; exceptional resistance to rot and decay due to tyloses in the heartwood pores which make it nearly waterproof. Good resistance to insects.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, wine barrels (cooperage), trim, and interior millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $9.00 per board foot (depending on width and grade)
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly milled/Recent; boards appear to be raw kiln-dried stock roughly 1-3 years old based on lack of heavy oxidation and commercial strapping.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC certification common.
Workability
Generally works well with both hand and machine tools, though it has a high shrinkage rate and requires pre-boring for nails and screws. Glues and finishes well; reacts strongly with iron-based fasteners (staining).
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when worked; high tannin content causes it to turn black when in contact with iron and water; contains tyloses which make it suitable for liquids.
Finish Recommendations
Responds excellently to oil-based finishes, polyurethane, and lacquer. Takes stains well, though natural finishes highlight the characteristic grain and medullary rays best.
Identification Confidence
High; the distinctive open grain, presence of large pores associated with white oak, typical straw-to-tan coloration, and the scale of the grain lines are highly characteristic of North American Quercus alba.