White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight and fairly coarse, featuring prominent rays typical of a rift-sawn or near-quarter-sawn cut with a medium to open texture.
Color Description
Light to medium brown with an olive cast; sapwood is slightly lighter. The surface shows a subtle silvery sheen from ray flecks and tends to darken/yellow with light exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Durable to very durable; excellent resistance to rot and fungal decay. Often used for water-tight applications due to tyloses in pores.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), and interior millwork.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 - $10.00 per board foot (standard FAS grade)
Wood Age Estimate
Modern processing (likely 10-30 years based on consistent thickness and industrial finish application).
Sustainability Status
Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and frequently FSC certified.
Workability
Generally works well with hand and machine tools, though it has a high shrinkage rate. Reacts with iron (turning blue/black) and can be prone to splintering if tools are dull.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic scent when worked; high tannin content makes it ideal for fuming with ammonia; contains tyloses that make the wood pores liquid-tight.
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to most finishes; oil-based finishes enhance the figure, while polyurethane provides excellent protection for high-traffic surfaces.
Identification Confidence
Medium-High; the open grain structure, color palette, and subtle ray flecks are consistent with Quercus alba, though Ash can occasionally appear similar without a view of the end-grain.