Red Oak (likely Northern Red Oak)
Quercus rubra · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,290 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Moderately durable (resistant to wear under foot traffic, but susceptible to moisture and rot if unsealed)
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Prominent open grain with a mix of flat-sawn cathedral patterns and straight rift-sawn boards
Color & Appearance
Medium reddish-brown to light tan heartwood with paler, contrasting lighter sapwood boards visible on the right, showing natural aging and ambering from previous finishes
Hardness (Janka)
1,290 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Moderately durable (resistant to wear under foot traffic, but susceptible to moisture and rot if unsealed)
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $4.00 to $8.00 per square foot for installed or finished strip flooring material
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated 30 to 50 years old based on typical residential construction flooring wear patterns and strip flooring dimensions
- Sustainability Status
- Abundant, sustainable, and widely available with no CITES restrictions; often FSC certified
Common Uses
Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, interior trim, and architectural millwork
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Good workability; glues, stains, and finishes well, but open pores require grain filler for a perfectly smooth finish
Finish Recommendations
Polyurethane, water-based floor finishes, or penetrating oils; requires sanding down to bare wood to remove old worn finish before applying new coats
Notable Features
High porosity with open vessels visible on the surface; high tannin content which can react with certain finishes or metals
