White Oak
Quercus alba • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a coarse, uneven texture. The sample shows a flat-sawn cathedral-like pattern with visible large pores typical of ring-porous hardwoods.
Color Description
Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is light cream to light brown. It tends to darken or acquire a more golden-brown amber tone with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Durable. Highly resistant to decay and rot due to the presence of tyloses, which plug the wood's pores and make it nearly water-tight.
Common Uses
Flooring (as seen in image), furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels (cooperage), and interior trim.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$6.00 to $10.00 per board foot, depending on grade and width.
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears to be modern milled lumber, likely 5-20 years old, showing some minor surface wear and oxidation consistent with residential flooring use.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Generally considered sustainable and widely available with FSC certification.
Workability
Produces good results with hand and machine tools. It has a high shrinkage rate, which can lead to poor dimensional stability if not dried properly. Reacts with iron (rusting) to create black stains if wet.
Notable Features
Distinctive tannic smell when being worked. Contains high tannin content, allowing for 'fuming' with ammonia to darken the wood. The unique tyloses in pores make it suitable for liquids.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains and finishes well. Polyurethane is most common for flooring applications; oil-based finishes enhance the golden tones, while water-based finishes keep it lighter.
Identification Confidence
High. The distinctive large ring-porous structure, the specific olive-brown hue, and the visible medullary rays (flecks) are characteristic markers of the White Oak group.