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Oak,
White
Handloggers’
Opinion
This is Red Oak’s second cousin only a bit harder. We have
flooring displays in our showroom with red and white oak side
by side. In this setting it is apparent that white oak has a green
undertone and red oak has a rosy undertone. We usually price them
the same so the choice is generally a subjective one depending
on what you are trying to match with your floor.
Appearance
Color: Heartwood is light brown; some
boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish cast. Sapwood
is white to cream.
Grain: Open, with longer rays than
red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plainsawn boards
have a plumed or flared grain appearance; riftsawn has a tighter
grain pattern, low figuring; quartersawn has a flake pattern,
sometimes called tiger rays or butterflies.
Variations within species and grades:
Considerable variation among boards in color and grain texture,
but variations not as pronounced as in red oak.
Properties
Hardness/Janka:
1360; 5% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional
Stability: Average (change coefficient .00365; 1% more
stable than red oak).
Durability: More durable than red
oak. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects.
Workability
Sawing/Machining: Excellent machining
qualities.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good resistance to splitting;
excellent holding ability.
Finishing: Absorbs finishes more evenly
than red oak. Does not bleach well.
Comments: During the finishing process,
tannins at the surface can react with some liquids to turn the
wood green or brown. This effect tends to be more pronounced with
products that have a high water content, such as bleach and water-based
finishes.
<< back
to species page
"Wood
Species Used in Wood Flooring, publication A200, ©1994" provided
with permission and courtesy of the National
Wood Flooring Association.
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