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Species Profile - White Oak
Hello White Oak!
White oak is a popular furniture choice, and for good reason. Besides being beautiful in color and texture, white oak is incredibly dense and capable of resisting penetration of moisture and decay. This advantage lends itself to a wide array of popular uses within woodworking and carpentry. White oak has been so commonly used throughout US history, you’ll find it in educational institutions broadly - in tables and chairs, in trim and flooring, and also some outdoor applications like traditional boats and outdoor furniture.
White oak trees are identifiable by the unique color on the underside of their leaves and by the shape of the leaf, which has rounded edges. White oak trees have deep taproots, giving them the strength and resilience to grow to great heights - typically between 50-100 feet tall and 5-8 feet wide.
Color:
Many of our customers are interested in understanding the color, tones, and character of our variety of species. Getting a better understanding of what to expect can help tremendously in determining the right fit for your home and personal aesthetic. White oak can be described as having warm brown and rich tan tones, with some olive cast. Some species will shift over time and darken as they are exposed to light and see repetitive use. White oak stays fairly consistent in its coloring over time, so the table you receive will look quite the same in 10 years as it does today (minus some wear and tear through lots of use and good times!)
The Cut:
We use straight-sawn white oak as a standard, but many people enjoy the rich figuring and ripples that can be achieved by a quarter-sawn cut on white oak.
Grain:
White Oak is an open-grain hardwood, almost impervious to water. The pores of the heartwood of white oaks are typically plugged with tyloses, which is a natural "sealing" membranous growth (how cool is that!). The white oak grain is identified as straight, with a coarse, uneven texture.
Offering durability, practicality, and beautiful color, white oak is a classic choice for good reason, and one of our favorite species! To understand more about our style and species options, get in touch with our team! We've got tons of experience and some useful advice on how to pick the species that is best for you. Let's build your dream table! From Vermont, with love.
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