At Osborne Wood Products, we supply the cabinet and furniture trade with the highest quality decorative wood components. Naturally, we work hard to source the highest quality wood possible. In an effort to better help our hobbyist and DIY customers make the right choice in which wood types to use in their projects, we have developed several posts detailing our various wood types and answering any common questions our customers may have.

Your Guide to Oak Wood

As you’re planning your next big interior design project or simply deciding what types of furniture to feature in your home, the kind of wood you choose is a very important detail to consider. Different woods will be better suited to certain settings, have varying hardness levels, or properly take paint and staining to different degrees.

If you’re in the market for great-quality American woods, oak wood is likely one of your first choices. The following guide takes a closer look at what oak wood is and why it might be the best option for your home décor project.

What Is Oak Wood?

As you might expect, oak wood comes from oak trees, which are indigenous to North America as well as many other countries and continents. Since oak trees grow in many different locations and climates, the different types of wood that these trees produce will vary in color, hardness, and other key factors.

However, the vast majority of oak woods are known for their high ranking on the Janka hardness scale, their unique grain pattern, and their ease of woodworking. Some of the most popular types of oak wood are American oak wood and European oak wood.

Even within the American classification of oak wood, several specific types of oak may be better suited to different projects. Furthermore, price and availability can vary between the different species of oak wood. Now, it’s time to dive into two of the most popular types of oak wood from America and Canada: white oak and red oak.

White Oak vs. Red Oak

How are white oak and red oak different from each other? What do they have in common? One of the typical characteristics of oak trees is the production of hard, durable wood species that can last for many years in a variety of settings while still being easy to work with during the construction process. This is true for both white and red oak woods, but their subtle differences may affect your decision regarding which type to use.

Red Oak

Red oak is known as a very strong and solid hardwood. This wood is on the heavier side and has a Janka hardness scale rating of 1290, placing it well above many other types of hardwood. Red oak naturally has a straight, even grain with a varied texture and open pores. What does oak wood look like? The natural colors of red oak range from deep reddish brown to light brown.

Based on its texture, grain patterns, and pores, red oak takes staining well. Whether you choose to deepen the color of your red oak hardwood flooring or furniture with a colored stain or accentuate its natural shade with finish, red oak can make a great addition to your interior design.

White Oak

Much like red oak, white oak is known as one of the hardest woods available for woodworking and construction. In fact, white oak outranks red oak on the Janka hardness scale at a rating of 1360.

This type of solid hardwood has naturally light to medium olive-brown coloring, as well as sapwood, which is a soft layer present between the bark and the heartwood. This layer of wood is white in color and adds a light, milky hue to the overall color of the wood.

Thanks to its hardness, sawn white oak is known for being very resistant to wear and tear, making it a great option for hardwood floors, doors, and other heavily used items. This type of wood has a straight grain and holds staining well, so you can customize the color or simply leave it with the same prefinished hue.

Does Oak Wood Coloring Change Over Time?

Should you expect your oak wood flooring and furniture to change color over time? The answer is yes — it’s natural for wooden items to change slightly in shade as time passes, although some environmental factors will alter your oak wood’s color more quickly or dramatically.

Wood furniture or flooring that gets a lot of uninterrupted sun exposure will lighten in color more quickly than areas that don’t receive much or any sunlight. Additionally, some types of oak wood can become darker through a process called seasoning, in which the wood dries out naturally.

What Does the Grain Pattern of Oak Wood Look Like?

Different types of oak wood will have varying grain patterns, and flat-cut and quarter-sawn white oak will display different grain patterns and growth rings. White oak and red oak wood both tend to have a straight grain pattern rather than a swirling or irregular grain. Additionally, whereas red oak rarely has visible knots, white oak commonly features small knots.

Is Oak Wood Hard Wood or a Soft Wood?

Based on the Janka hardness scale ratings of its different species, oak wood is one of the harder woods available in construction today. Many woodworkers and construction professionals favor oak wood because it’s stable and durable yet still easy to work with.

How Can I Paint Oak Wood?

You can paint oak wood if you desire, but the wood’s raised texture and open pores can affect the appearance of your paint and create textural irregularities. And if the wood isn’t properly prepared before you paint it, moisture will continue to be released from the wood, causing the paint to warp and peel.

Oak Wood Sustainability

Oak trees are indigenous to North America and take a long time to mature. That’s why this type of hardwood can be sustainably produced and harvested without negatively affecting future oak tree growth or surrounding ecosystems.

What Are the Common Uses of Oak Wood?

Since oak wood is known for its workability as well as its durability, it’s one of the best woods to choose for a wide variety of projects. Consider oak wood for any of the following:

• Hardwood floors
• Cabinetry
• Dining table sets
• Doors and doorframes
• Joinery

Ask the pros at Osborne Wood whether oak wood is the right choice for your next project.

Make Your Next Project Great With Osborne Wood

Creating your next woodworking or construction project starts with the right materials. With so many wood types to choose from, it can be difficult to make the right decision.

Leave it up to our team at Osborne Wood to provide you with our expert recommendations based on your needs and budget. If you’re ready to get started with Osborne Wood, contact us today to speak with a product specialist.

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Check out the links below to read more in-depth about all the other wood types we offer:

• Maple (hard, soft, tiger/curly)
• Pine (knotty, heart, specialty)
• Oak (red, white, rift vs. quarter sawn) – this post
• Rubberwood
• Beech
• Mahogany
• Cherry & Alder
• Black Walnut
• Hickory
• Poplar
• Miscellaneous & Specialty Woods