European Oak in Brentwood, CA
Posted on
5/17/2022
European White Oak (Quercus robur) is native to the majority of Europe including areas like France, Germany, Finland, Ukraine and Romania. Quercus is the Latin family name for all oaks; robur means robust and describes the strength of this species of wood.
European White Oak (Quercus robur) is native to the majority of Europe including areas like France, Germany, Finland, Ukraine and Romania. Quercus is the Latin family name for all oaks; robur means robust and describes the strength of this species of wood.
A temperate hardwood, it has deep roots and prefers heavy, wet soils and full sunlight at lower to moderate elevations. It grows to 65 - 130' in height with trunks that are typically 15 - 30" in diameter. European oaks typically grow quite rapidly for the first 80 - 120 years. After that, their growth gradually slows down. Along the way, the tree develops from a slim sapling with smooth bark to a deeply fissured, rough-barked tree of impressive girth. Decline begins setting in after around three centuries or so. This slow maturation produces a fine, tight grain revered for wine barrels and flooring. European White Oak is a particularly heavy and strong wood. The fact that it is so hard makes a lovely and durable wood floor. It also does not expand or contract much in response to weather conditions. Since it has fairly thin sap wood (.4 - 1.5"), it produces particularly long and wide boards.
This species of oak measures approximately 1360 on the Janka hardness rating which describes a timber's relative hardness when compared to other kinds of wood. European White Oak typically has a tighter grain, smaller growth rings, and more consistent shade than American White Oak (Quercus alba). It varies in color from light brown to a rich, dark brown. Perhaps most commonly, it's a warm honey color.
It responds particularly well to different finishing methods, including fuming. Fuming is the process of exposing wood to ammonia gas in a sealed chamber. This process requires a timber, like European White Oak, that is high in tannins. Fumed European White Oak develops a rich, deep color similar to walnut.
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