European Oak in Sherman Oaks, CA
Posted on
11/8/2022
European White Oak (Quercus robur) is indigenous 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 refers to the strength of this species of timber.
European White Oak (Quercus robur) is indigenous 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 refers to the strength of this species of timber.
A temperate hardwood, it has deep roots and favors heavy, wet soils and full sun at lower to moderate altitudes. It grows to 65 - 130' in height with trunks that are typically 15 - 30" in diameter. European oaks generally grow fairly rapidly for the first 80 - 120 years. After that, their growth gradually slows down. Along the way, the tree grows from a slim sapling with smooth bark to a deeply fissured, rough-barked tree of exceptional 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 an especially heavy and sturdy timber. The fact that it is so hard makes a lovely and long lasting wood floor. It also does not expand or contract much in reaction to weather conditions. Because it has fairly thin sap timber (.4 - 1.5"), it provides particularly long and wide boards.
This species of oak measures around 1360 on the Janka hardness rating which describes a wood's relative hardness when compared to other types of wood. European White Oak typically has a tighter grain, smaller growth rings, and more even color 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 shade.
It reacts especially well to different finishing methods, including fuming. Fuming is the process of exposing timber to ammonia gas in a sealed chamber. This process requires a wood, like European White Oak, that is high in tannins. Fumed European White Oak creates a rich, deep color similar to walnut.
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