American white oak is utilized for a wide variety of applications, including shipping and boat building, flooring, architectural joinery, exterior joinery, railways sleepers and wood bridges due to its strength and resistance to decay. It is also an excellent wood for high-grade furnishings, interior woodwork and paneling. Due to its impermeability, the timber is well-suited for vats and casks holding liquids such as wine and liquor.
American white oak is the trade name for a variety of hardwood species from the Quercus genus. American white oak is a wood prevalent throughout the eastern United States. The name 'white oak' includes several species, eight of which are commercially offered as wood. Very similar in appearance and color to the European oak, American white oak has light-colored sapwood and a light to dark brown heartwood. White oak is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays and more figure than American red oak. It has large distinct growth rings, and some medullary rays may be present.
American white oak is utilized for a wide variety of applications, including shipping and boat building, flooring, architectural joinery, exterior joinery, railways sleepers and wood bridges due to its strength and resistance to decay. It is also an excellent wood for high-grade furnishings, interior woodwork and paneling. Due to its impermeability, the timber is well-suited for vats and casks holding liquids such as wine and liquor.
American white oak is a hard, heavy timber, and has low rigidity and good overall strength, making it increasingly popular as an architectural timber. It also has great steam bending properties. White oak machines well and is easy to glue, nail and screw. It readily accepts stains and polishes to a good finish. The heartwood is vulnerable to lyctid borer attack and to termites.