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 top-quality furniture, interior woodwork and paneling. Due to its impermeability, the wood is suitable 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 hardwood prevalent throughout the eastern United States. The name 'white oak' encompasses several species, eight of which are commercially offered as lumber. 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 mainly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays and more figure than American red oak. It has large distinctive growth rings, and some medullary rays might 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 top-quality furniture, interior woodwork and paneling. Due to its impermeability, the wood is suitable for vats and casks holding liquids such as wine and liquor.
American white oak is a hard, heavy timber, and has low stiffness and good overall strength, making it increasingly popular as a structural timber. It also has excellent 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 susceptible to lyctid borer attack and to termites.