Red Oak
Quercus spp.

APPEARANCE Color: Heartwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color; most pieces have a reddish tone. Slightly redder than White Oak. PROPERTIES Hardness (Janka): Northern 1290 (benchmark). |
WORKABILITY
Sawing / Machining: Above average in all machining operations except shaping.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily, better than White Oak.
Nailing: Good resistance to splitting; excellent holding ability.
Finishing: Strong stain contrast because of large pores.
Comments: Red Oak generally works better than White Oak for bleached floors, because it is more porous and accepts bleach better, and because tannins in White Oak can discolor floor.
COST
(Relative to plainsawn select Red Oak.)
Multiplier: 1.00 (plainsawn)
1.30 (quartersawn)
1.65 (riftsawn)
AVAILABILITY
Commodity item, available in all types, styles and sizes of flooring, including parquet, strip, plank and veneer, both unfinished and prefinished.