Oak (Red)

Common Name(s)

Red Oak

Scientific Name

Quercus rubra

Tree Distribution

Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada

Tree Size

80-115 ft. tall, 3-6 ft. trunk diameter

Janka Hardness

1220 lbf

Appearance

Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with a reddish cast. Nearly white to light brown sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quarter-sawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns. Conversely, White Oak tends to be slightly more olive-colored, but is by no means a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain / Texture

Grain is straight, with a coarse, uneven texture. The pores are so large and open that it is said that a person can blow into one end of the wood, and air will come out the other end: provided that the grain runs straight enough.

Pricing / Availability

Abundant availability in a good range of widths and thicknesses, both as flat-sawn and quarter-sawn lumber. Usually slightly less expensive than White Oak, prices are moderate for a domestic hardwood, though thicker planks or quarter-sawn boards are slightly more expensive.

- Information cited from Wood-Database.com