Common Names: white oak, Arizona oak, Encino, roble, Colorado, Stave oak
Short Description: White oak has a light-colored wood that ranges from beige to creamy tan. It typically stands from 65 to 85 ft tall, though some trees may reach as high as 100 ft. The width of a white oak trunk is normally between 3 to 4 ft.
Country of Origin: Eastern United States
Color: light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast; paler sapwood that is hardly distinguishable from the heartwood
Janka Hardness Scale: 1350 lbf (5990 N)
Dried Average Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (755 kg/m3)
Common Uses: furniture, outdoor furniture, cabinets, flooring, veneer, boat building, fences, interior millwork, barrels, trims
What Is White Oak Wood?
Known for its hard and heavy wood, live edge white oak (Quercus alba) is a distinguished hardwood in eastern and central North America. It grows in a variety of habitats. It can grow in either dry or moist soils, as well as in moderately acid or alkaline soils. It has a large taproot, making it an uncanny tree to be planted on street sides or parking grounds despite being an excellent shade tree.
Live edge white oak is harder than live edge red oak and is far more durable than its red counterpart. It is also water and rot-resistant. That is why it is often used in shipbuilding and wine barrels. White oak live edge slabs are valued for their resilience and strength. It can withstand great impacts as well. Thus, it is the wood of choice for some Japanese martial arts weapons like bokken and jo.
Due to its high density, white oak tends to be heavy and hard. However, it works well with both hand and machine tools. It also steam bends, glues, stains, and finishes well. One thing to look out for is its reaction to iron. The wood may experience staining and discoloration when it comes in contact with iron, especially when it is still wet.
Where Is White Oak Sourced?
White oak supply is abundant in eastern and central North America. In the United States, it is typically found in Minnesota, southern Maine, northern Florida, and eastern Texas. It also thrives in Ontario and Quebec in Canada.
Is White Oak a Hardwood or Softwood?
White oak slabs are a domestic hardwood. It is a deciduous tree where leaves change color, fall to the ground in autumn, and grow new leaves in spring. All deciduous trees, including oak, walnut, birch, and beech, are hardwood. As hardwood, white oak live edge slabs are more durable yet heavier than softwood slabs. Accordingly, hardwood slabs are often used for weight-bearing applications such as chairs and dining tables.
Oak, including white and red species, is the most common hardwood in America. It is also one of the most affordable hardwoods and is less expensive than cherry, black walnut, and ipe.
What Makes White Oak Wood Slabs Unique?
White oak live edge slabs are unique because of the wood’s large open pores. These pores allow the slabs to absorb stains easily. Due to its impressive staining ability, you can use many stains and finishes to achieve your desired look. There is no limit to the design and aesthetics of white oak apart from your imagination.
Can White Oak Furniture Go Outside?
A good thing about using white oak live edge slabs on furniture is that they can go outside. White oak is often used for patio furniture and other outdoor pieces. It is even used as fence posts by some.
All these are made possible by the oak’s tyloses, the outgrowth of parenchyma cells that give white oak its closed cellular structure. This structure makes the wood naturally weather and water-resistant. The presence of high levels of tannins also prevents bacteria from growing. Thus, it prevents rotting.
Furniture made from white oak live edge slabs lends a more natural, stylish, and chic look to your patio or any outdoor area.
FAQs
Is white oak rot-resistant?
Yes, live edge white oak is rot-resistant. It is a durable hardwood used in many applications because it does not deteriorate fast.
How to care for white oak slabs?
Only use natural products when cleaning white oak furniture. Remove sharp and abrasive objects from the wood as much as possible.
Does white oak smell?
Oak has a distinct aroma that even found its way to perfumes all over the world. The smell of white oak is earthy and bittersweet. It is similar to hickory but just milder and less sweet.
Can white oak cause allergy?
Oak is a sensitizer. The more you are exposed to its fine particles, the more sensitive you become, and you may experience allergic reactions. Though severe adverse reactions are rare, one may still experience irritations of the eye and skin, as well as respiratory symptoms similar to asthma.
Where to Buy White Oak Live Edge Slabs
White oak live edge slabs are readily available in most lumber stores and local sawmills. While you can purchase slabs from these stores, you cannot guarantee the quality.
At Alderfer Lumber Company Inc, we assure our ever-growing clientele of high-quality wood products from slabs, cookies, and lumber. Our products are sourced sustainably from reputable dealers and are dried according to the maximum standards to ensure that moisture content is kept to a minimum.
Check out the available white oak slabs in our inventory.
With fast supply and demand, our online inventory may not show the updated availability of our stocks. If you can’t find what you are looking for, call or email us so that we can personally check our warehouse for you.
