Wood Type
Hardwood
Distribution
Eastern Canada and USA. In Canada it is more abundant than white oak, and covers a wider range.
The Tree
The trees vary according to species but average about 18m to 21 m in height with a diameter of 1.0m.
The Timber
The timber varies in colour from pink to pale reddish-brown, there is usually a reddish cast to the wood although sometimes it approaches white oak in colour. The large rays do not produce such an attractive figure as they do in white oak, and generally speaking, the wood is coarser in texture. The quality of red oak depends greatly on growth conditions, northern red oak. With its comparatively slow rate of growth, compares favorably with northern white oak, while red oak from the southern States is generally of faster growth, and consequently more coarse and open in texture. Red oak weighs about 790 kg/m3 when dried.
Drying
Dries slowly with a tendancy to warp and split, particularly on end grain.
Strength
Similar to European Oak
Treatability
Difficult
Moisture Movement
Medium
Density
790kg/m3
Texture
Medium
Use(s)
Joinery – Interior, Furniture & flooring
Colour(s)
Pink/pale, reddish brown
Sample