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

Oak - American Red