The Red Oak is one of the largest and most important timber trees. One of the fastest growing of the oaks,
it attains to 80 feet and a diameter of two to three feet.
Overview
The sapwood of Red Oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is often a pinkish reddish brown. The wood
is similar in general appearance to White Oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to the smaller
rays and a more porous end grain structure. The wood is mostly straight grained with a coarse texture.
Main Uses
Construction, Furniture, Flooring, Doors, Kitchens and Paneling.
Working Properties
Red oak machines well; nailing and screwing is good although pre-boring is recommended, and it can be
stained and polished to a very good finish. It performs best when dried slowly, reducing the opportunity for
degrade such as splits and warp. It has a high shrinkage and can be susceptible to movement in performance
under variable moisture conditions.
