Red Oak

General Information:

Red oak is a very versatile species and has been the staple species used for interior millwork in the Midwest for hundreds of years. Its open grain readily takes stain in any color of your choice, high lighting the beautiful grains created by mother nature to enhance the color scheme created by you throughout your home. Red oak does not require stain to look beautiful, its natural earthy tones of pinkish wheat colors and vivid grain patterns look wonderfully rich as nature intended with a clear finish as well.

Species:

Oak trees are a deciduous tree that shed all of their leaves during one season. It's scientific name is Quercus or Lithocarpus. Oak trees are widespread throughout the Eastern U.S., comprised of many different species of which about eight have commercial value making up about 1/3 of the commercially available hardwoods in the United States. Oaks are relatively slow growing and can live for 200 years or more. One of the largest oak trees of record is the Wye Oak in Wye Mills on Maryland's eastern shore. It is believed to be more than 400 years old measuring 32 feet in circumference and 105 feet tall with a crown spread of 158 feet, however average tree height is more like 60 - 80 feet. Mature oaks are capable of drawing 50 gallons or more of water per day up through their roots. Oak trees usually do not produce any acorns until they reach the age of 20 years or older in some cases. These hard shelled nuts are a good source of food for squirrels, deer and wild turkeys.

Uses:

Red oak is a versatile hardwood used in many applications in flooring, furniture, cabinets, millwork, doors, paneling, veneer, plywood and many other uses.

Color Characteristics:

The red oak sapwood ranges from white to light brown in color with the heartwood ranging from a wheat color to pinkish reddish brown. Some color variation with occasional mineral streaks are possible in its natural state.

Physical Properties:

Red oak machines well, has good nail holding and screw holding power, its hard and heavy wood lending great wear resistance.

Finishing:

The coarse texture and open grain of the red oak accepts stain readily and finishes beautifully. The key to a nice finish in "ring-porous" or open grained hardwoods such as oak, elm and ash is in the wood preparation. A nicely sanded surface using multiple grits with a final sanding using 150 grit sandpaper will help to achieve a uniform stain across the whole surface.