American Red Oak

Southern red oak has a more rapid growth than northern red oak and is harder, heavier and coarser textured.

Durability:

Red Oak's heartwood is non-durable and liable to insect attack but is moderately resistant to preservative treatment; the sapwood is permeable.

Mechanical Properties:

This timber has medium bending strength and stiffness with high crushing strength and is classified as a very good steam bending timber.

Seasoning:

Natural tendency to dry slowly, with liability to split, check or honeycomb, and needs care in both air drying and kilning. There is medium movement in service.

Uses:

  • Flooring, furniture, vehicle construction, interior joinery, Plywood manufacture and sliced for decorative veneers.
  • It is unsuitable for exterior work.
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Description

Red Oak’s heartwood resembles other oaks with a biscuit to pink colour, but has a reddish tinge. Mostly straight grained and coarse textured, with a less attractive figure than white oak due to smaller rays. Southern red oak has a more rapid growth than northern red oak and is harder, heavier and coarser textured. Weight about 770 kg/m³ (48 lb/ft³); specific gravity .77.

Additional information

Latin Name

Quercus spp

Family Name

Fagaceae

Distribution

Eastern USA and South Eastern Canada

Also know as

Northern red oak (Canada and USA); southern red oak, Spanish oak (USA); swamp red oak, cherrybark oak (USA); shumard red oak (USA)

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