White Oak – From Wood Floor Terms

Appearance: Color: Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream.
Grain: Open, with longer rays than red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plainsawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; riftsawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quartersawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger oak, tiger rays, or butterflies.
Availability: Commodity item, available in ALL types, styles and sizes of flooring
Properties:
Hardness: 1360 Jankas Table, 5% harder than Northern red oak
Durability: More durable than red oak. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects
Workability:
Sawing: good
Nailing: good
Sanding: satisfactory
Finishing: Absorbs finishes more evenly than red oak. Does NOT bleach well