Red Oak

The heartwood of Red Oak (Quercus Rubra) is light to medium brown, with a reddish tinge. Sapwood is virtually white to light brown and is difficult to distinguish from heartwood. It has a gritty, irregular texture with a straight grain. Ray fleck patterns are visible in quarter cut/sawn portions.

Red Oak Hardwood Lumber has a medium, open-pored texture and is fairly dense. When surfaced, the grain is straight and might be coarser than White Oak. There is a noticeable grain streak on it. Heartwood is pale reddish-brown, and the sapwood is salmon pink. Mineral streaks and stains are allowed in the FAS grade but not in red oak. Quartered Crimson Oak has dark red medullary rays. Red Oak is a stable and long-lasting wood that is used for handrails, casing, furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and panelling.

Southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States are home to the red oak tree. It isn’t resistant to heartwood deterioration.