Pale brown with a pink tinge, it can be hard to tell the difference between American Red and White Oak. The growth rings are a little further apart in Red Oak which gives a more pronounced grain. The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. Red oak can vary in colour, texture, characteristics and properties according to the growing region. The American Red Oak that we offer at ITI Timspec is especially good for flooring, decking and furniture.

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.

This attractive looking oak is widely available and increasingly being chosen by designers and architects for furniture, joinery, and flooring in export markets around the world. 

Botanical Name: Quercus rubra

Other Names: Red oak

Origin: North America

Working Qualities: Red oak lumber machines well, with good performance in nailing and screwing, although pre-boring is recommended. It glues well and can be stained and polished to a very good finish. Being porous, red oak absorbs all treatments. The wood dries best slowly to minimise degrade, but with high shrinkage and can be susceptible to movement in performance in humid conditions. The wood is rated as slightly resistant to heartwood decay, but moderately easy to treat with preservatives. This makes Red Oak suitable for being thermally modified.

Uses: This sustainably managed species group from natural forests of North America, with excellent environmental credentials, is a key species in many export markets. Its main uses are in furniture, flooring, doors, architectural joinery, mouldings and kitchen cabinets. It is also used in certain applications for construction.

Availability: Only available in T&G flooring

Stocked: Yes

Grade Description: Available in various grades and sizes

Installation by Freedom Flooring Ltd