Oak, White

Handloggers’ Opinion
This is Red Oak’s second cousin only a bit harder. We have flooring displays in our showroom with red and white oak side by side. In this setting it is apparent that white oak has a green undertone and red oak has a rosy undertone. We usually price them the same so the choice is generally a subjective one depending on what you are trying to match with your floor.
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 rays or butterflies.
Variations within species and grades: Considerable variation among boards in color and grain texture, but variations not as pronounced as in red oak.
Properties
Hardness/Janka: 1360; 5% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00365; 1% more stable than red oak).
Durability: More durable than red oak. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects.
Workability
Sawing/Machining: Excellent machining qualities.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good resistance to splitting; excellent holding ability.
Finishing: Absorbs finishes more evenly than red oak. Does not bleach well.
Comments: During the finishing process, tannins at the surface can react with some liquids to turn the wood green or brown. This effect tends to be more pronounced with products that have a high water content, such as bleach and water-based finishes.

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"Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring, publication A200, ©1994" provided with permission and courtesy of the National Wood Flooring Association.