Whether it’s used for furniture or flooring, oak is generally broken down into one of two different categories — red and white oak. While they are both excellent hardwood choices in terms of beauty, there are some notable differences between them.
Some notable differences between red and white oak are the grain patterns, color, and cost. Although the numbers are pretty close (1290 vs. 1360), their difference in hardness and durability are also significant factors you have to consider when deciding which to choose between the two.
This article shares a few more important differences between the two. Read on to learn more.
Red Oak Overview
Quercus rubra, or red oak, is a member of the broad group of red oaks consisting of shingle, blackjack, black, northern pin, and pin. The average tree size is 60-70 ft tall, and the average dried weight is 700 kg/m3.
Red oak trees are native to North America. They are frequently seen in parks and gardens as ornamental trees.
White Oak Overview
Quercus alba, or white oak, grows up to 60-100 ft tall. White oak trees thriving in a forest are usually more extensive than those planted in any open area that grow to be smaller yet massive. Its average dried weight is 755 kg/m3.
White oak trees are native to eastern and central North America. They are usually found in Minnesota, southern Maine, east Texas, and northern Florida. You can also see these trees in some cities in Canada, like Quebec and Ontario.
How Do You Instantly Tell the Difference Between Red Oak and White Oak?
Contrary to popular belief, red oak is not always red. It is commonly seen as light brown, medium brown, red-brown, or deep pink. The texture is coarse and uneven, and the pores are large. Its quartersawn section displays a unique and natural wide-grain pattern.
White oak’s color, on the other hand, is light beige to brown. Its quartersawn section displays prominent ray-fleck patterns. The wood is sometimes marked with grayish hues. Sometimes, old white oak trees produce pinkish wood boards, similar to red oak. This common confusion is why pros identify these woods and get more information after the lumber is plain or quarter sawn.
Plain Sawing vs. Quarter Sawing
Plain sawing is the most common cutting method. It is typically used in hardwood flooring. Since this cuts parallel through the log, it produces a broader plank. As a result, this method uses the entire log, minimizing waste. However, this cut is more prone to twisting, cupping, and warping.
On the other hand, quarter sawing cuts the log into four quarters. Since this requires more labor and yields more waste, its cost is higher than the former. This method best shows flecking or ray in the white and red oaks grains.
Does Red and White Oak Stain the Same?
Red and white oak can both stain well with ease. To achieve the best results, apply the stain along their grains.
Is white oak good for staining?
White oak is very easy to stain since its distinct pores absorb it well. With this type of oak, you can use gray and lighter white stain colors, which are popular today in modern homes.
Can you stain red oak to match white oak?
If you’re planning to restain a piece of mission-style wood furniture made of red oak to look like an item of genuine white oak furniture to add some air of modernity to your home, it’s not a walk in the park, as other articles online may say. No one can’t make red oak look precisely like a white one with just restaining.
You can always prepare the furniture properly by sanding and bleaching it first before choosing and mix-matching stains to achieve that more natural and lighter look. The goal is to minimize the red tones as much as you can.
What color cancels out red oak?
The idea is to hide red with its opposite – green. In arts class, if you mix a primary color with its opposite on the wheel, you’ll get brown – which is the shade we’re trying to achieve. You can experiment with this or choose a stain with a shade of green.
Depending on the costs, you can find and contact professionals to do the job or replace the whole thing with a piece of real white oak furniture from a reliable wood furniture shop.
Which Type Is Harder?
Based on the Janka hardness test, red oak has a rating of 1290, while white oak has 1360. In other words, the former is slightly softer than the latter.
Due to the difference, red oak is usually used in crafting indoor furniture like cabinets, shelves, and other things limited inside our homes. The white oak, commonly used in wooden boat building and hardwood flooring, is perfect for outdoor furniture due to its strength and capability to stand seasonal changes better.
However, despite white oak’s stunning performance in withstanding even the most drastic weather, the red one is better at hiding dents and scratches due to its unique grain patterns.
Which type is most rot-resistant?
White oak is the most sought-after wood for constructing boats, ships, cabins, railroad ties, truck flooring, wagons, mine timbers, and pallets. Its density, strength, and durability caused it to be considered the “All-American wood.” It is rated as exceptionally resistant to mildly resistant to rot or decay.
If you have an item of red oak furniture prone to water splashes and stains, you may want to apply a waterproofing sealant to prolong its life. However, it is essential to note that no chemical would make red oak the same level as white when it comes to these features.
Red vs. White Oak: Furniture Price
Red oak is known to be cheaper since it’s more abundant and available everywhere. While there could be some instances where furniture prices could fluctuate, red oak would possibly be more expensive than white in some cases.
The pricing would still depend on the availability of lumber, the grade of wood, the supply and demand of specific items, and even the brands and retailers carrying it.
Regularly, the price difference between white and red oak furniture is not as big as others think. You can always visit a reputable wood furniture store near you or a trusted online furniture shop to compare prices.
Conclusion
While many of us may conclude that white oak furniture is always the best choice, it is worth noting that red oak furniture may also be a wise alternative. If you’re looking for furniture to place inside your home, many top-favorite options are made from red oak.
Besides, these pieces have naturally warmer colors and shorter rays that are aesthetically pleasing without spending more.
Some who don’t consider prices an issue can always choose white oak for their furniture down to their flooring. Since it is proven to stand the test of time and ever-so-changing weather, this can be regarded as a good investment that even the next generations in your family would still enjoy.
However, when buying a piece, whether it’s claimed to be made from red or white oak, you need to know how to distinguish and differentiate the two.