Texmateria
Oak
A hard open-grain hardwood with prominent rays and warm neutral color. Its pores, medullary fleck, ring pattern, and finish absorption make it read differently from printed wood.
Common names
- white oak
- red oak
- european oak
Search phrases
- warm wood floor
- wood with strong grain
- natural oak floor
- cathedral grain wood
Common uses
- Wood flooring
- Dining tables
- Stair treads
- Cabinet fronts
- Wall paneling
Choosing points
- Best for floors, furniture, and doors where a natural quality wood grain should suit many interiors.
- Open pores catch pigment well, so oak takes stains and smoked finishes strongly.
- Quarter-sawn oak shows ray flecks that look like pale ribbons.
- It dents less easily than softwoods, but dark stains reveal scratches more quickly.
How it ages
- White oak handles moisture better than red oak, but all solid wood moves with humidity.
What to avoid
- Do not use interior oak directly in wet or exterior locations. It can move, stain, and blacken around metal fasteners.
