Common Alabama Urban Wood Species and their Benefits: Red Oak
Also known as the champion oak, red oak trees can grow 90ft tall and 3ft in diameter. Not only is red oak one of the fastest-growing oak trees, but it also transplants without difficulty, unlike other species.
You can recognize red oak wood by its light to medium brown heartwood with a reddish cast. The sapwood is paler, while quarter sawn has ray fleck patterns. Red elm has a straight grain and coarse or uneven texture. Like other oak wood, this one responds well to steam-bending, and it stains, glues, and finishes quite well.
The main benefits of red oak are:
- Attractive wood grain
- Resistant to wear and tear
- Good water resistance
- Not as likely to warp with sun exposure as other species
Since it’s heavy, stiff, and hard with high shock resistance, red oak is a popular interior design material. It is primarily used for flooring but also interior joinery, decorative veneers, crates, boxes, wall paneling, cabinetry, and other pieces of furniture.
Red oak fun facts:
- Red oak is named after its fall color and also due to red leaf veins
- Red oak is the most popular hardwood in the United States
- Red oak may live up to 400-450 years
