COLOR:
Heartwood and sapwood are similar, with sapwood lighter in color; most pieces have a reddish tone. Slightly redder than white oak.

GRAIN:
Open, slightly coarser (more porous) than white oak. Plain sawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; rift sawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quarter sawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger rays or butterflies.

VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES:
More than 200 subspecies in North America; great variation in color and grain, depending on the origin of the wood and differences in growing seasons. Northern, Southern and Appalachian red oak all can be divided into upland and lowland species. Because they grow more slowly, upland species have a more uniform grain pattern than lowland species, with more growth rings per inch.

ORIGIN:
North America.

GRADE:
Clear, Select, CW1, CW2.

HARDNESS (JANKA):
Northern: 1290, Southern: 1060.

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY:
Northern: average, Southern: below average.

NAILING:
No known problems.

SANDING:
Sands satisfactorily if the correct sanding sequence is followed.Suggested Sequence First Cut: 50 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain Second Cut: 80 straight with the grain Third Cut: 100 Hard Plate: 100 Screen: 100 or 120

FINISHING:
Stains well and demonstrates strong stain contrast. Red oak generally works better than white oak for bleached floors because it is more porous, and because tannin’s in white oak can discolor the floor.