Home / Selecting Hardwoods / Red Oak Hardwood for Molding & Millwork

Red Oak Hardwood for
Molding & Millwork

red-oak-kitchen

The Latin name for oak, Quercus, means “a fine tree.” The oaks have been key in America’s industrial transformation: railroad ties, wheels, plows, looms, barrels and, of course, furniture and floors. The oak is the state tree of New Jersey.

Where it Grows

Widespread throughout Eastern U.S. The oaks are by far the most abundant species group growing in the Eastern hardwood forests. Red oaks grow more abundantly than the white oaks. The red oak group comprises many species, of which about eight are commercial. Average tree height is 60 to 80 feet.

Relative Abundance

36.6 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available.

General Description

The sapwood of red oak is white to light brown and the heartwood is a pinkish reddish brown. The wood is similar in general appearance to white oak, but with a slightly less pronounced figure due to the smaller rays. The wood is mostly straight-grained, with a coarse texture.

Physical Properties

The wood is hard and heavy, with medium bending strength and stiffness and high crushing strength. It is very good for steam bending. Great wear-resistance.

Technical Specs

  • Specific Gravity: 0.64
  • Density: 43 lbs / cu.ft.
  • Side hardness: 1290 lbs
  • Radial Shrinkage: 4%
  • Tangential Shrinkage: 8%
  • Volumetric Shrinkage 13%

Density

Hard

  • Texture: medium, open-pore, can be coarser than white oak when surfaced-Northern Red Oak is less course than faster-growing Appalachian Red Oak.
  • Grain: straight, open
  • Color: salmon pink
  • Appearance: prominent grain stripe, medulary rays are dark red in quartersawn red oak. Growth rings in Northern Red Oak are tighter (shorter growing season = slower growth) than in Appalachian Red Oaks.
  • Stability: good
  • Durability: moderate

Local delivery

Local delivery or pick-up in the Cleveland, Ohio region.

Offering top-grade hardwoods

We use only FAS grade hardwood, also known as 1 & 2 Upper, yielding long, wide, clear cuttings. Our woods are suitable for highly visible, top quality hardwood applications such as moldings and furniture. Learn more about the types of wood we offer.