Why is white oak so expensive?

Oak wood is expensive because it is a hardwood. Hardwoods are more dense and durable but grow much slower than softwood which makes them more expensive. Although on a grand scale of all existing woods, oak is on the more expensive side because it is classified as a hardwood, oak is one of the cheapest hardwoods.

Why is white oak so expensive right now?

The inventory is low, the demand is at an all-time high and so are the prices. Many are surprised to learn that the availability of white oak is not the issue— as many as 5.2 billion white oak trees cover 235,000 square miles in the United States.

Why is white oak so valuable?

It's a valuable species for wildlife, the quality of the lumber, and in the cooperage industry to make barrels for high-quality spirits or wine. It's just a beautiful tree.” Wildlife also benefits: Many animals prefer the tree's sweeter acorn over that of the red oak, and several bird species feed on its leaf buds.

Is white oak wood expensive?

White oak is still the best all-around hardwood and remains in reasonably good supply. It is a valuable, rather expensive wood, but is usually less expensive than cherry and walnut.

Why is white oak more expensive than red oak?

Price – In general, there is not a major price difference between red oak and white flooring. Because unfinished hardwood is a commodity item, the price tends to fluctuate weekly. At times, red oak costs more; at other times, white oak costs more. the price will often vary based on width and grade.

The REAL Difference Between OAK Lumber

Is white oak more expensive than Maple?

Oak is generally slightly more expensive than Maple, the cost of the floored depends on the width and length of the floorboards, the grade of the lumber and several other factors.

Which is better white oak or red oak?

Red Oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1290, while White Oak's rating is 1360, making it slightly more impervious to dents and scratches. However, these numbers are so close that both hardwoods will tend to perform equally well once they've been installed, finished and sealed.

Is white oak a good wood?

The white oaks are one of the strongest native hardwoods. Bending strength (MOR) averages 13,000 psi. Hardness averages 1360 pounds.

What is special about a white oak tree?

White oak trees are unique because they grow both male and female flowers. The male flowers range between two and four inches long and are green or yellowish in color, while the female flower appears slightly red in color. Acorns are actually fruit from the fertilized female flower.

What tree is worth the most money?

An African Black Ebony tree from Gabon could be worth a million dollars, if you can find one. Due to its high value many species of Black Ebony are now extinct or on the verge of extinction. The Paulownia may currently be the world's most valuable sustainably harvested hardwood tree.

Is there a white oak shortage?

While there's no shortage of white oak trees across the country – one source said there's an estimated 5.2 billion in the U.S. – there is a shortage of loggers to cut the trees, as well as mills to turn them into the raw wood necessary for barrel-making or cooperage.

Is white oak trendy?

The high density gives the wood more durability, but makes it a bit harder to work with. Another example of a downside is that white oak is trendy, but red oak is still more common because there are more of them domestically and grow more quickly.

Should you stain white oak?

For a light and fresh look, stain your white oak hardwood flooring a lighter color. This also smooths and blends the contrast in the grain for a very clean look. For more traditional, rustic, or just darker floors, a dark stain absorbs beautifully and lets the grain really stand out.

What is the most expensive wood in the world?

African Blackwood

It is considered as the most expensive wood in the world because not only it is challenging to work with hand or machine tools, its trees are already near-threatened. But as expensive as it may seem, African Blackwood is worth the price.

Why is it called a white oak?

White Oak Trees Get Their Name Because of the Color of The Back of Their Leaves. In addition to the color of the hardwood, White Oak Trees get their name because of the color of the back of their leaves! What is this? The back of a White Oak Trees leaves is a whitish color or considered to be a paler green.

Where has all the white oak gone?

Paleoecological and dendroecological evidence suggests that the process of fire and gap-phase regeneration in white oak forests went on for many hundreds and thousands of years. This cycle, however, was broken during the 19th and early 20th centuries and led to a dramatic decline in white oak.

Is white oak hard to get?

But why is it so hard to find? From our perspective here are a few potential reasons. Logging - This year, for most of the northeast, the winter season has been unusually warm in most of the regions where White Oak grows. Because of this it has made these forests increasingly muddy and difficult to log.

Which is the cheapest hardwood?

Pound for pound, the cheapest wood to buy is maple. Poplar, Alder, white oak and beech are also quite inexpensive. Maple, specifically, is one of the most common woods among entry-level woodworkers and general-purpose woodworks because of its affordability and availability.

Is white oak water resistant?

It's a proven fact that White Oak is more resistant to water than Red Oak. White Oak is a closed-grain wood with many of its pores plugged with Tyloses, making it more resistant to water, decay, and rot.

How do you tell if an oak tree is a white oak?

Is white oak durable?

Durable Flooring

The Janka hardness scale is a measure of durability for wood species. White oak receives a Janka hardness score of 1360, which makes it harder than red oak, white ash, American cherry and American walnut. This means that it will withstand daily use well, without a lot of denting or dinging.