Description

Oak Comes in Many Different Varieties

One of the reasons why oak can take on so many different looks is that there isnt a single type of oak tree. There are actually more than 60 varieties growing across the United States alone. When it comes to furniture making and other uses around the home, the most common species are red and white oak. Both are stunning choices and work well in busy homes because of their durability.

Why Does Oak Wood Change Colors Over Time?

Oak wood may darken slightly over time, taking on more amber tones. This happens due to exposure to oxygen and UV light, making it a largely unavoidable process. When it comes to oak furniture, most people wont even realize the change is happening, as the color change is fairly subtle. They may catch on if they purchase a set one piece at a time or try to add in a new piece years down the road hoping for a match. For this reason, its generally better to purchase a full set all at once.

What are the Common Uses of Oak Wood?

Oak wood is prized in furniture making as well as in flooring and cabinetry because of its durability, workability, and natural beauty. White oak has some water resistance to it, so it has historically been the choice for crafting things like wine barrels and boats. Barrel-aged liquors are often aged in oak barrels.

Specifically, most mission style furniture is often crafted with solid oak, although its also common to find mission furniture crafted with cherry or maple (note that most of our product photos contain cherry furniture).

What Does the Grain Pattern of Oak Wood Look Like?

Oak wood is generally straight-grained and has an uneven texture. However, there are other aspects of oaks grain that makes it quite unique. For example, white oaks water resistance lies in its pores. Theyre totally sealed off by tyloses. Red oak doesnt have the same cellular growth and its pores are open. One other unique characteristic of oak is the rays which run alongside the grain. In red oak, it can sometimes look like someone took a dark pencil and drew dotted lines across a board. The same marks are present in white oak as well, but they tend to be much longer.

Is Oak a Hardwood or Softwood?

Oak is a hardwood. This distinction doesnt refer to a woods ability to resist damage, though. It has to do with whether the wood came from a dicot or gymnosperm tree. Leafy trees are typically from the dicot group, and so theyre all hardwoods. Others, such as pine and fir, are from the gymnosperm group, and thats why theyre called softwoods.