Oak (White) Quercus alba Appearance Color: Heartwood is light brown; some boards may have a pinkish tint or a slight grayish cast. Sapwood is white to cream. Grain: Open, with longer rays than red oak. Occasional crotches, swirls and burls. Plainsawn boards have a plumed or flared grain appearance; riftsawn has a tighter grain pattern, low figuring; quartersawn has a flake pattern, sometimes called tiger rays or butt Variations Within Species And Grades: Considerable variation among boards in color and grain texture, but variations not as pronounced as in red oak. Properties Hardness/Janka: 1360; 5% harder than Northern red oak. Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00365, 1% more stable than red oak). Durability: More durable than red oak. Tannic acid in the wood protects it from fungi and insects. Workability Sawing/Machining: Excellent machining qualities. Sanding: Good resistance to splitting; excellent holding ability. Nailing: Good resistance to splitting; excellent holding ability. Finishing: Absorbs finishes more evenly than red oak. Does not bleach well. Comments: During the finishing process, tannins at the surface can react with some liquids to turn wood gren or brown. This effect tends to be more pronounced with products that have a high water content, such as bleach and water-based finishes. Cost (relative to plainsawn select red oak) Multiplier: .95 Availability Commodity item, available in nearly all types, styles and sizes of flooring, including parquet, strip, plank and veneer, both unfinished and prefinished. Source: National Wood Flooring Association