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Oak - or Quercus robur - is a type of hardwood which stems from the oak tree. It is mainly found in North America and China, as well as the UK. Oak wood has been used as hardwood timber for thousands of years.Two species Quercus petraea (a sessile oak) and Quercus robur (a pedunculate oak) are mainly used for timber in Europe. Ranging from greyish-brown to yellowish-brown in colour in its heartwood, with a lighter sapwood, the wood of these European Oaks is greatly influenced by the conditions they’re grown in. Despite the different species, it’s difficult to spot the difference between the two.
All oak species are strong, hard, heavy and dense. Due to the presence of high tannin content, they are extremely resistant to insect and fungal infestations.
It’s an attractive wood grain, which makes it a pleasing choice around the home. It stains and polishes well and is unlikely to warp in the glare of sunlight. As oak trees can grow up to 30 metres in height, the wood has a great yield of timber per tree. The colour of oak wood is so uniform, that you can guarantee a consistent finish without the need to stain or search for the perfect tree.
However, it is very heavy timber, and cold, wet weather can see it react with any oil finish. Oak is also an expensive choice for timber, notably because it takes up to 150 years to mature enough to be suitable for construction. Prices can reach £800 per cubic metre.
In past times, it has been used to produce alcoholic liquor, medicine and writing ink. It was so prized that wars were fought to try and secure supplies from abroad for shipbuilding and other military purposes.
Modern uses for oak wood include homewares, flooring, wine barrels and firewood. The timber takes glue, nails and screws well, except near to edges. Evidence of its durability can be seen in the many oak-framed buildings built hundreds of years ago, including Tudor structures.
When you consider oak for your project, it’s vital to check which density you’ll require. Great timber generally has a density range of 400 to 800kg per m3. European oak timber will normally have a density range of around 720kg/m3, with White American oak timber around 770kg/m3. Red American oak should have a density of around 790kg/m3.
All types of oak timber dry very slowly, with a tendency to split and check. If the drying is forced, you’re likely to see the timber honeycomb, one of the worst defects in timber. Oak timber should be air dried or kiln dried.
There are over 600 species of oak in the world, with 200 in America alone. And despite oak being a renewable resource, turnover is very slow. As oak forests also shelter a significant number of animals, it’s crucial we ensure their preservation for thousands of years to come.
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