English Oak

English Oak (Quercus robur)

Common Name(s): English Oak, European Oak

Scientific Name: Quercus robur

Distribution: Most of Europe, to Asia Minor, and North Africa

Tree Size: 80-115 ft (24-35 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 43 lbs/ft³ (680 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .53

Hardness: 1,120 lb_f (4,980 N)

Rupture Strength: 14,100 lb_f/in² (97,100 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,544,000 lb_f/in² (10,600 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,720 lb_f/in² (46.3 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.7%, Tangential: 8.4%, Volumetric: 13.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Color/Appearance: Has a medium yellowish-brown color, though there can be a fair amount of variation in color.

Grain/Pore: Has medium-to-large pores and a fairly coarse grain. May have irregular or interlocked grain depending on growing conditions of the tree.

Endgrain: Ring-porous; 2-4 rows of large, exclusively solitary earlywood pores, numerous small to very small latewood pores in radial arrangement; tyloses abundant; growth rings distinct; rays large and visible without lens; apotracheal parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates (short lines between rays).

Durability: English Oak has been rated as having very good resistance to decay, and is commonly used in boat-building applications.

Workability: Easy to glue, and takes stain and finishes very well.

Scent: Has a tell-tale smell that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Widely grown and available in Europe, English Oak is not seen nearly as commonly in the United States, and would be considered an imported lumber. Moderately inexpensive if purchased in an area where it grows locally, (i.e., Europe).

Comments: English Oak falls into the white oak group, and shares many of the same traits as White Oak (Quercus alba). English Oak is used extensively for both interior and exterior building applications throughout Europe.

Related Species:

Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

Bog Oak

Brown Oak

Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii)

Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda)

Chestnut Oak (Quercus prinus)

Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia)

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata)

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Post Oak (Quercus stellata)

Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)

Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea)

Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii)

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)

Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)

Water Oak (Quercus nigra)

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)