Is oak wood a good wood for furniture?
Oak is a cold climate tree that grows primarily in different parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Oak belongs to the family of Beech. Oak is typically characterized by its ever-green leaves. Oak can easily grow from acorns under moist or dry sands and climates. An Oak tree has a long life. Oak is popular due to its beauty, strength, and nature of being long lasting. It is highly durable and can last up to thousands of years. Oak is a heavy, dense also highly pest and rot resistant in comparison to many other wood species.
There are many Oak species spread across the planet of which few species are evergreen. The difference between Oak and White Oak is characterized by its leaves, while Oak has toothed leaves, White Oak has smooth non edgy leaves. White Oak is found more commonly in North America. The three main categories of Oak are Silver Oak, White Oak, Red Oak and Black Oak. There are further sub species of Oak based on the region that include Pin Oak, Northern Red Oak, Bur Oak. The Mediterranean further area brings a different range of subspecies like Aleppo Oak etc. Silver Oak on the other hand grows in the eastern coast of Australia and is also an evergreen tree.
White Oak
White Oak is found commonly in the regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the forests of Eastern North America, Europe, and Asia. White is darker as compared to its other species, and is usually brown. White Oak is coarse as compared to the Red Oak and has impeccable water and pest/rot resistance.
Red Oak
Red oak is also known as northern red oak and is found in abundance across the North — Eastern United States and South — Eastern Canada. There are other species like Spanish Oak and Pin Oak is available further south. Red Oak has a pink shade throughout the wood. Red Oak is not as strong as White Oak and is more prone to cracks and dents, however, is a suitable hardwood for furniture, it is one of the most commonly used wood for making not just furniture but many other things of wood.
Silver Oak
Silver Oak is a comparatively softer wood and used for the making of small furniture etc. Silver Oak also tends to degrade much faster as compared to white oak and red oak.
Advantages of Oak Wood
Appearance
Oak is a highly desired wood due to its beauty and appearance. It gives a very rich finish and looks expensive, almost all kinds of Oak look have a natural classy colour.
Durability
Besides being an attractive looking wood, Oak is also very durable, white oak being the most durable of the lot. Oak is also pest, decay and rot resistant that gives it a very long life.
Low Maintenance
Because it’s durable and decay resistant, Oak naturally becomes a low maintenance wood that lasts long, however for a longer life of the oak its most suitable to keep it indoors.
Water Resistant
Very few woods have the property of being water resistant and Oak is one of them, because of this property of the oak, it is decay resistant as well.
In India there are oak wood suppliers of quality Oak wood, Faith Lumber being one of the most reliable suppliers of all timber related goods, including Oak. Faith lumber procures the best quality of Oak and ensures end to end service as a supplier to all its customers. The promise that Faith Lumber is not just that of last mile delivery but that of last mile satisfaction.