Preserving, Refinishing, and Installing Hardwood Flooring since 1980.

Shown below with water-based finish (top),
and oil-based finish (bottom)

APPEARANCE

Color: Sapwood is gray-white; heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when fresh, and becomes russet or reddish brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.
Grain: Mostly interlocked; texture is medium to rather coarse.
Species & Grade Variations: Moderate to high color variation.

PROPERTIES

Hardness (Janka): 2350; 82% harder than Northern Red Oak.
Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00300; 19% more stable than Red Oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant movement in use.
Durability: Dense and very strong.

WORKABILITY

Sawing / Machining: Sawing is difficult due to high density; requires frequent resharpening of tools. Planing is difficult due to interlocked grain. Can be machined to a smooth surface. Carbide tooling recommended.
Sanding: Sands well.
Nailing: Good holding ability, but due to hardness may require adjustment of angle of penetration and / or height.
Finishing: No known problems.
Comments: Light-sensitive; darkens rapidly upon exposure to sunlight.

COST

(Relative to plainsawn select Red Oak.)
Multiplier: 1.30

AVAILABILITY

Readily available.