At RealCraft, White Oak is one of our most popular choices for custom doors. Customers like its mid-tone tawny color and grain pattern. But you might be surprised to learn that choosing a wood species is about a lot more than looks. White Oak is well-loved for its versatility, durability, and strength.

Durability

White Oak is prized for its stellar water and rot resistance. It’s been used in ship-building and for wine and whiskey barrels for centuries, because it’s so leak-proof. Why is it so impervious to the elements? It's because of its cellular structure. White Oak is a closed-grain wood whose pores are filled with a substance called tyloses. Tyloses makes white oak resistant to water, so it's our preferred choice for exterior applications in wet climates. That's also why we use it for our thresholds. White Oak thresholds help prevent water damage to the rest of the door unit by making the water roll down and away from the unit. 

Strength

White Oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1,350 lbf. The Janka hardness test helps us understand how strong and hard the wood species it. It measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. The test determines the force required to embed an 11.28 millimeter diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. It takes 1,350 pounds of force to embed the steel ball halfway into white oak. This is a stellar score among domestic hardwood species, and it's also why white oak is commonly used for flooring.

Beauty

There's no denying the beauty of this wood species, which is why we offer three different variations. Our White Oak is available in Knotty Rustic, Quarter Sawn, and Plain Sawn options. 

• Knotty Rustic has knots for a more casual, farmhouse look.
• Quarter Sawn features beautiful flecks and rays across the wood grain that are distinctive to this wood species.
• Plain Sawn has variations in grain pattern based on what part of the tree it's from.

One reason people love this wood species for doors is its color. It ranges from light golden-brown to medium brown with a yellow, tawny undertone. Unlike Red Oak, it doesn't trend orange-y and makes an attractive choice for a variety of color schemes. White Oak also stains well if you want it to look darker or warmer. 

Versatility in Design 

• Oak was commonly used in Craftsman homes, making it an excellent choice for Craftsman or Mission style spaces today. 
• Go for the Rustic variation, which has more knots, if your style is Rustic or Farmhouse 
• Opt for Quarter Sawn for a more premium look and feel 
• White Oak is a wonderful choice if your home is: Traditional, Rustic, Mission/Craftsman, Modern  

Technical Data 

• Species name: Quercus Alba 
• Janka hardness: 1,350 lbf   
• Shrinkage:  Radial 5.6%, Tangential 10.5%, Volumetric 16.3% 

Still in the fence about what would species is your favorite? Now you can easily shop our wood samples online! 

Shop our collection of Entry Doors. all our designs are available in White Oak, as well as 17 other wood species variations! From Dutch doors to Pivot doors to double doors, we've got dozens of customizable designs that will refresh and elevate any space.