Most red oak comes from Southern Sates, southern mountain regions, Atlantic Coastal Plains and the Central States. The primary species are: northern red oak, black oak and southern red oak. They are the source for most red oak lumber and veneer.
The sapwood is nearly white and usually only one to two inches thick immediately under the bark. The heartwood is brow with a tinge of red and is used for the production of red oak lumber and veneer.
The wood of red oak is heavy with a distinctive open grain texture. Rapidly grown second growth oak is generally harder than finer textured old-growth timber. The red oaks can reveal many pronounced grain designs depending on the sawing or veneer cutting method specified.
Red oak is largeley cut into lumber, veneer and fuel wood. Lumber is then processed into flooring, furniture and general millwork. Veneer is remanufactured into plywood for use in furniture, flush doors and paneling.
