Oak Kitchen Cabinets – White Oak or Red Oak?

Quercus, Latin for oak, means “a fine tree.” Oak has been the symbol of strength for many civilizations including the Vikings, the Greeks and the Romans. Returning Roman commanders received oak-leaf crowns after a victory. Oak is also one of the most popular species for kitchen cabinets.

2000 year-old English Oak in Lithuania

Oak Characteristics

There are over 400 species of oak trees according to the National Park Service. 90 are found in North America. The longest living oak is estimated to be a 2000 year-old English Oak in Lithuania.

Most notable in the cabinet industry are red oak and white oak. Red oak is one of the most prolific hardwoods in North America making it an economical species. In addition to cabinets, red oak is used for railroad ties, fenceposts, furniture, paneling, flooring and caskets.

White Oak’s closed grain with tannins called tyloses resist water-loss and decay making the wood excellent for ship building. A dugout canoe made of white oak, which was found in Wisconsin’s Lake Mendota, is estimated to be 3000 years old. Those same properties make white oak the preferred oak for bourbon barrels. White oak makes a “liquid-tight” barrel, but still lets in air. These attributes contribute to the flavor and color of bourbon.

Plain Sliced vs. Rift Cut

How a log is cut has an impact on the finished grain pattern. Summit Forest has a nice summary of common cuts. The most common cuts for kitchen cabinetry are plain sliced and rift cut.

Plain Slice Cut

Plain slicing occurs when a log is only turned a few inches each cut. The log is milled horizontally across the log. The result is a cathedral grain pattern.

Rift cut is milled perpendicular to the growth rings. This cut produces a more linear grain. There is more waste with this cut making a rift cut more expensive.

Rift Cut

You can see the difference in the grain patterns with these white oak samples:

Plain Slice White Oak

Rift Cut White Oak

As can be seen above, plain slice has a lot of character – a wider grain pattern and cathedrals, the large formations in the wood. The rift cut gain pattern is straighter and tighter. A cleaner look some might say. Same species, different looks.

If you are looking for durable and timeless oak cabinetry, Bishop has over 50 options in red and white oak. Below are just a few in contemporary, transitional and traditional styles. For more information about these and many other door styles, download our Essentials and Design Elements brochures and available finishes.

Contemporary Door Styles