Unleash the Power of Nature with this Resilient Hardwood
Tanoak is an abundant component of the Redwood/Douglas fir forests of Northern California. The Tanoak is not a true oak, although it belongs to the same family (Fagaceae) as the Oak genus.
Tanoak is the only one of over 100 species of Lithocarpus that is native to the Western Hemisphere. The Tanoak bears acorns, however the caps of the fruit appear more like the husks of the Chestnut than with oak. The leaves remain green year round.
A slow growing species with thick gray bark, Tanoak trees can reach heights of up to 100 feet. Trees 20 to 60 inches in diameter can be 100-150 years old.
Did you know that tanoak is a valuable tree for reforestation projects? This sustainable tree can grow in areas that have been disturbed by logging, mining, or other human activities.
Our Deep-rooted History with Tanoak
Out of the Woods has a deep-rooted history with tanoak and has been at the forefront of recognizing its value for the past couple of decades. As one of the first sawmills to notice its potential, our partnership with UC Berkeley took our appreciation for tanoak to the next level. It began with research into innovative drying techniques, Over time, this collaboration has yielded innovative applications for superior wood barrels and a 100% solar wood kiln. We're excited to share our success story with you soon, so stay tuned for more updates as we continue unlocking the full potential of tanoak!
Lumber Applications:
The physical properties of Tanoak wood are very similar to those of Northern Red Oak. It is a light, golden brown wood with occasional natural stain. Its moderate texture has numerous broad rays that give it a conspicuous ray fleck on the radial surface. Thus, Tanoak can yield the conventional straight grain typical of other oaks, or a more patterned image that is as attractive as those found in exotic woods common to Asia, Africa and South America.
Because Tanoak is hard and resistant to abrasion, it is an excellent wood for flooring. And in addition, Tanoak makes an excellent choice for decorative veneer and high-quality furniture.
Tanoak Plank Flooring
Our 3” or 5” plank flooring is tongue and groove, so it can be installed using glue and/or nails. All our flooring is ¾” thick, solid wood, and planks have both squared edges and squared ends to facilitate a very smooth floor.
Every single piece of the tanoak is hand selected, hand sawn, hand milled, hand stacked, hand checked and examined.
Our Tanoak offers fine aesthetic features as well—a golden or reddish color and lots of interesting figure. Tanoak species naturally offers a lot of variety, so it seems alive with artful color and line. Tanoak also accepts stain well.
