Green Oak is a term commonly used in the wood flooring industry, but one that is commonly not completely understood. Green Oak can be seen as a term to describe oak which basically has a high moisture content. Although all type of oak contains moisture, green oak is basically oak which has a higher moisture content overall then the likes of solid oak. One of the reasons for this high moisture content generally is because the wood has only recently been felled and milled into beams and timber. Therefore because the wood has yet to dry out, when used in construction the wood will crack and fissure as the moisture content becomes lower.
Compared to Air dried oak, Green oak is much more likely to be susceptible to some of movement because air dried oak has a much lower moisture content. Kiln dried oak will offer the most support of the three with an even lower moisture content and therefore more stability.
However because of it’s high moisture content, Green Oak is often favoured by craftsmen as it is much easier to work with because of it’s softer nature. Older oak, or oak which has been dried, is generally much harder, and therefore much more difficult to work with. Green Oak therefore can easily be cut into much more complex shapes and structures than air dried or kiln dried oak.
Although Green Oak starts out softer than other types of oak, this can be seen as a positive as once the timber frame dries out it will shrink. This will result in the joints tightening up which will make the frame much more structurally sound.
Green oak, due to its nature, is much more consistent in its colouring across the beam as well as having a better consistency in dimension and in the grain. To those who are looking to have the same look and feel across the beam, green oak proves to be perfect for the job.
The cracks and fissures that can be found in a Green Oak Beam, make them a desirable option for many as a way of bringing something unique into their homes. The majority of modern day timber framed houses are now built using green oak making it a popular option among many.
