Solid oak is our most popular solid wood. Our customer’s love it. From sleek modern desk set ups, to rustic chunky tops.
But it is just one of many solid woods that can be used for desk and dining tables. Let’s look into why it might the right choice for your project, we will also flag up some reasons you might choose another wood to work with.
Quick links to the pros
Quick links to the cons
Oak pros…
Grain and character
Oak can be functional, or it can also be a centre piece. It works well in traditional offices or super modern studios. To eat from, socialise around or work at.
It’s light to medium golden colour with attractive grain suits a wide range of interiors. Oak is timeless, it has never really gone out of style, making it a safe choice for long-term investment.
Durability, strength and hardness
European White Oak, the variety most commonly used for furniture and desk tops, is a dense and hard-wearing wood. It can withstand years of daily use without sagging or warping, it doesn’t get chipped easily and can hold a wood screw even after many years of the frame being attached and dissembled. Its strength also makes it suitable for larger desk spans without bowing, especially when paired with a strong frame.
Read more: How thick does a solid wood desk top need to be?
It’s density and hardness also lend itself well to monitor mounts and camera clamps, as well as screwing other accessories to the underside, including drawer units.
Versatility of finish
Oak is highly versatile when it comes to finishing. Unlike walnut, oak is often finished with a stain or tint.
It can be oiled for a natural look, which just makes the overall hue and grain richer. Pigments can be added to oils to tint the colour. It can be stained to match darker interiors, (to look more like walnut, or a flat colour like black). Some even leave it untreated for a more rustic aesthetic.
If finished with an oil finish, oak can be spot repaired. Read more: How to repair a damaged area on your solid wood desk top
Workability
Because of it’s density, oak machines well and can be cut and shaped. Softer woods like pine can splinter when used with a CNC machine, but oak cuts cleanly and can be sanded smooth. This makes shaping hard wood ofter cleaner, more repeatable and sometimes cheaper, as it doesn’t require being shaped by hand.
Read more: How to order a custom shape solid wood table top
Sustainability
When sourced responsibly, oak is a sustainable material.
Solid Wood Tops ensure FSC-certified desk tops, all European White Oak comes from responsibly managed forests, giving peace of mind that your desk top has been produced with environmental considerations in mind.
Long-lasting investment
With proper care, an oak desk top can last for decades. Unlike cheaper softwoods, oak retains its integrity and appeal over time, often gaining more character as it ages. Softer woods can dent and ding a little easier, they also sometimes need to more removing to refinish if you wanted to refresh the top, or even change the stain etc to make it suitable for an entirely new look.
If you need to part with your desk, oak has a good resale value. The top could be sold, or even repurposed. You could cut it down, or create an L shape top from it etc.
Oak cons…
Heavier weight
Oak is a dense hardwood, which makes it a heavier species compared to softer hardwoods woods like pine. This can make large desk tops more difficult to move or install. It can also be a factor with which frame you use. Some budget sit/stand frames have quite a low maximum weight they can safely operate with – the heavier the top, the more weight is used before you load it with your equipment. However, generally speaking, weight applied evenly by a top can add to the stability of a desk within reason.
Mid-to-premium cost
Oak is not the most expensive hardwood, but it is more costly than softwoods or engineered options. For those working on a tighter budget for the project, it might make oak less accessible compared to alternatives like pine or plywood.
If on a budget, look to pine for desk tops that need to be stained, or joined; and look to ply for tops that need to be hard or shaped.
Staining
Oak contains tannins that can react with iron and moisture, when unfinished this sometimes can causing dark stains if metal objects are left on the surface. Unfinished, it will also stain with liquids easily. Oiling can help protect against this, it does mean oak requires a little more attention in everyday use.
Read more: How to water proof a solid wood desk: polyurethane, lacquer, OSMO, wax & oil finishes
Maintenance requirements
Oil finished oak desk tops will benefit from periodic oiling or refinishing (depending on your use, this could be every 5 years, or every 15 years) to maintain its appearance and protect the surface. While this isn’t difficult, it does require a level of ongoing care that some people may not want to commit to. There are other finishes to avoid this if required.
Read more: How to look after your solid wood desk top and how to repair a damaged area on your solid wood desk top.
Some specifications of Solid Wood Tops’ oak
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | European White Oak (Quercus robur / Quercus petraea) |
| Origin | Europe |
| Colour | Light to medium brown, golden with darker streaks possible |
| Grain | Distinct, often straight, with a coarse and uneven texture |
| Density | ~720 kg/m³ (at 12% moisture content) |
| Janka Hardness | ~6,000 N |
| Durability | Very durable, resistant to wear and decay |
| Workability | Machines, glues, and finishes well |
Solid oak desk top gallery (standard finish)
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