Oak vs. Elm: Which One to Use?

Oak vs. Elm: Which One to Use?

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If you are doing some construction or woodworking around the home, there are many different types of solid lumber for you to consider. Two very popular and commonly used types of wood in North America include oak and elm.

With that being said, these two materials are significantly different from each other. Today, we want to figure out what makes oak and elm different from each other, so you can then figure out which of the two to use for your next big woodworking project.

What Is Oak?

First, we have the oak tree, and here we’re talking specifically about the red oak. The reason we are going to focus on the red oak tree is that this is one of the most commonly found types of oak in North America, and it’s also one of the most commonly used for construction and woodworking purposes.

That said, there are technically over 160 different types of oak trees that can be found across the world, most of which are found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Oak is a deciduous and flowering tree, which means that it does lose its leaves during the colder seasons, and it is also a hardwood. It is known for being quite hard, dense, heavy, structurally sound, and resistant to many types of physical damage, mainly scratching and denting.

If it is properly sealed and treated, it may be used for outdoor purposes in areas that don’t see much rainfall or moisture. However, oak is generally not considered to be very durable in terms of moisture or pest resistance. It is simply not a suitable option for outdoor use, as it is susceptible to moisture, rotting, mold, fungus, and pests.

In terms of appearance, oak has a fairly tight and straight grain, an uneven and coarse texture, and a good deal of holes, gaps, and knots. Oak generally has a brownish-red color, usually a bit darker brown than red. This wood may be used for a variety of purposes, usually for interior projects, such as for furniture, decorative pieces, flooring, cabinets, and other small items.

What Is Elm?

We then have the elm tree. There are also nearly a dozen different species of elm tree that can be found across the world, many of which are found in North America. However, seeing as it is one of the most commonly found and used in North America, today we are going to be focusing on the American elm, otherwise known as the water elm or the soft elm.

This is also a deciduous flowering tree, which means that it loses its leaves during the winter, and it is a hardwood, just like oak. That said, it is technically classified as a soft hardwood, because it’s actually not all that hard. These trees can grow up to 100’ in height and are generally found in the Eastern to Midwestern United States.

The American elm tree is not overly hard, it’s moderately dense, and generally has moderate scores in terms of various strength and durability factors. It may be used for construction purposes, although it’s not the number one choice in terms of structural soundness.

That said, it does work fairly well for basic purposes, and is often used for making indoor furniture, hockey sticks, veneer, wood pulp, paper, baskets, and boxes. It’s generally not used for many high-end purposes. Furthermore, it’s also not very resistant to pests or moisture, not at all actually, which is why it is usually never used outdoors.

As for the appearance, it features an interlocked grain with a somewhat uneven and coarse texture, and this grain can make it very hard to work with. The heartwood of elm is usually a medium reddish-brown, with the sapwood usually being a bit paler.

Oak vs. elm: What Are the Differences?

Now that we know what both oak and elm are, let’s figure out what makes these two trees different from each other.

Hardness

Red oak features a Janka hardness rating of 1,220 lbf, whereas American elm comes in at just 830 lbf. As you can see, although elm is technically a hardwood, it is rather soft.

Oak is significantly harder than American elm, around 30% harder, and is therefore much more resistant to scratching and denting. It is also a much better option for indoor furniture and high-traffic areas.

Density

Red oak is a fairly dense type of wood, as it has a weight of 43 lbs per cubic foot, whereas American elm is a much lighter material, coming in at 35 lbs per cubic foot. As you can see, not only is elm much softer than red oak but also much lighter. This in part means that oak should be much more structurally sound, but its heavier weight also makes it much harder to work with.

Pest and Moisture Resistance

Although this really isn’t a difference, the fact of the matter is that both red oak and American elm are not ideal for outdoor purposes. American elm especially is rated as being extremely susceptible to pests, disease, moisture, mold, fungus, and decay.

In no way, shape, or form is elm a good option for outdoor use. With that being said, neither is red oak. Now, the latter is slightly more durable in terms of moisture and pest resistance than American elm, but not much. Realistically, both of these types of wood are not at all ideal for outdoor use.

Overall Strength and Durability

In terms of overall durability and strength, red oak is the stronger and more structurally sound of the two. If we are talking about compressive strength, the modulus of elasticity, the modulus of rupture, hardness, and density, oak scores much higher on all five of these fronts than American elm. These are generally the five factors used to determine the overall strength of wood, and as you can see, oak just comes out on top.

Workability

What is interesting is that, although oak is the much harder and denser of the two, it actually tends to be easier to work with than elm, and the reason for this is that elm tends to have an interlocked grain. That interlocked grain can make sawing, screwing, and painting quite difficult, meaning this wood is not an easy type of wood to work with.

Appearance – Color and Grain

Both oak and elm are generally considered to be fairly good-looking types of wood. Although oak has a straight and even grain, elm features an interlocked grain. Both do also have a fairly coarse texture. On that note, elm tends to be a bit paler in color than oak, which tends to be a bit darker brown.

Cost

Expect to pay up to $25 per board foot for oak, whereas elm usually won’t cost you more than $12 per board foot.

When to Use Oak?

If you are planning on making some high-quality indoor furniture, cabinets, floors, walls, decorative pieces, or anything in between, then oak is always a good option to consider. It’s quite hard and durable, so it’s resistant to denting and scratching, which does make it ideal for flooring and furniture. Just keep in mind that it is not moisture or pest-resistant, so you really shouldn’t use it outdoors.

When to Use Elm?

Elm is generally used for very basic purposes, such as veneer, crates, boxes, pallets, hockey sticks, and other such applications. With that being said, it is cost-effective and somewhat durable, so it does make for a decent choice for fairly low end furniture, walls, doors, and decorative pieces. Just don’t use it for anything that needs to be extremely structurally sound or very resistant to denting, scratching, or moisture. It’s also not a good choice for outdoor use.

Alternatives to Oak and Elm

Seeing as neither of these two types of wood is ideal for outdoor purposes, you probably want something that can handle some moisture. If this is the case, options such as spruce, cedar, teak, mahogany, and ebony all make for fantastic choices. These are all types of wood that are fairly resistant to moisture and are ideal for outdoor purposes.

Summary

If you are looking for a cost-effective type of wood that is ideal for basic indoor use, elm is a good option to consider, and if you want something a bit more expensive, good-looking, and slightly more durable, then oak is your best bet.