Oak design values

[JohannZ]

In evaluating existing floor joists in a 80 year old structure in Virginia, how can I accurately determine whether I have white oak, red oak or Northern Red Oak, values for which are given in the NDS supplement Table 4A?

 

[msquared48]

".. accurately...".

Take a sample to a testing agency.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[hokie66]

Most likely a mixture, as White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Northern Red Oak, Pin Oak, Scarlet Oak, and Spanish Oak (probably missed a few), are all common and commingled in Virginia. Unless for furniture making, the sawmills would not have distinguished between the oak logs as they were sawing, so I would use the lesser values.