Geography

• Oak belongs to the Quercus genus, and can be found all over the Northern Hemisphere. Hickory belongs to the Carya Glabra genus and originated in North America.
  
  

Function

• Oak wood can be employed for a variety of uses such as furniture making, flooring, framing and alcohol making. Hickory is used to make baseball bats, furniture, flooring, handles and plywood.
  
  

Considerations

• Hickory is much more difficult to work with than Oak. Hickory is not very durable and is very susceptible to insect infestation and damage.
  
  

Appearance

• Both Hickory and Oak wood have very attractive grain markings. The grain markings of Hickory are usually straight but can be wavy, and Oak is known for having irregular grain markings. The texture of Hickory is rather course, and is usually a reddish-brown color. White Oak wood is said to be a creamy brown color, while red Oak has a reddish-brown appearance. Both red and white Oak have a course texture.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Until recently, Hickory was thought to be a poor choice for hardwood flooring. This is not true, and Hickory hardwood floors are becoming very popular. Oak and Hickory are both thought to give a home a very rustic and classic feel.