Sal VS European Oak
- Harder wear surface (Janka 1340 vs 1120 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 112.0 vs 97.1 MPa)
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.67 vs 0.74 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Sal |
| Strength (MOR) | Sal |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Sal |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | European Oak |
| Lightness | European Oak |
Engineering data
| Property | Sal | European Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1340 lbf | 1120WD lbf |
| Density | 0.74 g/cm³ | 0.67WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 14.2 GPa | 10.6WD GPa |
| MOR | 112.0 MPa | 97.1WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 2 Durable |
| Stability | Good | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4 % | 4.7WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.5 % | 8.4WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.88 | 1.79 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Sal | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 European Oak | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Sal | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 European Oak | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Sal | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Sal
Advantages relative to European Oak
- Janka is 1,340 lbf vs 1,120 lbf, about 20% harder
- MOR is 112 MPa vs 97.1 MPa, about 15% higher
- MOE is 14.2 GPa vs 10.6 GPa, about 34% higher
Limitations relative to European Oak
European Oak
Advantages relative to Sal
Limitations relative to Sal
- Janka is 1,120 lbf vs 1,340 lbf, about 16% lower
- MOR is 97.1 MPa vs 112 MPa, about 13% lower
- MOE is 10.6 GPa vs 14.2 GPa, about 25% lower
Recommendation
Choose Sal if…
- Beams, pillars, posts and heavy house construction, railway sleepers, bridges and hydraulic engineering where the higher hardness, bending strength and stiffness all matter in specification and the shared Class 2 durability and Class B fire class are the baseline
- Ships and boats, telephone and electrical poles, and heavy-duty packaging where the traditional structural Sal role is what the project is specifying
Choose European Oak if…
- Furniture and cabinetmaking, flooring and parquet, windows, doors and staircases, timber-frame construction where the working properties are sufficient and the shared Class 2 durability rating is what the piece needs
- Boat and harbour work, decorative veneer, and cooperage (the barrels that age wine, cognac and whisky) where the documented Oak cooperage role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Sal or European Oak?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 2, Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: Sal moves 7.5% tangentially against 8.4%, which decides board width and fixing spacing more than the durability class does.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 2, and tangential movement runs 7.5% for Sal against 8.4% for European Oak — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Sal holds its dimension marginally better. Sal gives the harder wearing surface at 1,340 lbf; European Oak is the lighter section at 0.67 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Sal harder than European Oak?
Yes — Janka 1340 lbf vs 1120 lbf.