GRADING - The appearance of the wood determines how it is "graded." All grades are equally strong and serviceable, yet afford the consumer different looks. These rules are an Industry standard set by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Associations (NOFMA)
OAK &  ASH (unfinished) ~Oak (graphic)
OAK (prefinished)
BEECH, BIRCH, MAPLE, PECAN ~ Maple (graphics)
Wood Floor CUTS
Wood Floor SPECIES Chart
Grades: Oak & Ash    Unfinished  - Four(4)
Clear Red Oak	Select & Better		"Clear" is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections. See room setting photo of this species. This grade is further identified by cut, CLEAR PLAIN, CLEAR QUARTERED
			"Select & Better" is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations. See room setting photo of this species. This grade is further identified by cut, SELECT PLAIN, SELECT QUARTERED
# 1 Common	# 2 Common		# 1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. See room setting photo of this species
			# 2 Common is rustic in appearance and allow all wood characteristics of the species. See room setting photo of this species
Note: "Common" grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room.
Unfinished Grades - Four(4)
Grades: Oak   Prefinished  - Four(4)
Prime-This is the top grade and the overall appearance shall be good. The face of strips shall be selected for appearance after finishing. This grade includes characteristics found in the unfinished grades of CLEAR and SELECT grade
Standard-The face of strips may contain sound wood characteristics which are even and smooth after filling and finishing. This grade includes some characteristics found in the unfinished grades SELECT, NO.1 COMMON, and NO. 2 COMMON
Standard & Better- A combination of PRIME and STANDARD grade developing from the production run. See room setting photo of this species		Tavern/Cabin- A limited amount of unfilled/unfinished open characters admitted. A limited amount of pieces with finish irregularities such as bubbles, small skips, lines, stain/color variation, surface handling scratches, minor trash, and the like are allowed.

 

 

 

Hard Maple, Beech, Birch, Pecan - Three (3) Grades:
	"First" has the best appearance, natural color variations and limited character marks.
	"Second" is variegated in appearance with varying sound wood characteristics of species.
	"Third" is rustic in appearance allowing all wood characteristics of the species.

 

Wood Flooring Cuts - The angle at which a board is cut makes big differences in how the finished product looks. Wood flooring is either plainsawn, quartersawn or riftsawn.

Plainsawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation than the other two cuts because figure patterns resulting from the growth rings are more conspicuous.

Quartersawing produces less board feet per log than plainsawing and is therefore more expensive. Quartersawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly.

Riftsawn is similar to quartersawn, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle.

 

 

 

SOLID vs LAMINATED (Engineered) Manufacturing Method


Construction

Also see:
ROOM SETTING PHOTO's   ~  WOOD PROPERTIES

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