What Are The Different Grades Of Oak Hardwood Flooring

Red oak and white oak flooring grades.

What are the different grades of oak hardwood flooring.

The most common grades of hardwood for prefinished products are. Below is the national wood flooring association nwfa grade descriptions for red oak and white oak and. The grading scale is a measure of what is known as character markings or natural characteristics e g variation in color from board to board mineral streaks presence of knots or worm holes. Select grade may also be referred to as prime grade ab grade or 1st grade.

This is the best of the grades of hardwood flooring because there are few color variations board lengths are not widely varied and there are little to no visible knots or pinholes. It costs the more. The average board length for select oak is 3. Stair treads risers.

The grade levels for hardwood are clear grade select and better no 1 and no 2. They just assume all oak flooring is the same. Almost all boards sold for hardwood flooring in the u s. Its average board length is 3 feet.

Especially pertaining to oak hardwood flooring the 3 most commonly used grades are. Select 1 common and 2 common which is also known as rustic grade or builder s grade. It s also important to remember that each variety of wood is different and so a 1 common hardwood rated hickory floor will not have the same appearance as a 1 common hardwood rated red oak floor for example. 1 common and no.

Red oak hardwood flooring has 3 different grades flooring professionals recognize. Clear nofma oak is very uniform in color with very few small character marks. For oak flooring there are 3 main grades. Among the many qualities that influence the appearance of any particular hardwood flooring is the grade of the wood.

Are graded according to standards originally laid out by the national oak flooring manufacturers association nofma to help create consistency in the quality of oak flooring in the u s. But they also reference average board length milling imperfections and other irregularities. A 2 common hardwood floor is the cheapest by cost and has the most character to them. When shopping for hardwood there may be several different grade names present.

Select oak has more color variation and more natural character marks such as small knots. There s not a great deal of clear grade hardwood flooring available and what you do find will likely come as engineered hardwood. Choosing the right grade hardwood flooring. Select grade is generally considered the highest grade as it has the least color variation.