Grades of Wood
The following grades of wood are available:
Clear
Clear grade is the highest grade of flooring available in exotic
species of wood.
Select
Select grade is the highest grade
available in domestic wood flooring. It will be free of virtually
all imperfections and will offer the most uniform color. It will
have a very smooth surface for finishing. This grade is recommended
for very formal settings.
#1 Common
Mid-grade flooring (also
called #1) is a slightly less-perfect wood. It may have a few worm
holes or knot holes (depending on the type of wood). It may have
more of a mixture of tone and color. However, the wood itself is no
less durable than Select.
#2 Common
Rustic flooring is
so-named because it has a less-formal look when installed. The wood
may have more of a "cottage" look and feel, with more sapwood,
heartwood and color variations. Again, the quality and durability
of the finished floor is the same as that of Select.
Examples of Select, #1 and #2
 |
Hickory, Select |
 |
Hickory, No. 1 |
 |
Hickory, No. 2 |
So, the main thing to remember is:
All these wood
flooring grades will give you a beautiful, durable floor.
It's
simply a matter of aesthetics.
(Samples of all
grades are available at our warehouse, as well as sample boards
with different finishes.)
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