How to Choose Wood Floor by Grade

Wood flooring has specific grades assigned.

Wood flooring comes in many variations you can select from when determining what you want to install in your home. The wood used for the flooring is graded based on the type and appearance of the wood. Comparing the grade of wood is important, depending on the particular style you want in your home. Wood flooring can be select grade, natural grade and rustic or character grade.

Instructions

1. Go to a home improvement store or a hardwood floor supplier and look at the various types of flooring that is available and on display.

2. Find the flooring marked as “select grade.” This type of flooring is also known as “first grade” or “clear.” Select-grade wood will have a uniform color with no knots in the wood.

3. Find the flooring that is marked “natural grade.” This type of flooring is also known as “1 grade” or “second grade.” Natural-grade wood will have minor variations in color with small pin knots in the wood.

4. Find the flooring that is marked “rustic” or “character grade.” This type of flooring is also known as “#2 grade” or “third grade.” Rustic-grade or character-grade flooring will have many variations in color and larger knots in the wood.

5. Look at the package or information available for each type of flooring. Find the number used to indicate the hardness. Wood will have a range between 500 and 2,500, depending on the type of wood.

Tips & Warnings

• Hardwoods, such as hard maple and Brazilian cherry, are high on the hardness scale and common for flooring.

References

• The Hardwood Company: Why Wood Floors?