Hardwood Flooring Grades Explained

Introduction

If you are a wholesaler, interior decorator, or building contractor, you’ve probably come across the term “flooring grades”. It’s okay if you don’t fully understand this concept. In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about flooring grades and the impact different hardwood flooring grades have on your engineered floor.

Simply put, hardwood flooring grades tell you the number of features and natural characteristics (like sap, mineral tonal variation, and knot) a wood has. It also indicates the milling imperfections and irregularities that your hardwood flooring would allow. 

While hardwood floors bring warmth and elegance to your space, choosing the right floor grade could be a daunting task especially if you are not familiar with the grading system. Read on as I share the key characteristics of the different floor grades to help you make an informed decision. 

What is a Hardwood Floor Grade?

Generally, hardwood flooring can be categorized into two. 

• Solid hardwood wood floors which are made from a single piece of wood, thereby retaining the natural texture and color of the wood.  
• Engineered hardwood floors which are made by gluing multiple layers of wood together. The top layer is usually hardwood while plywood is used for the bottom layer to give more beauty and stability to the floor. 

When shopping for solid or engineered wood, you must consider the flooring grade. The flooring grade is the distinct look of your floor. Wood is a natural product so it has organic features like knots, wormholes, and mineral streaks, All these natural characteristics of the wood combined with the construction technique give your floor a unique look known as grade.

Hardwood flooring grades range from Grade A (modern grade) to Grade CD (rustic grade), decreasing quality and increasing visual defects as the grade number increases. 

Classification Criteria For Flooring Grades

Several factors influence the grade classification of hardwood floors. These key criteria are:

• Wood Species: Different wood species can be used for hardwood floors. Each species has its unique characteristics, making it a key determinant when grading hardwood floors. For example, oak and cherry flooring have fewer imperfections compared to maple and hickory which tend to have more imperfections like knot holes and mineral streaks. 
• Manufacturing Process: Generally, solid hardwood and engineered wood have similar grading systems but the construction technique used can significantly impact the appearance, quality, and durability of the floor. For example, finishing techniques like brushed, hand-scraped, sawn mark, embossed, smoked, chemical reaction, carbonized, white washed, distressed, and flamed will have different effects on the finished appearance of the floor.
• Visual Defects: Flooring grades describe the number of imperfections a wood has. Visual defects like knots and cracks, color variations, sap, and wormholes help determine the grade level of your floors. Higher grades tend to have fewer imperfections and a more uniform color variation. 

What are the Different Grades of Hardwood Flooring

The common hardwood flooring grades are A, AB, ABC, ABCD, and CD. Each flooring grade has unique characteristics that set them apart from each other. These characteristics include the amount of sap present, the number of knots, and the color variations. 

Let’s explore these different grades in detail and their unique characteristics. 

Grade A (Modern Grade)

If you are looking for premium quality, go for grade-A floors. It is usually free from knots and it has no color variations. Because of the superior quality and advanced manufacturing process, only a few manufacturers like DuraMagicfloor offer this grade quality. 

Here’s an overview of its key characteristics:

• Premium quality
• Free from visible knots or blemishes
• No color variation
• Precision manufacturing

Grade AB (Prime Grade)

After grade A, this is the highest quality of hardwood floors you will find. The wood species used for this grade of flooring has been carefully selected to allow for minimal imperfections. This makes it a popular choice for those who want a clean and uniform look for their floors. 

Its key characteristics are:

• High quality
• Minimal natural defects like knots, grain irregularities, filler, and sapwood. 
• Consistent color throughout the planks

Grade ABC (Select Grade)

It is the most common grade of wood flooring that you will find in the market. The wood species used have some natural defects like sapwood, grain irregularities, and knots. It is an ideal voice for those who want a natural look for their floors. 

Its key characteristics are:

• The most common grade in the market
• It has some natural defects like irregular grain and knots
• Richer color variations compared to Grade AB

Grade ABCD (Natural Grade)

Natural grade has more defects than grade ABC. It has more visible knots and color variations. It is an ideal choice for those who really want a natural look without minding the appearance of the wood. 

Its key characteristics are:

• More natural defects than Grade ABC
• Richer color variations
• Slightly rustic look
• Distinctive features from natural aging
• Color and size may change over time

Grade CD (Rustic Grade)

This grade of floor has the lowest quality but it is more economical. It has a lot of natural defects and color variations. It is an ideal choice for those who want a rustic and casual look for their floors. 

Its key characteristics are:

• Lowest quality
• Maximum natural defects, including knots, mineral streaks, and color variations
• Available in Utility Grade (Cabin or Tavern Grade) for a more economical and rustic appearance
• Prominent features and color differences
• It has some manufacturing defects but has the lowest price
• Maximum visible knots, mineral streaks, and color variations

Other Grades of Hardwood Floors

Reclaimed Grade

This grade of floor is made from wood that has been repurposed in different ways. They have unique characteristics that set them apart from woods that are newly harvested. One of such distinct characteristics is the texture of the wood. It has a weathered rustic texture that you can’t get from new woods. 

Its key characteristics are:

• Recycled wood with unique characteristics
• Examples are amber-colored oak and brown walnut

Builder Grade Flooring

Its key characteristics are:

• Composition: 70% Natural Grade wood + 30% Rustic Grade wood
• Features: Various color variations, knots, piths, and wormholes
• Appearance: Rustic, suitable for natural-style homes
• Price: Relatively low, offering good value for money

Cottage Grade Flooring

This flooring grade caters to different home decor styles and price ranges. Its key characteristics are:

• Composition: 45% Select Grade wood + 40% Natural Grade wood + 15% Rustic Grade wood
• Features: Various color variations, knots, piths, and wormholes
• Appearance: Rustic appearance yet not as rough as Rustic Grade. It is ideal for families pursuing a cottage style.
• Price: Moderate

Selecting the Best Floor Grade For your Engineered Hardwood Flooring

When it comes to making a choice for the grade of your engineered hardwood floor, it all boils down to your personal preference and the look you want to achieve. Do you want a very clean look for your project or do you want something more natural or rustic? You should also consider your budget as higher grades are of higher quality but come at a higher price compared to lower floor grades. 

Here are some pointers to guide you in making the best choice for your project.

• For a uniform appearance, go for the modern or prime grade. 
• For a rustic appearance, go for rustic or utility grade. 
• For a natural appearance, go for grade ABC or ABCD. 

Other Factors You Should Consider

In addition to the grade level, other factors influence the appearance of hardwood flooring. These include:

Wood Species

Some of the popular wood species are oak, cherry, maple, hickory, walnut, teak, and ash. These different wood species have varying characteristics like grain pattern, hardness, and color. Some wood species are more durable, some are harder, while some others are more resistant to wear and tear. 

Oak for example offers high durability while softwoods like pine are more affordable but easily prone to dents. Also, exotic woods like Brazilian cherry give you a unique aesthetics but it’s more expensive. 

Your choice of wood species should be dependent on your budget and personal taste. 

Floorboard Width

The floorboard width is another essential element that will determine the overall look of your hardwood floor. The width can make a space appear busy, elegant, smaller, or bigger. Floorboard widths are generally categorised into three – narrow width, wide width, and random width.

Wider floorboards tend to make the floor’s characteristics and imperfections more visible. When choosing your floorboard width, you should consider certain factors like the room size, wood grain, decor style, subfloor type, purpose, personal preference, and budget.

Finish/Surface Treatment

The finish is the final touches added to the top layer of the floor to prevent it from wear and tear. While prefinished and unfinished floors have the same grading system, it is advisable you go for prefinished hardwood floors. This is because prefinished floors tend to have a consistent look as special equipment and expertise are used to work on it right from the factory. On the other hand, depending on the installer’s skills, unfinished floors might have some variations making the overall appearance lesser in grade. 

There are different types of finishes which include:

• Oil finish
• UV Oil Finish
• Lacquer Finish

There are also several techniques used for the surface treatment of hardwood floors. These include brushed, hand-scraped, sawn mark, embossed, smoked, chemical reaction, carbonized, white washed, distressed, and flamed.

Final Thoughts

When shopping for hardwood floors, the wood flooring grade is a key factor to take into consideration. The grade will determine the quality and appearance of your hardwood flooring. When deciding on the best grade for your flooring project, be sure to consider other factors like factors such as wood species, floorboard width, surface treatment, and most importantly, your budget and your personal preference. 

You should also bear in mind that different manufacturers might have slightly varying grading systems. At DuraMagicFloor, we offer the best standard for our hardwood flooring grades. We offer different variations in color, finish, wood species, and grade. Whatever your needs might be, you are sure to find the perfect hardwood floor for your project.

FAQs

What is Grade 1 flooring?

Grade 1 floors are made from wood with no knots or color variation, making their color and appearance very uniform. The boards are usually obtained from the heartwood of a tree. It is ideal for those who want a classic and clean-looking floor.

What is grade 2 flooring?

This grade of flooring has some slight variations. It has a few desirable imperfections. Like grade 1, grade 2 hardwood is also obtained from the heartwood of a tree and also from the sapwood. This gives it more color variation and slight changes in the grain pattern. 

What is the difference between grade 1 and grade 2 hardwood flooring?

Grade 1 floors have no visible knots or color variation while grade 2 floors have few variations. Grade 1 floors are obtained from the heartwood of a tree while grade 2 floors are obtained from both the heartwood and sapwood of a tree. 

What is the best grade of flooring?

Generally, prime grade is considered the best grade for hardwood floors. It has minimal defects and imperfections. However, the best grade of flooring for you is dependent on your personal taste and budget.

What is grade 3 flooring?

This grade of flooring has very noticeable imperfections like worm holes, knots, and color variations. It has a rustic appearance and it is ideal for those who want a relaxed and natural look.