The Different Grades of Hardwood Flooring & What They Mean
Your guide to the grades of hardwood flooring.
Flooring in a house is a foundation that you want to last a long time while looking beautiful and matching the style of your home. There are many ways to tell the difference in appearance and quality of different woods, each with its own measurements, but when it comes to wood floor grades, you are looking specifically at the aesthetics. Keep reading to learn more about the grades of hardwood flooring and what they mean.
Grades of Hardwood Flooring
Many people don't know that the different grades of hardwood flooring do not reflect their durability or quality. The highest grade (which will often have the highest cost) is not better than a lower grade. That is what the hardness rating is for in terms of durability and density. Grading refers to the way the wood looks. Since wood is a natural product, it is going to have natural variations in texture and color – not just from species to species, but even between each individual tree. Grades of hardwood provides a system to describe similar batches of wood so you can know what the wood will look like and what setting it would best be used in. There are typically four wood floor grades to choose from.
Tip!
When it comes to wood construction, you get solid wood (made from a single piece of wood that is milled into planks), or engineered wood (made from several layers of wood glued together – the top layer being hardwood).
Prime Grade/AB Grade: The highest grade you can get is prime or AB grade. This wood is the most costly as it is carefully selected to have minimal defects. The color is usually solid throughout the wood and there are only small knots and minor flaws such as grain irregularities. This wood grade is ideal for more modern and expensive-looking flooring with an even look and upmarket finish.
Select Grade/ABC Grade: The next level down in the grades of hardwood is select or ABC grade. It is the most common type of wood flooring you can find. This still has a "cleaner" appearance with some natural defects such as grain irregularities, knots, and sapwood (younger parts of the tree and lighter in color). Due to the only slightly varied natural color, this is a popular choice for most flooring options.
Natural Grade/ABCD Grade: The grade is natural or ABCD grade. This wood has more defects and color variations. There will be more visible knots and a greater presence of sapwood. The more varied appearance is appealing to those who are not overly concerned with overall uniformity but rather in search of a more natural look with unique characteristics throughout.
Rustic Grade/CD Grade: The lowest grade of hardwood is rustic or CD grade – it is also the most affordable. This wood has the largest number of natural defects and stark color variations. There are often many knots of different shapes and sizes along with imperfections and occasionally even cracks. This wood has the most character and is ideal for a rustic/cabin look.
Tip!
If it is durability you are after, you would do better to choose the wood based on its hardness rating. High hardness is best for high traffic rooms due to its ability to resist wear-and-tear, while mid-range hardness resists general scuffs and dents.
With a better understanding of how the system works, now you will be able to better pick from the grade of hardwood flooring the best one for your home.