Wood grading plays a big part in hardwood flooring projects and in the end is a personal preference based on each grade’s characteristics and the overall design of the project.

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There are four grades commonly used when laying hardwood flooring:

Clear: Practically free of defects, made up mostly of heartwood.  Most uniform color with limited small character marks.  This grade will cost more than other grades.

Select or 1st grade: Almost clear, with more of the normal characteristics such as knots and color variations.

#1 Common or 2nd grade: More markings than clear or select.  Light and dark colors, knots and other character marks, including sticker stain, provide a variegated appearance.  Often the common grades are selected because of their more natural, rustic appearance.

#2 Common or 3rd grade: The most knots, imperfections, and color variations; a natural, more affordable floor, full of character.  This is your choice if many character markings are desired.

Do’s & Don’ts for Your Hardwood Floor:

• Place rugs at entrances to protect floor from scratches.
• Sweep wood floors regularly with a soft bristle broom or vacuum attachment.
• Never clean a hardwood floor with soaps or detergents.
• Clean spills promptly.
• Keep potted plants off a wood floor so condensation does not build up.
• Put plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture to prevent scuffing and scratching.

Wood Flooring Cuts

Plainsawn

Plainsawn is the most common and least expensive method of wood flooring cuts. Plainsawn contains more variation than the other two cuts because grain patterns resulting from the growth rings are more obvious. This is the most economical method
because it creates the widest boards with the least amount of waste.  The flooring will tend to expand and contract more across the width of the boards.

Quarter-Sawing

Quarter-sawing produces less board feet per log than plain-sawing and is therefore is more expensive. The log is first cut into quarters and then sawn perpendicular to the growth rings. When quarter-sawn flooring is introduced to changing climates and humidity, the wood expands and contracts vertically instead of horizontal, and is therefore, a little more stable.

When shopping for flooring, if the cut is not specified, then it's pretty safe to assume the most common, plain-sawn.

Janka Hardness

While there are many factors to consider when choosing your hardwood flooring, durability of your hardwood is definitely one factor to think about.  The harder a wood is, the more durable and strong it tends to be.  A very popular choice is red oak, such that it has become a benchmark in measuring.  Each hardwood species and type has its own characteristics and strength.

Janka is a test that measures the hardness of a wood.  The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the ball's diameter, thereby giving an idea of its hardness and durability. The higher the Janka number, the harder the wood.

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