| No matter if you buy standard or discount hardwood | | | | have few to no imperfections. Lower grades don't |
| flooring, the grades for all types of domestic woods | | | | mean the wood is defective, however. Rather, the |
| are the same. Of course, this varies with the species | | | | wood won't have an even tone and, if this is what |
| of wood you purchase, as various unfinished and | | | | you're aiming for, going with the highest grade is ideal. |
| prefinished types of hardwood flooring have different | | | | Prefinished hardwoods, such as prefinished red or |
| names for grades. While all of these were set in 1999 | | | | white oak flooring, come in differently labeled grades, |
| by The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association, all | | | | although the meaning is essentially the same. The |
| domestic species of hardwood have a top grade, | | | | highest achievable is "prime," followed by "standard |
| one or two intermediate grades, and one or two | | | | and better," "tavern," and "tavern and better." Don't |
| lower grades. The grade is determined by the | | | | confuse "tavern grade" for prefinished hardwood |
| amount of imperfections a piece of hardwood has. | | | | with that for unfinished, however. Most hardwoods |
| Grain variations, streaks, and knots present in a piece | | | | given a "tavern," or "character" or "cabin" grade, are |
| of hardwood lower the grade. | | | | usually sold as discount hardwood flooring. Taken |
| When considering unfinished hardwood flooring, some | | | | from the outside of a tree, these have more knots |
| of the more common types, such as oak, maple, | | | | and color variation than most standard grades. |
| beech, and birch are graded into "clear," "select," "#1 | | | | Although all types of standard and discount |
| common," and "#2 common" categories, with "clear" | | | | hardwood flooring are labeled by grades, the |
| being the highest attainable. Other common types of | | | | important factor is if you'll like it. Are you looking for |
| hardwood, such hard maple and pecan, are given | | | | more of a rustic look with your hardwood? A lower |
| somewhat different categories: "select and better," | | | | grade with knots may suit your need. Need an even |
| "#1 common," and "#2 common." For all types of | | | | surface with few blemishes? Aim for the higher |
| unfinished domestic hardwoods, the "select and | | | | grades of flooring. |
| better" or "clear" grades indicate that the wood will | | | | |