Select Grade in Brentwood, CA
Posted on
8/9/2022
To get the perfect engineered hardwood floors for your home project, you first need to understand what the different grades of hardwood flooring mean. The hardwood grading scale helps consumers and professionals alike to determine and measure the number of character markings within a type of wood. These markings are the natural irregularities and other qualities that appear in lumber.
To get the perfect engineered hardwood floors for your home project, you first need to understand what the different grades of hardwood flooring mean. The hardwood grading scale helps consumers and professionals alike to determine and measure the number of character markings within a type of wood. These markings are the natural irregularities and other qualities that appear in lumber.
These character markings display the natural, genuine appearance of hardwood flooring. However, not everyone likes a rustic look for their home. Therefore, the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) developed a standard set of hardwood grading rules. These different grades have nothing to do with the wood's durability or structural integrity; instead, the grading scale allows consumers and contractors to find the best fit for whatever style of flooring they're looking for.
Clear Grade
Clear Grade hardwood flooring-- also sometimes called First and Seconds (FAS) by the NHLA-- describes cuts of wood that are free from most character markings. These pieces have very few, if any, knots or holes. They will also yield a constant color and grain from board to board. For this reason, a lot of people in the industry consider Clear Grade hardwood to be the superior option. The smooth, consistent appearance makes it optimal for tabletops, moldings, and other projects that benefit from a strong, uniform look.
Select Grade
Select Grade hardwood is just a little off from Clear Grade options. They have few character markings, so the uniformity and consistency of color still largely exists. You may see some color and grain variations in Select Grade cuts of hardwood, particularly in species that normally show these variations. However, more noticeable character markings like knots and holes are few and far between. Overall, Select Grade hardwood still gives homeowners and contractors a satisfying, uniform look to enrich their designs.
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