Wood Flooring Grades the Beauty and Ugly

There are different wood flooring grades (be it on room or shower) offering a variety of characteristics to wood floors. There is beauty and there is ugly in wood flooring. These perceptions can be the same wood flooring grades and the same pieces of wood within those grades. With wood flooring, what one person sees as ugly another person sees as beauty. Examples of this would be Cabin, Character and Premium wood flooring grades.

Cabin wood flooring grades offers unlimited character marks such as knots, mineral streaks, splits, pin worm holes and milling defects. This wood flooring is about as rustic as it gets. Some could not understand why anyone would want such a look and only see it as firewood. Others sees the beauty for it’s natural and rustic appearance. To them it gives a relaxed look that makes them feel good. They can allow their children and pets play on the floor without worry. A few more chips, bruises and scratches will just add more character.

Character wood flooring grades are a higher grade than cabin grade but also have a lot of  natural character. Character Grade wood flooring still shows those natural character marks. They have a few minor milling defects such as small finish skips, knots and shorter lengths. Perhaps not enough character for some, just right to others and still far too much for those that want a clearer appearing floor.

At the other end of the spectrum are the premium or top level wood flooring grades with a clearer appearance, without milling defects, only a few character marks, knots or mineral streaks. To many individuals this premium wood is elegant and it gives them the formal appearance they are looking for.

Some people are more relaxed with the formal look as it takes them away from the hustle and bustle of a busy life.  To others such a blemish free wood is stiff, unnatural and they are unable to feel relaxed around it. They could not consider allowing their kids to play on such an expensive appearing floor for fear that they would ruin it.

It is true that wood flooring has its good, bad, beauty and ugly. Beauty and ugly in wood and in life is how each of us choose to perceive it!

NWFA Illustrated Guide to Wood Flooring Grades

Check out the American Hardwood Council for more information.