Oak flooring grades explained

What are the differences?

No two floorboards will look the same, meaning your floor will be entirely unique to you.

As wood is a natural product, there will be variations in colour, grain, knots, fissures and other characteristics between each board. We suggest that prior to fitting, a number of boards are laid out and selected in order to achieve a pleasing mix of colour and grade (this can be fun!). If preferred, natural defects which you don’t like can be cut out of most flooring products during fitting, and the resultant cut boards can be used at the end of a row. You may decide to fit the floorboards randomly without selection, or fit some boards out of sight where furniture is going live, or perhaps select your favourite boards to be on show in high traffic areas – the choice is entirely yours.

We recommend that a minimum of 10% should be added to your total square floor area when calculating the quantity of flooring required to allow for visual grading, for ‘culls and cuts’ (and to make sure you definitely have enough!).

If you would like to view your oak flooring before purchasing you are very welcome to visit our Flooring Showroom. Please call us on 01544 260727 should you require further information, or wish to come and see us.

Below are our best efforts to describe the upper face of our oak floors (the part you see and walk on). Grading is based on one person’s opinion during the machining operations, therefore some products may vary from these descriptions.

Prime Grade

Selected for its crisp appearance and attractive grain. Most boards are relatively clear. Expect occasional small knots, pippy knots (‘cats paw’) and small areas of swirly grain. Board colour will vary, but not as much as character or rustic grades. Prime flooring is difficult to source.

Character grade

Selected for its interesting, ‘busy’ appearance. Expect an attractive mix of straight and swirly grain, knots, pippy knots (‘cats paw), small holes and fissures, sapwood, and other natural features. Some clear boards will be present. Board colour will vary. Some knots and fissures will be filled.

RUSTIC GRADE

This can often be described as ‘character grade on steroids’! Simplified – it is character grade with more character! – a higher percentage of knots, fissures, sapwood, holes, and natural features. Board colour can vary dramatically. Some boards may even contain small sections of waney edge. Some knots and fissures will be filled.