Selecting from different wood flooring grades can confuse many people because each grade encompasses different sizes, properties, and usage. Interestingly, many flooring styles correspond to the grades set by manufacturers, and several flooring styles don’t even have a grade.
Hardwood floor installations and repairs strongly depend on the type of flooring grade. A general understanding of flooring grades suitable for your application is vital before deciding on wooden floor installation.
Here’s some helpful insight into the different grades of hardwood floors:
Standard Flooring Grades
Several wood flooring companies utilize the standard flooring grade guidelines, with renowned designations, such as the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA). These grading guidelines are specific to hardwood flooring, and typical dimensions for width and length follow a set of grading rules.
For example, the MFMA grading rules require that the standard width shall not be greater than 3.25 inches, and the maximum length shall be 96 inches.
Lumber Grades
There is a multitude of lumber species available in the market these days. These include Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) and the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA).
The purpose of these hardwood-flooring grades is to regulate the wood purchasing practices in local and international markets. It is essential to know that lumber grading is not done on the finished hardwood flooring but the rough lumber.
Lumber grading guidelines were mainly designed to separate the application of the flooring market from the cabinetry and furniture markets. The most crucial part is that knowledge of lumber grades will allow you to ensure that hardwood-flooring firms are not selling you the wrong lumber grade for your wooden floor application.
Proprietary Flooring Grades
Wood flooring companies formulate proprietary flooring grades assigned uniquely to their products. The purpose of proprietary flooring grades is to simplify the selection process for prospective clients.
There are many benefits of proprietary flooring standards. High-quality lumber with long lengths impart stability to the wooden floor and cover long flooring lengths. The timber obtained from proprietary flooring grades is customizable to achieve the desired look.
No Floor Grading
Antique lumber is that category of wood for which there are no grading standards. No grades have been assigned for antique lumber to caution consumers searching for antique wood products.
Antique wood sold under the lumber, standard, or proprietary grades is a fraud because there is no wood floor grading system for antique lumber. This will help customers avoid purchasing the wrong wood product.
Thinking about which grade to choose from for hardwood floor installation in your home? Five Star Hardwood Floor’s passion for wooden floors reflects in its top-notch wood flooring and repair services, dustless wood refinishing, and water damage and drywall paint services. Contact us to secure high-quality wood flooring services in Kirkland.