HH Flooring Chattanooga, TN
Hardwood Grading

H&H HARDWOOD GRADING GUIDELINES

SOLID UNFINISHED FLOORING PRODUCTS:

The NWFA/NOFMA Grading Target: 100% on Grade


The NWFA/NOFMA Grading Standard: There is an allowance of not greater than 5% of the pieces to be misgraded or off grade pieces (includes only below grade pieces).

NWFA/NOFMA certified flooring is graded in accordance with the NWFA/NOFMA specifications set forth on the following pages. Appearance alone determines the grades of hardwood flooring since all grades are equally strong and serviceable in any application.


All characters included in a higher grade are automatically accepted in lower grades. Grades are sometimes combined (i.e. SELECT & BETTER, NO. 1 COMMON & BETTER, and NO. 2 COMMON & BETTER). When done so, the lowest grade pieces admissible shall not be less than the lowest grade listed. And, the Average Board Length Minimum Standard for the lowest grade listed serves as the Standard for the combined grade. All strip/plank/wide plank flooring designated by a NOFMA certified grade name must conform to that grade description. Proprietary or special products may be certified.

NWFA/NOFMA OAK GRAIN DESCRIPTIONS

PLAIN SAWN

Flooring that is marked or specified as PLAIN SAWN or PLAIN, may contain any combination of the following types of grain classification (also, flooring without a grain designation may contain any combination of the types of grain classification): Plain Sawn, Rift Sawn, and Quarter Sawn.

QUARTER SAWN

Flooring that is marked or specified as QUARTER SAWN, or QUARTERED; at least 50% of the piece must contain Quartered characteristics. Quartered characteristics as defined by NWFA-NOFMA are: in cross section the angle of the annual ring tangent to the face of the piece to be between 45 and 90 degrees; grain lines to be mostly parallel to the length of the pieces, and medullary ray flecks present and more the 1/16″ (.0625″) (1.59 mm) wide.

RIFT SAWN

Flooring that is marked or specified as RIFT SAWN or RIFT; at least 75% of the piece must contain Rift
characteristics. Rift characteristics as defined by NWFA-NOFMA are: in cross section the angle of the annual ring tangent to the face of the piece between 30 and 60 degrees; grain lines to be mostly parallel to the length of the pieces and medullary ray flecks less than 1/16″ (.0625″) 1.59 mm) wide.

QUARTER/RIFT SAWN

Flooring that is marked or specified as QUARTER/RIFT SAWN or QUARTER/RIFT, is a combination of QUARTER SAWN and RIFT SAWN.

NWFA/NOFMA GRADING RULES – OAK FLOORING

NWFA-NOFMA CLEAR

A flooring product of mostly heartwood with a minimum number of character marks and discoloration, providing a uniform appearance while allowing for all heartwood natural color variations. Will admit the following: 3/8″ (.3750″) (9.53 mm) wide bright sapwood entire length of the piece or equivalent if not more than 1″ (25.4 mm) wide for 1/3 the length of piece; small burls and fine pin worm holes; and equivalent characters such as small tight checks; in the absence of these, one thin brown streak 3″ (76.2 mm) long to be allowed every 6′ (1828.8 mm) of piece.

NWFA-NOFMA SELECT OAK

A flooring product with coloration variations produced by differences of natural heartwood and sapwood, along with characters described. The face may contain: unlimited sound sapwood; slight imperfections in milling; one (1) small tight knot every 3′ (914.4 mm) of piece; pin worm holes; burls and a reasonable amount of slightly open checks. Brown streaks should not extend the entire length of a piece. Two (2) flag worm holes to every 8′ (2438.4 mm) of the piece are permitted. Slight imperfections in face work (torn grain) admitted. An intermittent, brown machine burn across the face not exceeding 1/4″ (.250″) (6.35mm) in width admitted. Also, a slight quantity of bark on the back or sides admitted. Will admit pieces with one-half (1/2) tongue, full length of the piece. Spot filling is generally required for open characters.

NWFA-NOFMA NO. 1 COMMON OAK

A flooring product which contains prominent variations in coloration and varying characters. The following are not admitted: broken knots over 1/2″ (.500″) (12.7mm) in diameter, large grub worm holes; and splits extending through the piece. Open characters such as checks and knot holes are admitted, but must be sound and readily fill. Not more than 20″ (508 mm) scant stock in thickness allowed to every 5′ (1524 mm) of length. Minor imperfections in machining permitted. Shall admit sticker stain; varying wood characteristics, such as flag wormholes, heavy streaks, checks, and wormholes; and an occasional dark machine burn across the face not exceeding 1/2″ ) wide, 1/64″ 40 mm) deep and not more than two (2) to every 3′ (914.4 mm) of length admitted. One-quarter (1/4) tongue, full length of the piece admitted. Extremely dark pieces are not to be included.

NWFA-NOFMA NO. 2 COMMON OAK

May contain sound natural variations of the forest product and manufacturing imperfections. The purpose of this grade is to furnish a floor suitable for homes, general utility use, or where character marks and contrasting appearance is desired. The following are not admitted: shattered or rotten ends, large broken knots, excessive bad millwork, shake, advanced rot, and similar unsound defects. Dark machine burns exceeding 3/64″ (.0469″) (1.19mm) deep not admitted. Knot holes and open characters which will readily fill are admitted. Occasional scant thickness (hit or miss) on the back of the flooring board the entire length of the piece admitted, providing there is full bearing across the board at some point within three inches of the ends. A limited number of pieces with no tongue admitted.

National Wood Flooring Association – Revised 04.2018

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