Select Grade Flooring
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Select Grade
What is Select Grade Flooring?
Select grade is the next best grade to clear grade in high quality wood flooring. Select grade has a mostly uniform color, but with some variations allowed. This grade comes in longer length slabs. It also has very few blemishes or knots. If select grade has knots, they will be tight knots. The grain pattern of select grade will be bright and most pieces of the wood will match each other. Although it is almost clear grade, it will contain a few natural characteristics such as knots and variety in color.
Are there knots in select flooring?
Select grade hardwood flooring is manufactured using a combination of heartwood and sapwoods that contain natural characters. The slabs may contain an unlimited amount of sapwood that is sound and strong. It may have some slight imperfections which may include small tight knots, but no closer to each other than every 3 feet. Hardwoods with select grade may contain some small pinworm holes and small burls and a few slightly open checks. But if checks or characters are open, they must be spot filled. If a hardwood slab is to be graded as select, brown mineral streaks are allowed, but only if they do not extend throughout the length of a board.
Qualification for select grade flooring.
To qualify as select grade hardwood flooring, only two flag worm holes are allowed for every 8 inches of wood. Torn grain or slight imperfections will be permitted in select grade. If a brown machine burn exists across the face of the slab, it must be intermittent and each one must not be wider than ¼ inch. In addition, a ½ inch tongue on the slab is allowed as well as a slight amount of bark on the sides or back of the board. Select grade hardwood flooring is ideal for above ground level rooms with décor that calls for an either formal or warm, comfortable atmosphere.
