Hardwood Flooring Grades

"Clear" is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections.Wood flooring in this category tends to be very consistent with little mineral straeking and knots.
"Select" is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.
"Common" grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room. No. 1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. No 2 Common is rustic in appearance and allow all wood characteristics of the species.
Hard maple, beech, birch and pecan have three grades:

"First" has the best appearance, natural color variations and limited character marks.
"Second" is variegated in appearance with varying sound wood characteristics of species.
"Third" is rustic in appearance allowing all wood characteristics of the species.

Wood Flooring Cuts

The angle at which a board is cut makes big differences in how the finished product looks. Wood flooring is either plainsawn, quartersawn or riftsawn.

Plainsawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation than the other two cuts because figure patterns resulting from the growth rings are more conspicuous.

Quartersawing produces less board feet per log than plainsawing and is therefore more expensive. Quartersawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly.

Riftsawn is similar to quartersawing, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle.