From forest to sawmill
Before a flooring board actually becomes a board, it is important to understand the grading to which raw materials are subjected during processing.
The tree is first felled and sawed into logs. Logs are graded as: Veneer or butt logs.
Normally, wood used in the production of hardwood flooring is harvested from logs graded C2S and C1S. The better the quality of a log (free from defects), the higher its value.
From sawmill to manufacturer
Boards produced at the sawmill are then graded according to their potential for use as defect-free wood. Boards are graded on the basis of their least perfect side. Accordingly, a grade indicates minimum board quality.
Grades obtained include:
FAS • FAS 1 face • Select • 1 Common • 2 Common • 3 A • 3 B • Pallet stock
Boards used in the production of hardwood flooring are for the most part graded 2 common. The National Hardwood Lumber Association determines the general percentage of clear usable surface as follows:
From manufacturer to consumer
PG Flooring Classic collection grades
Grades define the appearance of wood in terms of colour. Each company has its own classification and standards. Although PG Flooring follows industry classification standards, the company imposes higher in-house standards on its grades.
Grades were formerly assigned numbers 1, 2, 3 and even 4. Many believed that these numbers determined wood quality, with 1 being superior to 2, etc. However, such is not the case, since grades indicate colour only. Today, to avoid such confusion, grades now go by name.
The four grades offered by PG Flooring are Instinct, Pacific, Select & Better and Heritage. PG Flooring produces Select & Better grade wood and as an offshoot, Instinct grade wood. In this case, defects are cut away to meet standards. The Pacific grade applies only to species with a mixture of colours.
Maple, birch and red oak come in four grades: Select & Better, Pacific, Instinct and Heritage, graded from the lightest to the darkest shades. Silver maple and ash are available in the Pacific and the Heritage grades.
Find out more about our grades by consulting our Grades Guide.
