Hardwood Flooring Grades

Rift and Quarter Sawn Red Oak

Rift and Quarter Sawn White Oak

For more than 100 years, NOFMA certification has provided a mark of distinction for wood flooring. NWFA’s NOFMA certification provides an assurance that wood flooring meets or exceeds industry standards for grade, configuration, moisture content, and average board length. Certified mills are inspected a minimum of twice per year to ensure grading standards are consistently met.

These sample photos provide a good representation of the “look” you can expect from each hardwood flooring grade.

Clear Red Oak

Clear White Oak

NOFMA Clear Grade Oak Red

Clear Grade Oak flooring consist of heartwood . allows for all of the natural heartwood color variations , with minimal character marks. will result in a floor with in infinitely variable grain pattern, but still the most uniform appearance ( Least Variation) of any grade.

Select Red Oak

Select White Oak

Select Grade

Select grade flooring contains all the variations in color produced by the contrasting differences of heartwood and sapwood. Also contains minimal visible character marks such as small knots, mineral streaks and slightly open characters. The combination creates a visually interesting floor where light sapwood and dark heartwood are combined with small characters and other small color interruptions.

No.1 Common Red Oak

No.1 Common White Oak

NOFMA No. 1 Common

No. 1 Common flooring is characterized by prominent color variation as well as prominent (but limited in size) character marks such as knots and open checks, as well as variations resulting from drying and machining processes. This grade results in a tasteful floor where prominent variation is to be expected.

No.1 Common Red Oak

No.1 Common White Oak

NOFMA No. 2 Common

N0. 2 Common flooring may contain a wide range of sound natural and manufacturing variations of any size, including knots, knot holes and other open characters, as well as prominent color variation and irregularities resulting from drying and machining processes. This grade is desirable where numerous notable character marks and significant color contrast is to be expected. NOFMA No. 2 Common may include a small number of boards deemed unusable by your installing contractor.