Definitions

Rift/Quartered vs. Flat Sawn

A rift/quartered board has a clean, straight, vertical grain pattern with annular growth rings running parallel to the length of the board. Red and White Oak quartered boards show "fleck" perpendicular to the grain, while rift boards are straight grain with no fleck apparent. Rift/quartered material shrinks less, swells less, and wears more evenly in flooring than flat sawn lumber.

Flat-sawn lumber is cut so the growth rings are parallel to the board's broad face. This allows a cross-section look of growth rings that can provide a variety of sap wood and heart wood grain colour and style. Flat-sawing is an economical choice.

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Sapwood vs. Heartwood

A tree trunk is made of both sapwood and heartwood. Sapwood is located under the bark and allows water and nourishment to pass from the root system to the leaves. Heartwood is inside sapwood, is more dense, and gives a tree structural strength.

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Grades

Character grade exhibits a broad range of characteristics naturally inherent to wood. Mixes of heartwood and sapwood are possible, as are knots and other character marks. Exhibits dense growth rings and beautiful heartwood. Wood will vary in levels of aging, character frequency and weathering.

Cabinet grade is clear with short, narrow, clear cuttings. Exact sizes supplied determined at time of order.

Select&Btr is the highest grade of wood available, allowing minor defects and minimal to no character marks. Colour is generally uniform within most species.

Custom cut clear grade is superior to any existing domestic or import grading; offered in several West Coast woods.

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