Different Grades of Red Oak

Which grade of red oak will be best for your home?

Wood grading is a standard taken seriously by many woodworkers and interior designers around the world. While it takes an expert eye to know the minute distinctions between each grade, by knowing the differences of each wood grade, we get to determine the design and feel of not just flooring, but of other wooden furniture as well.

What is Red Oak Grading?

Oak is one of the most popular choices of wood for hardwood floors, and while hardwood flooring has a standard grading system crafted over a century ago, oak has its own specifications. With oak, the distinction lies more in the variation between heartwood and sapwood on the boards, and with how these variations affect the board aesthetically.

As with common hardwood floors, red oak flooring grades have little to do with the quality of the floor, hence, attributes such as hardness, strength, and durability are not considered. Flooring grades describe what the boards look like, a standard which helps homeowners and woodworkers alike choose their ideal type of wooden boards fit for their home projects.

Grades of Red Oak

The grades of Red Oak (and White Oak) are named in a similar manner as with hardwood floor grades, but the considerations between the two are still quite different. 

Your floors will look noticeably different with each grade of oak. If you’re aiming for a very specific look, knowing the distinction between each grade will help you achieve the right look for your home.

Listed below are the different grades of red oak.

Clear

Clear Oak, or Clear Grade Red Oak pertains to oak that is harvested mostly from the center or the heartwood of the tree. The pieces used to create these boards are picked carefully by the mill. Producing this type of wood is also done using a precise method in order to keep the wood boards as clear and consistent as possible.

These boards contain extremely minimal worm holes or knots– or none at all. Color discrepancies are also very rarely seen under this grade, and are only usually caused by heartwood color differences only. Despite their clean and uniform appearance, the graining is still prominent.

Select

Also called Select and Better, the Select Grade Oak boards are bound to have minimal color variations coming from the sapwood, which is the portion of the wood surrounding the heartwood. Almost similar to Clear Oak, knots and wormholes are still at a minimum– or there are none at all. Slight milling imperfections are also allowed. The graining appearance in Select Grade boards is still very strong.

Common No. 1

Common No. 1 or No. 1 Common Grade Oak has a lot more color variation than Select Grade Oak boards. These boards tend to show more transitions between the sapwood and the heartwood, hence there will be a visible unclarity of color. Some pieces may be lighter, some may be darker, and some will have both light and dark features. 

There may also be some knots and wormholes, but not too much. Occasional dark machine burns from the milling process are also allowed. Pieces that have spots that are considered too dark are not permitted.

Common No. 2

Common No. 2 or No. 2 Common Grade Oak has more variation than its predecessor, thanks to a more liberal contrast between both sapwood and heartwood. The amount and even the sizes of knots and wormholes can be more generous and abundant, giving these wooden boards a rustic aesthetic. Grain swirls and mineral streaks also grow more noticeable and even darker under this grade. 

While Common No. 2 Grade Oak has many more evident attributes compared to the rest of the grades so far, it is important to note that Common No. 2 does not contain shattered ends, rotten ends, broken knots, or other extreme defects– these boards are still supposed to strictly be in good condition despite its rustic appearance.

Common No. 3

Common No. 3 or No. 3 Common Grade Oak have the most variation in this list, with very inconsistent colors and graining between pieces. This grade is usually not recommended, even if you’re gunning for a rustic look. Chances are, a lot of pieces under this grade will be put to waste due to their many blemishes.