Case #4: Smart Use of Materials: The Choices Are More Than Clear

The Challenge

The client prefers Clear maple and cherry, but the budget doesn't justify all premium-grade materials for a desk, built-in bookcase and hardwood strip flooring in a contemporary home office.

The Solution

Specify upper-grade hard maple and cherry (FAS) for visible areas, such as the desktop and cabinet doors. Build non-visible areas -- sides and interior shelves -- from a variety of species in No. 1 Common, a lower-cost, intermediate grade priced less than FAS.
 
For the flooring, specify No. 1 Common, 3/4-inch strip flooring in a variety of species. This flooring grade costs less than Clear. The use of multiple species and character marks add visual interest to the floor.

Lower-grade hardwoods in the bookcase and floor reduce material costs and accommodate the client and his budget.

What You Need To Know

Nature instills wood with a variety of character marks -- knots, mineral streaks, pitch pockets -- that develop as a tree grows, forms branches and interacts with its environment. What's more, heartwood, the innermost portion of the tree, usually is darker in color than sapwood which is closer to the bark. Some architects and designers prefer to use sapwood with heartwood for contrast.
 
Boards featuring character marks are not premium grade, but they are preferred for many applications because they add character and visual interest. They're also a great choice for applications where wood will be painted or not be visible. Higher grades of lumber, which have few, if any, character marks, generally are preferred for applications such as fine tabletops and cabinet doors.
 

 
Lumber Grades
 
Hardwood lumber grades and grading rules have been established and are governed by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). Flooring grades have been set and are maintained by the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA).
 

The NHLA grading system, which is used by sawmills and their customers, describes the amount of "usable" clear material in a board. The highest grade boards are long, wide, and free of character marks. They are graded FAS. Select boards may contain slight character marks such as pin holes or small tight knots. The range of NHLA grades, in descending order:

• FAS
• Select
• No. 1 common
• No. 2 common
• No. 3 common

NOFMA standards prevail for grading oak and other species of flooring. These grades are appearance-based and are determined by the occurrence of character marks. NOFMA grades include:

• Clear
• Select
• No. 1 common
• No. 2 common

 
In addition, the Clear and Select grades are further identified by sawing method, see Case #2.
 
NOFMA also sets separate grading standards for pre-finished flooring:

• Prime
• Standard
• Tavern

Solid Advice

• Use the range of hardwood product grades and costs to your advantage. Top grade, clear material is not always necessary.
   
• Know the systems and the species and their characteristics. Familiarity with NHLA and NOFMA grades can make specifying hardwoods easier and more effective.
   
• For more information on hardwood grades and built-ins, order Grades, Budgets and Character Marks: What You Really Need to Know and Hardwood Built-In Installations.

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