Prime grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality of hardwood flooring that you can find. The wood in this grade has been carefully selected, and it features a minimal amount of natural defects like knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities.
What Species Is Best? The best hardwood floors are made with wood species that are readily available and -- you guessed it -- very hard. Oak flooring, maple flooring and cherry flooring are all good choices. Other species include bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash and mahogany.
Wood flooring grades can be a confusing matter; after all, there are lumber grades and then there are flooring grades. We already know the three most common types of oak hardwood flooring: Select, #1 Common and #2 Common (a.k.a., rustic grade).
White oak is one of the more durable domestic hardwoods available. On the Janka scale, white oak is rated at 1360, behind only hickory and maple. But durability is more than just hardness. White oak accepts finishes and stains quite well, which further protect it.
Like #1 Common Grade, #2 Common Grade continues to move away from the uniform appearance of Clear and Select grades. It has more knots, wormholes, and other natural character markings than the #1 Common Grade. Grain swirls and mineral streaks also become darker and more prominent in the #2 Common Grade.
Prime grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality of hardwood flooring that you can find.
Apply “The Rule of Three” to Home Flooring
This rule says you should use three flooring types at maximum throughout the whole home. For example, you might use hardwood in public areas of the house, except the kitchen and bathroom, where you use vinyl linoleum.
Hickory (1,820) is the hardest domestic wood species available. Its natural grain patterns do an excellent job hiding scratches and dents, so it's perfect for homes with kids and pets. Many manufacturers choose hickory specifically for their most durable flooring lines.
Typically, solid hardwood flooring is between 5/16 and ¾ inches thick. Those are pretty standard thicknesses that serve most needs. Engineered hardwood can come in different thicknesses but generally, it's about the same offerings as solid hardwood.
Generally speaking, the higher the grade, the fewer natural defects the wood has, and the more uniform the color. Prime grade hardwood flooring is free from any visible knots, mineral streaks, and color variations, giving it a clean, uniform look.
Bruce hardwood flooring at Lowe's is available in three grades: select, premium and common. Each grade has its own select features, such as knots, colors and grain variations. Plus, each hardwood species incorporates these three hardwood grades.
So, hickory is generally harder and more durable than oak. However, oak is more resistant to dents and scratches.
The best hardwood floors are made with wood species that are readily available and — you guessed it — very hard. Oak flooring, maple flooring and cherry flooring are all good choices. Other species include bamboo (which is actually a grass), walnut, ash and mahogany.
Pine is a softwood and usually the cheapest flooring option. Then there is bamboo, followed by maple, hickory, red oak, white oak, cypress, and white ash. The most expensive hardwood flooring includes African blackwood, Brazilian cherry, zebrawoods, ebony, mahogany, and Brazilian walnut.
Looking at the current wood floor colour trends 2024 and potentially into 2025 we can see that natural browns and white wood floors are the most popular. Natural browns are the most popular wood floors followed by white wood flooring. Natural brown and white are hardwood floor colours that never go out of style.
Grade 2 hardwood is obtained from heartwood like Grade 1, but also from sapwood, which enables more color variations and subtle changes in the grain pattern. Grade 3 floors have very noticeable color variations and prominent character traits like knots, worm holes, and open checks.
#1 Grade: When appearance becomes more of a factor, #1 Grade will contain smaller, fewer, sound, tight knots and have less wane than found in #2 Grade. Keep in mind, that with the introduction of Prime grades, #1 Grade no longer contains some of the better grades that used to be included.
Oak is the most popular choice for hardwood flooring, and for good reason. It offers a great balance of durability, color variety, and cost-effectiveness. Oak comes in two main varieties: Red Oak and White Oak. Red Oak: Known for its warm tones and prominent grain patterns, it hides scratches well.
The Best Time of Year to Buy Flooring
In fact, it's usually right around the New Year. Unlike cars, boats, and appliances that change models every year, flooring prices drop around the New Year because that is when demand is at its lowest and warehouses are willing to make deals to move product.
Wider boards are usually used for flooring because they better reflect the design and patterns of the wood. Although hickory wood is harder than many other kinds of wood, a major drawback is that it is very prone to swelling.
The 'Less than Three' Rule. Having more than two different types of floors colliding with one another is confusing to the eyes and may make your space seem cluttered or mismatched. When making your design choices, do not exceed more than two different types of material per floor of your home.
The key to staggering the seams of your floor is mixing up the lengths of the planks you use. This is easy if your wood flooring comes in different sizes. If it doesn't, you'll have to cut planks to create your stagger effect. The first board of each row will set the foundation for your stagger pattern.