Timber grading refers to the sorting of timber floorboards based on their features. Many people are unaware of the different grades of wood available for flooring. The wood flooring grades do not reflect that the wood is inferior or superior. It exhibits some prominent features of the individual timber floorboards. Budget Floor Sanding provides sanding and polishing services for all types of timber, keeping their specifications intact.
How grading of timber is done?
Grading is done based on the frequency of wood features in each plank. Hardwood floorboards with high features are in one grade, while the ones with fewer features are placed in another.
The distinguishing features include the frequency of gum knots, gum pockets, and the color(dull and bright) of the planks. Natural timber attributes like splits, broken edges, fractures, and mold decays do not fall under the criteria of timber grading.
Australian Timber Floor Association Grading System(Atfa)
The ATFA association has provided a timber grading system containing Australian Standard AS2796 – Timber – Hardwood – Sawn and milled products. The AS2796 grading encompasses three grades based on timber floorboard features.
The three grades are as follows:
- Select Grade (Premium): This grade contains a minuscule amount of natural timber features like gum knots and gum veins. A natural timber look is least expected with the premium-grade floorboards. Slender gum veins and tight knots can sometimes be present.
- Standard Grade (Feature): The timber in this grade contains some natural wood features. The frequency of characteristic features depends on wood species as well. Past borer activity can be more significant in some boards and not present at all in others. Abundant and visible gum veins and knots in some floorboards endorse the natural timber floor beauty. The standard grade is excellent for people who like wooden floors with medium natural features.
- High Feature Grade (RUSTIC): As the name indicates, timber boards in this grade contain the highest natural features. A beautiful natural floor with all the elements of natural wood is provided with this grade. Some features are more frequent than in standard-grade timbers as gum veins may run longer and past borer activities are more prominent. This grading is perfect for natural beauty admirers. The floor requires sanding and polishing to fill the holes and to provide a smooth finish.
Applications Of Different Grades Of Timber:
The grading criteria reveal that the select grade consists of minimum features and is difficult to procure. The select-grade is expensive as only a portion of the tree can be used for the select-grade timber. In interior applications, select and standard-grade timbers are commonly used. Commercial and industrial settings use standard and rustic grades for flooring for their easy availability and low rates.
Maintaining your timber floors
The Budget Floor Sanding team provides unmatched services to carefully sand and polish your beautiful timber floors regardless of their grades. We believe in keeping the originality of the floors by doing our work with perfection and commitment.
Budget Floor Sanding is always at your service to give the best advice and a free quote. Our expert team is available 24/7.
Call us now for any queries at 0418 882 678
