Understanding Oak Plank Flooring Grades
A Practical Guide for Choosing the Right Fit
When choosing oak flooring, appearance isn’t just about colour and finish—it’s also about grade. Grading defines the visual character of the timber, from smooth and uniform to boldly rustic, and helps you match your flooring to the aesthetic of your space. It doesn’t impact the structural quality of the wood—just the look.
Below is our Plank Flooring grade guide to help you decide which suits your project best.
Plank Flooring Grades
Plank boards tend to be wider and longer, showcasing more of the wood’s natural features. Here’s how the grades stack up:
Select Grade
- Clean appearance with minimal knots
- Allows: Pin knots and occasional sound, healthy knots up to 15 mm (or up to 20 mm for boards 240 mm wide)
- Excludes: Visible defects, sapwood, end cracks, and mechanical flaws
- Permits natural variation in colour, but overall appearance is consistent and refined
Character Grade
- Balanced natural look with more prominent features
- Allows: Healthy knots up to 30 mm (or up to 35 mm for 240 mm boards), filled knotholes up to 20 mm (25 mm for wider boards)
- Excludes: Open defects, sapwood, or end cracks
- Natural tone variation is expected, adding depth and character
Rustic Grade
- Full of natural personality, ideal for traditional or farmhouse interiors
- Allows: Unlimited sound and filled knots up to 60 mm (or 70 mm for 240 mm boards)
- Permits limited barn pockets and splits up to 100 mm
- Sapwood allowed up to 30% of board width
- Expect a wide spectrum of natural colour variation, grain changes, and visible character
Choosing What’s Right for You
- Prefer a cleaner, more uniform look? Stick with Select Grade.
- Looking for natural character without going too rustic?
Character or Nature Grade might be your sweet spot. - Want the full natural story of oak, with bold textures and grain patterns?
Choose Rustic Grade (for planks) or Character Grade (for parquet).
Whether you’re aiming for a contemporary interior or something with more warmth and organic detail, understanding flooring grades helps you make a confident choice.
If you’re still unsure, feel free to request samples or speak with one of our team—seeing and feeling the difference in person often makes all the difference.