Select & Better (Unfinished: Select & Better)
  • Mixture of "Clear" and "Select".
  • Superior quality grade with uniform appearance.
  • Very few uniform natural color variations of the wood species.
  • Knots, minerals streaks, checks, sticker stains, worm holes and manucfacturing defects are not allowed.
  • NWFA & NOFMA equivalence: Select & Better
  2 ¼”
57 mm		 3 ¼”
83 mm		 4 ¼”
108 mm		 5”
127 mm		 6”
152 mm
Minimum Length 14”
356 mm		 14”
356 mm		 14”
356 mm		    
Nominal Average Length 33 ½”
851 mm		 32 ½”
826 mm		 30 ¾”
781 mm		    
Maximum Length 84”
2134 mm		 78”
1981 mm		 88”
2235 mm		    


Universal (Unfinished: #1 Common & Better)
  • Mixture of "Select & Better" (±60%) and "Tradition" (±40%).
  • Varied appearance from all natural colour variations from the species.
  • Superior average length.
  • Knots, checks, sticker stains are not allowed.
  • NWFA & NOFMA equivalency: #1 Common & Better.
  2 ¼”
57 mm		 3 ¼”
83 mm		 4 ¼”
108 mm		 5”
127 mm		 6”
152 mm
Minimum Length 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		    
Nominal Average Length 36 ½”
927 mm		 34”
864 mm		 32 ¼”
819 mm		    
Maximum Length 84”
2134 mm		 78”
1981 mm		 88”
2235 mm		    


Tradition (Unfinished: #1 Common)
  • Natural color variations of the wood species are predominant.
  • All natural color variations from the sapwood and the hearth of the tree are allowed including mineral and brown streaks.
  • Fair average length.
  • Sound and tight knots not over 1/8" (3 mm) are accepted in limited quantity.
  • Worm holes may be allowed in very limited quantity.
  • Sticker stains and manufaccturing defects are refused.
  • NWFA & NOFMA equivalency: #1 Common.

  2 ¼”
57 mm		 3 ¼”
83 mm		 4 ¼”
108 mm		 5”
127 mm		 6”
152 mm
Minimum Length 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		    
Nominal Average Length 27 ¾”
705 mm		 26 ¾”
679 mm		 26”
660 mm		    
Maximum Length 84”
2134 mm		 78”
1981 mm		 88”
2235 mm		    


Country (Unfinished: #2 Common)
  • Natural color variations of the wood species are predominant.
  • All natural color variations from the sapwood and the hearth of the tree are allowed including mineral and brown streaks.
  • Worm holes, some knots and most of the little open characters are accepted.
  • Sticker stains, checks and minor defects (such as torn grain) are allowed. However, mismilling defects are refused like in any other grades.
  • In factory finished (only), knot holes and other open characters are filled with wood filler.
  • NWFA & NOFMA equivalency: #2 Common.

  2 ¼”
57 mm		 3 ¼”
83 mm		 4 ¼”
108 mm		 5”
127 mm		 6”
152 mm
Minimum Length 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		 9”
229 mm		    
Nominal Average
Length		          
Maximum Length 84”
2134 mm		 78”
1981 mm		 88”
2235 mm		    


Antique (Unfinished: #2 Common and Better)
  • Mixture of “Select & Better” (± 55%), “Tradition” (± 35%) and “Country”
    (±10%).
  • Varied appearance from all natural colour variations from the species.
  • The best average length.
  • Worm holes, some knots and most of the little open characters are accepted.
  • Checks and minor manufacturing defects (such as torn grain) are allowed.
    However, mismilling defects and sticker stains are refused.
  • In Factory Finished (only), knots and other open characters are filled with wood
    filler.
  • NWFA & NOFMA equivalence: # 2 Common & Better.

  2 ¼”
57 mm		 3 ¼”
83 mm		 4 ¼”
108 mm		 5”
127 mm		 6”
152 mm
Minimum Length 14”
356 mm		 14”
356 mm		 14”
356 mm		 18”
457 mm		 18”
457 mm
Nominal Average Length 40”
1016 mm		 40”
1016 mm		 40”
1016 mm		 40”
1016 mm		 40”
1016 mm
Maximum Length 84”
2134 mm		 78”
1981 mm		 88”
2235 mm		 88”
2235 mm		 88”
2235 mm

Notes
  • (1) The above-mentioned nominal average lengths are applicable for Red Oak, White Oak, Hard Maple, Yellow Birch and White Ash. American Black Cherry and
    American Black Walnut are with slightly inferior nominal average lengths. The
    minimum and maximum lengths are the same.
  • (2) Hard Maple, Yellow Birch have the following grading equivalence in unfinished
    flooring:
    Select & Better = First Grade
    Universal = Second & Better
    Tradition = Second Grade
    Country = Third Grade
    Antique = Third Grade & Better
  • (3) NWFA & NOFMA equivalences are supplied for information only. Foresbec
    inc. grades its hardwood flooring products accordingly to higher standards as
    establised by those organizations. Consequently, the nominal average lengths are
    slightly affected.
NWFA: National Wood Flooring Association
NOFMA: National Oak Flooring Manufacturer Association