Ask yourself if the design of the wood grain and amount of character marks are important to you.

Wood Grade

Clear

Select

First Common

Second Common

The grade of wood, within a wood species, is determined by the amount of natural characteristics, such as knots and color variations. The grades are:

  • Clear—free of “defects”, though there may be minor imperfections.
  • Select—almost clear, but contains some natural characteristics.
  • First common—more natural characteristics, light and dark colors, some knots, some worm holes and limited character marks.
  • Second common—more rustic and accentuates more the wood’s characteristics, does not have a uniform appearance—knot holes, varied color, lines, speckled appearance.

Wood Pattern

Grain patterns vary between species and grades.  You can have a very uniform creamy white appearance like a First Grade Maple or a wavy, irregular appearance of a #2 Common Hickory.