Cabin-Grade Engineered Flooring

Your heart is set on hardwood flooring. You love its warm welcoming look. But does it seem a bit out of your price range? Why not consider an engineered wood flooring. An engineered wood floor will give you the same look and feel as a solid hardwood floor, and you will be able to save money on the installation and material costs.

But do you also find that even an engineered floor is beyond your budget? Well, cabin grade engineered flooring is one option that is certain to warm you up to the idea of hardwood flooring.

After all, some types of cabin grade wood flooring can start from as low as $1 per square foot! Besides cost, it is vital to have an idea of the different grades of wood available in the market so that you can make an informed decision when selecting a flooring product best suited to you individual needs.

What is Cabin Grade Wood Flooring?

Wood is obtained from the tree trunk. Obviously all the wood in the tree trunk cannot be of the same quality. For example, wood that is closer to the surface has burls, marks of branches and pest infestations. A cabin grade wood floor typically has more variations in color, grain and finish than a higher quality wood floor. But that can be the exact look you want. It is one of the cheapest varieties of hardwood flooring that you can buy. But that does not mean that cabin grade wood flooring is a lost cause or that it will necessarily look cheap after installation. All it means is that some portions of the wood flooring material will need to be carefully cut away and treated.

Another reason why cabin grade engineered wood flooring may be preferred by buyers is because it imparts a rustic style to the floor. Thus, buyers looking for a rustic look may choose cabin grade wood flooring over other grades.

Different Grades of Engineered Wood Flooring

When it comes to engineered wood floors, the grading is primarily concerned with the look and finish of the veneer of the top layer assuming the base layers are the same. The common grades of wood floors are

• Clear grade OR Better Grade – The highest quality of hardwood flooring available in the market. No natural product is perfect, but this grade of flooring is as close to perfection as possible. The variations in grain, color, finish and structural deficiencies are few and far between. Those that exist cannot be readily seen.
• Select Grade – This is a slightly lower grade of wood. The imperfections are visible but are not too obvious. This is one of the most common type of flooring chosen by discerning customers. The few imperfections like knots and streaks present in this type of wood give it a unique natural appearance.
• Common grade – This is actually a group of grades. It is further sub divided into common grades 1, 2 and 3. The lower grades are also called cabin grade or tavern grade flooring.
• Cabin grade – This is the grade of engineered wood where you will see several knots, holes, worm infestations, burls, and bubbles in the top layer of the engineered floor. These imperfections can be removed by a skilled installer. If you choose cabin grade flooring you will need to order at least 10-15 % more material than your requirements as some portion of this grade of wood may be damaged beyond repair and must be removed before installation. Given that cabin grade engineered wood flooring sells at about half of the actual price, it turns out to be cheaper even after the 15 % wastage has been factored in. Some manufacturers prefer the epithet Value grade for this grade of flooring.
• Tavern grade – The term tavern grade is sometimes used interchangeably with cabin grade or factory seconds. Some manufacturers may display it as a separate category in itself. This can have large variations and imperfections in wood structure. Larger holes can be filled and some of the imperfections can be cut out of the wood before installation.

When choosing a lower grade flooring it is important to remember that with increasing imperfections the cost of installing wood flooring may rise very rapidly. It may also not be possible to remove all imperfections from a lower quality wood. Grades of wood flooring lower than cabin grade flooring may in fact turn out to be more expensive overall.

The grades of wood are primarily concerned with appearance and have little to do with the structural strength of an engineered wood floor. It is best to visit one of our Los Angeles Flooring and look at the different grades of wood available. You may find that your requirements can be met by a lower grade of engineered wood floor. It is important to remember that a lower grade of wood flooring need not be cheaper in every respect. It is vital to strike a balance between aesthetics and installation costs. Lower material costs may be offset by higher installation costs and wastage if you do not choose your flooring carefully.

Visit our Los Angeles Flooring showrooms for more information about Flooring.