Grading Criteria. Australian Hardwood Timber Flooring

Australian Grading Criteria for Hardwood Floorboards

UNIVERSAL GRADING CRITERIA FOR WOOD FLOORING

Better Timber Flooring uses the criteria framework as set out by the Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA). Today we source primarily Australian hardwood timber products. Over the years however, we have had bespoke projects specify wood and timbers that have had to be sourced from many different countries, each having different grading rules and industry standards.

Sadly, there is no single definitive framework that can be used as an ISO International Standard and the criteria can also vary between species.

Oak, however, is by far our most popular species so, in order to show our clients a typical spread of grain formation and the properties for each grading description, we have used this species as an example of what to expect. Since we deal with a number of suppliers who work to varying parameters, we have shown what is likely to be the “worst case” in terms of knot size; many individual planks will fall well within this.

But please do remember, since they are usually selected by eye, there is always scope for an occasional board to fall outside of these parameters.

For all these reasons Better Timber Flooring cannot accept rejection of an entire floor on the basis of a small number of boards. Part of the beauty of wood is that each and every plank is unique, so these parameters should be taken simply as an indication, given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. Better Timber Flooring strongly advise that our floors should only be fitted by a competent installer who will, as a matter of course, remove any defects within the normal cutting allowance, and we cannot accept rejection of any flooring once it has been laid.

Australian hardwood example depicting
a:) colour variation, and b:) gum pocket