The grade of flooring is the primary determinant of how the floor will look once it is installed, sanded, and finished. Stains can be used to alter color but wood characters and other marks that determine grade are likely to remain after finishing.

Unfinished NOFMA-certified flooring is categorized into four grades: NOFMA Clear, NOFMA Select, NOFMA No. 1 Common and NOFMA No. 2 Common, any of which will result in a serviceable floor.

The primary differentiator between the grades is the degree to which natural characteristics, such as knots and mineral streaks, or manufacturing marks, such as sticker stain, are allowed. The prominence and frequency of these characters increases from NOFMA Clear to NOFMA No. 2 Common.

For example, “NOFMA Clear” is mostly uniform in appearance, has a limited number of character marks, and is mostly heartwood. “Select” also has a uniform appearance, but this grade contains more of the natural characters such as knots and all natural color variations associated with heartwood and sapwood. The common grades will contain even more natural characters, as well as manufacturing marks.

To view photographs of how various grades might look in a floor, click here.