Northern Beech Timber Flooring

Northern Beech Flooring Grades Explained

Choosing the right timber grade helps you achieve the exact look and character you want for your flooring. Each grade highlights different levels of natural timber features, from clean and minimal designs to floors full of rustic charm.

Select Grade

Select grade offers the cleanest and most uniform appearance with the least amount of natural features. You may still see small elements of character, such as minor gum veins or pin holes, as these are natural qualities of real timber. Even select grade boards can occasionally contain subtle natural variations.

Standard Grade

Standard grade provides the perfect balance between a clean finish and natural timber character. It features smaller to medium gum veins, small pin holes, tight knots and natural grain patterns throughout the boards. This is one of the most popular choices because it offers an authentic timber look while maintaining a refined appearance at a great value.

Feature Grade

Known as the “Timber Lovers Grade”, feature grade is ideal for those who appreciate the natural beauty and character of timber. It showcases features such as gum veins, gum pockets, small knots, surface checking and other unique markings. The boards are machined to the same standard as select grade and maintain the same structural quality. Some filling may be required during installation to achieve a smooth finished surface.

Prestige Grade

Prestige grade combines the best qualities of select and standard grades. It is commonly used for wider boards and includes select-grade boards from the timber run along with the better-quality standard-grade boards, creating a balance of natural beauty and consistency.

Rustic Grade

Rustic grade combines elements of prestige, standard and feature grades to create a floor with stronger natural character. It generally includes lower-grade standard boards mixed with feature-grade boards, making it a great choice for those wanting a more traditional timber appearance.

Rustic Industrial Grade

Rustic Industrial is a newer grade designed for customers wanting a highly featured timber floor at a more affordable price point. It combines standard, feature, cover and homestead grades and is supplied as a tongue-and-groove (T&G) flooring profile.

For structural flooring applications, installers need to carefully select boards and remove excessive splits, large knots or heavy checking where required. This grade is perfect for creating a bold, natural timber look without the premium price tag.

Homestead Grade

Homestead grade offers the appearance of a select-grade board with unique sticker marks across the surface. While some marks may reduce after sanding and coating, others may remain visible. These marks are created during the timber drying process and are not classified as natural timber features under Australian Standards.

Homestead grade is priced similarly to feature grade and is a great option for customers seeking a distinctive timber appearance. Sample images of completed floors are recommended to understand the final result.

Cover / Utility Grade

Also known as auction grade, Cover/Utility grade is the most heavily featured timber option and is not recommended for a polished finish. It can include large gum veins, termite galleries, knot holes, surface checking and machining imperfections.

This grade requires careful board selection during installation and usually involves more wastage to achieve the desired finished appearance. It is best suited for customers wanting a highly rustic look at a lower cost.