OAK GRADING GUIDE

EUROPEAN OAK	PRIME	SELECT	STANDARD	RUSTIC
COLOUR	Even Colour	Minimal Colour Variation	Limited Minor Colour Variation permitted.	Colour Variation allowed
KNOTS	Mainly clear boards. Occasional sound pencil knots up to 10mm diameter.	Many clear boards. Occasional sound knots up to 20mm diameter. May be filled or fillable. Maximum average of 2 small knots per linear metre of board length. Pencil knots (<10mm) not limited.	Occasional clear boards. Sound knots up to 35mm diameter. May be filled or fillable. Maximum average of 3 knots per linear metre of board length.	Unlimited Knot Size. Knots may be filled or fillable.
IMAGES: EUROPEAN OAK: These images are meant as a guide only, of likely character in each grade. Often boards could fit into higher or lower grades depending on the overall consignment.
SPLITS / SAP	No Splits or Sap permitted	No Splits or Sap permitted	Occasional small stable end splits one end - length up to 50mm. Occasional sound hard sap up to 5% of face area of the board.	Occasional small stable end splits one end - length up to 100mm. Occasional sound hard sap up to 10% of face area of the board.
WOODWORM	We try to ensure that there are no worm holes remaining in the finished boards but it is not always possible to spot every pin hole especially when they look very similar to pin knots. Worm holes tend to occur mainly in the sapwood which is softer. Woodworm tend to give up when they get to the heartwood as it is so hard and dense. If any woodworm holes remain, it is most unlikely that the worm/flight holes are active after the boards have been through the kiln drying process. If you find any flight holes prior to fitting the floor, you could either exchange the boards or if it is just the odd hole this could be treated with a proprietary woodworm treatment. If you do find any flight holes after fitting the floor, the odd hole could be treated with a proprietary woodworm treatment.