Cabin Grade Hardwood Floors

When Hardwoodinstaller.com sold hardwood over the web, we had the opportunity to buy and sell cabin grade hardwoods, but did not. More peace of mind without complaints. Cabin grade hickory Having personally installed a dozen or more brands over the years through a few local stores I discovered a lot about them and more importantly what they were all about.

Nearly All Big Manufacturers Offer Cabin Grade or Factory Seconds

But you will not find them in many retail stores. Obtaining samples is more difficult unless you want to buy one full box. Distributors get lists each month of what is being sold at discount through major mills. All of these products come from the same line they produce but there are flaws. For example; Bruce may have 10,000 square feet of a Cinnamon stained color they designate as cabin grade. With stained hardwoods some of the flaws are in the color itself and not necessarily how the product was milled, good or bad. However, to be on the safe side don't expect color to be the only issue.

They're Not All Junk

Contrary to what you may hear, not all cabin grades are junk. In many circles some refer to it as being a lower quality hardwood species. This is not necessarily true, but depends on what one perceives as quality. It often has nothing to do with the structural capacities of the hardwood species itself, but the appearance. Some may have knots, mineral streaks, and a wide variety of color, sometimes called swamp wood in the industry. You may see blacks, greens and other unusual colors not inherent to higher graded hardwood. Other characteristics may include poor milling or the manufacturer may run excess that may have voids or tree bark edges on the bottom. Missing or incomplete tongues are also common place. The surface may look fine, but the installation could create some problems.

Poor Visible Milling

Some cabin grade products may have splits, checks, and windshake in the face of the material. Most of these characteristics occur when the tree is growing. Stress to the tree causes openings in the grain. On the milling side, some boards may not fit tight upon installation. They may have ends that are not milled square, resulting in a non square fit. Another cabin grade characteristic can be poor milling in relation to how the floor looks on the vertical level after installation. Some boards may be higher or lower than another.

Finish Problems

Depending on the manufacturer, cabin grade generally does not contain finish irregularities. But this may not be true with smaller companies. On the other hand, some manufacturing runs may have missed an inspection point resulting in some inferior finishes.

Shorts

Other products sold as cabin grade may be shorts. Manufacturers have to do something with all hardwood they cull from better graded material. Hence they become shorts. They can be as short as 8 inches to 12 inches opposed to their higher premium lines that run twelve inches to 84 in the case of many solid hardwoods.

Can't Beat The Price

If you hunt long enough you cannot beat the price. For instance, that Bruce Cinnamon stained color may retail for eight or nine dollars a square foot, and the cabin grade as low as four. If you're near Dalton, Georgia prices are even cheaper, as the town is a mecca for seconds in all types of floor coverings. Lumber Liquidators is another good choice for these types of hardwood.

No Warranties. No Complaining

Cabin graded hardwoods sold prefinished do not offer any manufacturer warranties. We've given you some good parameters when it comes to cabin, tavern, or factory seconds, whatever some may call it. You could find some great deals, but don't try comparing them to your neighbor that may have bought the premium line. Who knows you could get lucky!

If considering such it may be a wise idea to buy a few boxes to get a good idea what may be involved. In addition, some may know why a particular lot has been designated as cabin. Best to consult with who is selling the product for more information.

Related Pages:

• Hardwood Grading
• Hardwood Floor Problems - Don't blame it on the wood.