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When Hardwoodinstaller.com sold hardwood over the web,
we had the opportunity to buy cabin grade hardwoods, but
did not. More peace of mind without complaints. Having
personally installed a few 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
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 has 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 on the
bottom, or tree bark edges. 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 hardwood 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.
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